Fall Closure

Letter from the Director I write to announce that the David Winton Bell Gallery will remain closed until at least January 2021. While we are disappointed that we will not be able to present exhibitions this fall, we are taking this action in accordance with Brown University guidelines and out of concern for the health of our community, including our presenting artists, our faculty, students, and staff, and you, our public. During this time, we will focus on our collection — completing a condition survey of the collection, digitizing artwork in the collection and exhibition records, and sharing our recent acquisitions, which continue to focus on works made by Black, Indigenous, and people of color (watch for Collection Highlight announcements). We will also be planning for the landmark 50th Anniversary of Bell Gallery in the fall of 2021. We look forward to celebrating with you then! Technology cannot replace the experience of viewing art in the original. However, during this period, we will do our best to present virtual programming that is enlightening, informative, and meaningful. We look forward to the upcoming release of our online exhibition — Raymond Hood and the American Skyscraper. Curated by Professor Dietrich Neumann and PhD candidate Jonathan Duval, the exhibition was scheduled to open last spring; it has been handsomely transformed into a digital presentation by our colleagues at Brown’s Center for Digital Scholarship.  Finally, we welcome requests for in-person appointments from Brown University faculty and students who are authorized to be on campus this fall and need access to the collections for research and teaching. These requests will be subject to Gallery approval and will be limited in number. In this rapidly changing situation, we encourage you to visit the Gallery’s website and social media for updates. I hope that you are well and finding means to create calm and joy during this troubling time. Thank you for your patience and support. Jo-Ann Conklin Director