Arts Center Opens

More than 450 people gathered at the new Maffei Arts Plaza (named for Sharon and Greg Maffei '82) on September 14 for a dedication doubleheader of new art and a new home for artists. The plaza, surrounded by the Hopkins Center, the Hood Museum and the new Black Family Visual Arts Center, is the nexus of the Colleges new "arts district." On the west side of the plaza, on the rear wall of the Hop, hang Ellsworth Kelly's new Dartmouth Panels. The abstract artist was present as Hood director Michael Taylor explained the artistic significance of the five brightly painted aluminum rectangles. On the plazas east side stands the 105,000-square-foot arts center, named for the family of Leon Black '73 (who donated $48 million and commissioned Panels). The modern building, featuring a Norwegian slate exterior, was designed by the architectural firm of Machado and Silvetti and is a refreshing addition to downtown Hanover. For students and faculty of the visual arts, film and digital humanities departments, the building is a godsend—for the first time they're all under one roof. Creative Space The Nearburg Arts Forum, a three-story atrium, greets visitors to the new arts center.