News

Media Contact:
Maeve Kiley
Director, Communications
Loyola University Chicago
312-915-7712

July 2005, Chicago, IL — Loyola University Chicago announces the opening of Loyola University Museum of Art (LUMA), in October 2005. The new 27,000 sq. foot museum will be located on the University's Water Tower Campus, occupying the main floor (street level), 2nd and 3rd floors of Loyola's historic Lewis Towers on Chicago's famous Michigan Avenue, the Magnificent Mile.

"The museum's unique mission encompasses all faiths, all cultures," states Pamela Ambrose, Loyola's Director of Cultural Affairs. "We are dedicated to the exploration, promotion and understanding of art and artistic expression that illuminates the enduring spiritual questions and concerns of all cultures and societies." Ambrose added, "The exhibitions and educational programming will also reflect the rich cultural diversity of Chicago with guest curators organizing a broad range of exhibitions from antiquities to outsider/intuitive art."

"We believe that LUMA, with the permanent D'Arcy collection as well as myriad rotating exhibitions, is a great addition to the Chicago cultural scene for the entire community and guests of our tremendous city," says Michael Garanzini, S.J., President of Loyola University Chicago. "LUMA allows us to make the D'Arcy collection more accessible to the public and provides an opportunity for the exploration, promotion, and understanding of art and artistic expression within an educational context. I cannot think of a better location for LUMA than on Michigan Avenue to engage visitors and our students and to become part of such a significant cultural corridor."

LUMA is scheduled to host its inaugural exhibition, Caravaggio: una mostra impossibile, with presenting sponsor, the Sara Lee Foundation, from October 2005 through February 2006. This exhibition uses the latest in high definition digital technology to reproduce the complete work of the artist Michelangelo Merisi, known as Caravaggio, on a 1:1 scale with images as large as the 9 foot x 12 foot. The exhibition first opened in Naples in 2003 and has been traveling throughout Europe with record visitor attendance. LUMA visitors to the exhibition will see 69 back lit, illuminated panels which produce an x ray effect. During 2006, LUMA's schedule of exhibitions includes, Arts Botanica, works of contemporary artists and floral inspirations and the Missing Peace: 100 Portraits of the Dalai Lama.

Loyola's Lewis Towers is a gothic revival building directly across from Water Tower Park and currently houses the University's administrative offices and classrooms as well as retail tenants at street level. The Chicago based firm of Solomon, Cordwell and Buenz & Associates designed the museum's interiors spaces for this adaptive reuse project.

LUMA Mission Statement - Art Illuminating the Spirit
The Loyola University Museum of Art is dedicated to the exploration, promotion and understanding of art and artistic expression that attempts to illuminate the enduring spiritual questions and concerns of all cultures and societies. As a museum with an interest in education and educational programming, Loyola University Museum of Art reflects the University's Jesuit Mission and is dedicated to helping men and women of all creeds explore the roots off their own faith and spiritual quest.

About Loyola University Chicago
Committed to preparing people to lead extraordinary lives, Loyola University Chicago was founded in 1870 and is among the largest of the 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States. Loyola has a total enrollment of 14,000 students, which includes 8,500 undergraduates, hailing from all 50 states, as well as 82 foreign countries. The University has four campuses, three in the greater Chicago area and one in Rome, Italy. Loyola's nine schools and colleges include: arts and sciences, business administration, education, graduate studies, law, medicine, nursing, professional studies and social work. Loyola offers 66 undergraduate majors, 59 master's degrees and 36 doctoral degrees. Recognizing Loyola's excellence in education, U.S. News and World Report has ranked Loyola consistently among the "top national universities" and "best values" in its annual publications. For more information, please visit our website at www.luc.edu.

About LUMA
Opened in 2005, the Loyola University Museum of Art is dedicated to exploring, promoting, and understanding art and artistic expression that illuminates the enduring spiritual questions of all cultures and societies. As a museum with an interest in education and educational programming, LUMA reflects the University’s Jesuit mission and is dedicated to helping people of all creeds explore the roots of their faith and spiritual quests. Located at Loyola University Chicago’s Water Tower Campus, the museum occupies the first three floors of the University’s historic Lewis Towers on Chicago’s famous Michigan Avenue. For more information, visit the museum’s website at LUC.edu/luma.

Art illuminating the spirit!

-LUMA-