BRM reopening June 20

Posted by Press Release on June 7, 2021

Plane propeller Ralston Crawford (1906-1978), Plane Propeller on Tarmac, 1945, photograph, 3 1/2 x 5 1/2 in. Vilcek Collection

The Brandywine River Museum of Art will reopen to the public on Sunday, June 20, with a new special exhibition, Ralston Crawford: Air & Space & War.

During its temporary closure, the Museum underwent several facility renovations to the second and third floors, including a complete refurbishment of the restrooms on the second floor — making them fully ADA accessible — as well as switching their current location with the Strawbridge Family Gallery, which will soon open to the public later this summer.

Test Able Ralston Crawford (1906-1978), Test Able, 1946, oil on canvas, 23 5/8 x 17 5/8 in. Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia, Athens, Eva Underhill Holbrook Memorial Collection of American Art, Gift of Alfred H. Holbrook, GMOA 1946.140

Opening into the museum’s central atrium, the reimagined gallery—complete with new state-of-the-art lighting — will improve circulation within the building, enhancing the visitor experience. Additionally, the museum’s other galleries have been refreshed with paint and rehung with a new selection of recent acquisitions and loans, as well as rarely seen works from the permanent collection.

On view through September 19, 2021, Ralston Crawford: Air & Space & War will explore U.S. aviation and military history through the art and personal experiences of the renowned American Modernist Ralston Crawford. Organized by the Vilcek Foundation, in collaboration with the Brandywine, this focused exhibition will feature an extensive collection of nearly 80 works by the artist, including drawings, photographs, paintings and lithographs from the 1940s that narrate his involvement with aerospace and World War II.

In addition to this landmark exhibition, the museum has a full slate of engaging virtual and socially distant in-person events scheduled throughout the summer. All upcoming events can be found at www.brandywine.org/events. More details on the exhibition can be found at www.brandywine.org/crawford.

Upon reopening, capacity limits and other safety measures will remain in place, including timed ticketing, and will be adjusted as needed. Summer hours of operation will be Wednesday-Monday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (closed Tuesdays). A complete list of safety protocols and visitation information is available at www.brandywine.org/reopening.