FRESNO, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – The Fresno Art Museum announced the reopening of its Hans Sumpf Gallery after being closed for nearly two years for reinterpretation and redesign.
Now, officials say the gallery features a new “Art of the Ancient Americans” permanent exhibition with 158 objects from ancient Mesoamerica and the ancient central Andes spanning over 3,000 years and representing the major artistic traditions of cultures from across the region.
The reopening of the gallery, officials say, marks the first reinterpretation of the museum’s Mesoamerican holdings since 1997 and the first reinterpretation of the ancient Andes holdings since 2007.
“We all need to experience this, it’s kind of unusual,” said David Hackett, a visitor of the museum.
Sarah Vargas, a curator in the museum, says the advance of technology and the discovery of new information regarding their almost 2,000 pieces from ancient America was what prompted the temporary closure of the museum.
She says they also wanted to add more pieces to the collection.