ELIZABETH A. SACKLER CENTER FOR FEMINIST ART| Brooklyn, NY | 8,500 GSF
2007 | Susan T. Rodriguez (Design Partner, Ennead Architects)
The Elizabeth A. Sackler Center is celebrating its 10th anniversary as the permanent home for Feminist Art at the Brooklyn Museum. Judy Chicago’s “The Dinner Party” is the centerpiece of the overall installation. Set within a triangular gallery that forms the heart of the Center, the design reinforces the scale and geometry of the piece, in contrast to the rectangular volume of the Museum. The design is conceived of as a series of distinct yet interconnected experiences through which one moves in a carefully choreographed sequence. This sequence draws visitors through concentric layers — the perimeter walls of the original nineteenth-century building, the enveloping zone of changing exhibition galleries and the inner sanctum of “The Dinner Party” gallery – to participate with the artwork notable for elevating “female achievement in Western history to a heroic scale traditionally reserved for men.” Lined with large tablets of glass, the gallery infinitely reflects the artwork and heightens one’s perception of the piece. This strategy intentionally challenges the ‘white box’ gallery paradigm with an architecture that actively engages the art with the distinct purpose of deepening the visitor’s appreciation of and connection to it. The Center also includes changing exhibit galleries, a study area and presentation space to promote dialogue and exchange.
Awards | SARA National Design Award, Interiors 2009; Beverly Willis Foundation Award,2015, AIA NY, Award of Merit,Interiors, 2009, AIA New York State, Citation for Design Excellence, 2009
Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art: Gallery Design
“Commemorating Women”: Ailey School Students’ Performance
“Feminist art gets place of pride in Brooklyn” The New York Times Article
Photo Credit | Richard Barnes, Aislinn Weidele
