Tacoma Art Museum Haub Wing Ready to Open

Tacoma Art Museum's new Haub Wing was conspicuously under construction at 17th and Pacific for nearly a year. That construction has now wrapped up, and the new 16,000-square-foot wing is ready to open.

The new wing is is Seattle architect Tom Kundig’s first completed museum design project. Within the wing the Haub Family Galleries, is ready with its inaugural exhibition, the Haub Family Collection - nearly 300 works of Western American art spanning the last century. It was all donated by the family of Erivan and Helga Haub, and represents the single largest donation in TAM's history.

Within the new Haub wing four new gallery spaces and a sculpture hall double TAM's gallery space. Also inside the museum is a larger, redesigned entry lobby; a quieter cafe; a larger, now free interactive art studio; and a larger museum shop. 

The front of the museum looks significantly different too, thanks also to the Haub family gift, including a much grander, more welcoming entrance with improved landscaping and a soaring canopy above the new red front door. The new wing fits up against the old steely building, but has a different look with bronze sliding panels, benches, and new outdoor sculptures, most prominently Blanket Stories, which will be officially unveiled this week as a part of the series of events planned to celebrate the opening of the new wing and new exhibit.

Go West Gala - On Friday, November 14 from 6:30 to 11 p.m. TAM hosts the gala celebration of the new wing and artwork. The gala will also be a fundraiser to benefit the museum's educational programs. Attendees get a special first look at the new Haub Gallery, while enjoying food from El Gaucho and a fully-hosted bar, including two special concoctions crafted locally, specifically for the museum - New West Bourbon Whiskey from Heritage Distilling in Gig Harbor, and Tacoma New West Cascadian Dark Ale from Tacoma's Harmon Brewing. Tickets are $275 per person (sold out as of October 31).

Go West Grand Opening Day - On Saturday, November 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. TAM opens the doors of the new wing for the public unveiling of the inaugural exhibition of the new Haub Family Collection of Western American Art. Event festivities will include the inevitable ribbon cutting, stagecoach rides, interactive artist presentations, author discussions, Native American storytelling and drumming, and live music from the Oly Mountain Boys.

Go West Grand Opening Evening Festivities - Later on that same Saturday from 7 to 11 p.m. museum-goers can purchase tickets to the evening festivities - live music, food, and dancing. Tickets for the evening festivities are $15 for museum members ($50 for non-members).

There is a hint of... maybe controversy is the wrong word, but something like it, about the collection of "Western Art." For one thing, the Pacific Northwest isn't exactly the same as The West. Then there's the worry that some of the art world may look down its collective nose a bit at Western Art. Of more concern to some, though, is the way the story of the West, and in particular its native residents, is told in some of this artwork. Only three of the 140 artists represented in the Haub collection are Native American, and many of the other works depict a view of the West and its people that comes from a decidedly Eurocentric perspective.

According to The News Tribune, TAM is trying to tackle that imbalance of narrative power by inviting tribal spokespeople to address the art and the stories it tells through outreach and educational materials. The story of westward expansion and interactions between European and Native Americans may not always be a comfortable discussion, but the museum hopes the art will serve as the beginning of a conversation, not the final word.

Maybe that's a big part of why we should look at art, and why it has value - because it makes us think, and question, challenge, and disagree.

Come out and see the new museum wing this week, peruse the new art, and let it make you think.

Read more about the new wing and the new art from The News Tribune.