The Huntington Museum of Art will break ground in March on a new gallery addition funded by Gwynn Daine, a philanthropist and longtime museum supporter.
Daine bequeathed entire $1.2 million, specifying in her will that the museum use the funds for such a purpose. Along with funding for the new gallery, Daine's entire residuary estate will endow future exhibits.
"Gwynn Daine was an amazing and forward-thinking woman," said Margaret Mary Layne, Executive Director of the museum. "The Museum has designed the new gallery in honor of her wishes, and its elegance will be a reflection of the lovely lady herself", Layne said.
Not only will it allow the museum to display works on paper from its permanent collection, it will also provide construction jobs in the community at a time when good jobs are needed the most, Layne said. Layne said she put a lot of thought into whether it would be appropriate to start this project when the economy is hurting and the museum itself struggles to meet its regular budget.
But the fact that it creates jobs was important to the organization, she said.
"It's a generally accepted principle that each dollar spent on construction turns over approximately six times within a community," said Jerry McDonald, president of the Huntington Area Development Council.
The museum's economic impact on the Huntington community also includes its $2.1 million budget, its 25-member staff and more than 20 independent contractors who teach in its outreach program and studio classes.
At a cost of approximately $1.2 million, the project will create 50 construction jobs for the Tri-State region. C. R. Neighborgall Construction Co. of Huntington will be the contractor on the project, which is expected to be done by winter. Designed by Edward Tucker Architects of Huntington, the addition will have 1,800 square feet of gallery space and 1,700 square feet of additional storage space in the vault.
