The Nasher expects their one-millionth visitor to pass through the doors of the Renzo Piano-designed museum sometime tomorrow, and to help encourage the last push, the museum will open its doors for free for two hours during lunctime to welcome in the milestone guest. If you happen to be number 999,999, then you won’t win the “Million-minute membership” that the person coming in behind you will. Timing is everything. Here’s more info:

Nasher Sculpture Center to Celebrate Important Milestone with Arrival of One-millionth Visitor on February 16; Expected Arrival around 11 am.

WHO:    Public invited to enjoy free admission for two hours, and the opportunity to become an important part of the history of the institution with the countdown to the one-millionth visitor. Nasher supporters, art leaders, community leaders, students and members gather to welcome the one-millionth visitor to the Nasher Sculpture Center.

WHAT: One-hour celebration of the one-millionth visitor to the Nasher will include:

        – Free public admission to the Nasher Sculpture Center, 11 am to 1 pm, including access to Alexander Calder and Contemporary Art: Form, Balance, Joy.

        – Ceremonial countdown and photo-op with one-millionth visitor, who will receive a “Million-minute Membership,” commemorative Nasher photograph and Nasher gifts.

        – Grand entrance and photo-op to be followed by brief remarks by Director Jeremy Strick, and cake in Nasher Hall.

        – 85+ students from Stonewall Jackson Elementary School to participate in gallery/garden tours and photo-       op, and to receive special gift from Nasher, Moonbird, Moonbird Fly Away with Me coloring book.

WHEN:   Wednesday, February 16:  11 am – 1 pm
        (One-millionth visitor expected to arrive close to opening at 11 am)

WHERE:  Nasher Sculpture Center, Dallas Arts District, 2001 Flora Street, Dallas, TX

Interviews available:
•       Jeremy Strick, Director of the Nasher Sculpture Center
•       Community and Art Leaders
•       Nasher Visitors, including possible interview with the one-millionth visitor

About the Nasher Sculpture Center:
Open since October 2003, the Nasher Sculpture Center is dedicated to the display and study of modern and contemporary sculpture.  The Center is located on a 2.4-acre site in the heart of the Dallas Arts District.  Renzo Piano, a world-renowned architect and winner of the prestigious Pritzker Prize in 1998, is the architect of the Center’s 55,000 square foot building.  Piano worked in collaboration with landscape architect Peter Walker on the design of the two-acre Sculpture Garden. The Nasher Sculpture Center was the longtime dream of the late Raymond and Patsy Nasher, who together formed one of the finest collections of modern and contemporary sculpture in the world.  The Raymond and Patsy Nasher Collection includes masterpieces by Calder, de Kooning, di Suvero, Giacometti, Hepworth, Kelly, Matisse, Miró, Moore, Picasso, Rodin, and Serra, among others, and continues to grow and evolve.The Nasher Sculpture Center presents rotating exhibitions of works from the Nasher Collection as well as special exhibitions drawn from other museums and private collections.  In addition to indoor gallery space, the Center contains an auditorium, education and research facilities, a cafe, and a store. 

The Nasher Sculpture Center is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm, Thursday from 11am to 9 pm., and special hours for public events. Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for seniors, $5 for students, and free for members and children 12 and under.  For more information, visit www.NasherSculptureCenter.org.

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