Its permanent exhibits closed, museum reachs out to patrons

Some exhibits will be closed until 2011.
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Construction barriers have put the best of the Cleveland Museum of Art off-limits to visitors for years, so the renowned institution is trying its hand at art posters in train stations and storefront classes.
The effort makes sense in terms of keeping the museum's name in the public eye, but it doesn't sit well with some fans who already miss art treasures spanning 6,000 years.
"I think it's ridiculous," said David Kovaluk, 19, of St. Louis, a student at the nearby Cleveland Institute of Art. He has seen the museum's only remaining open exhibit, a special crafts display, but wishes the highly regarded permanent exhibits were open on a rotating basis.
"I think they could do something in phases," Kovaluk said.
Expansion project
The museum is involved in a $258 million, six-year renovation and expansion and closed its permanent exhibits, some until 2011, to speed up the project. The special crafts exhibit will end Jan. 8 and the museum will be closed at least until next summer.
Bruce Checefsky, who directs the Reinberger Galleries at the institute, said there's no risk of fans forgetting about the museum.
"The Cleveland Museum of Art is such an important part of the city of Cleveland and the cultural history of Cleveland -- what they give to the city -- that's just not going to happen. I have no doubt," said Checefsky, who has collaborated with CMA on projects.
Steven High, director of the Nevada Museum of Art in Reno, agreed there was no risk that the Cleveland museum would fall off the radar for art fans. "It's a fantastic museum," according to High, who said community outreach programs nevertheless can be useful.
High said closing a museum during building work can save money by shortening the construction schedule. In addition, closed galleries during construction mean less risk to art from dust or other hazards, High said.
Reaching out
The museum is trying to extend its reach with various initiatives, including a poster display of museum art at commuter train stations in Cleveland, a retail storefront in trendy Shaker Square and classes at a suburban Beachwood building where Baldwin-Wallace College has satellite courses.
Michael J. Horvitz, chairman of the museum, said last month in announcing the Shaker Square location, which includes a retail shop and art classes, was part of a strategy to keep connected with the community.
It "allows us to continue our connection with the community in this very public, historic space as work on our renovation and expansion project continues," he said.
Charleyse Pratt, who runs the Baldwin-Wallace location in Beachwood, said the museum programs help cement relationships between the museum and its fans. "Their patrons are very loyal. You need to keep their loyal patrons connected," Pratt said.
Reaction
The initiatives haven't made up for the closed galleries, as far as Rachel DeMay, 18, a first-year CIA student from Middlefield, is concerned.
"It's kind of like a big void sitting over there," said DeMay, waving out a window to the museum and its construction barriers across the street.
Her studies have prompted a better appreciation for art and the need to study it in detail, and a classroom display of art on the Internet is insufficient, DeMay said.
"It's not the same when you look it up on the Internet," she said. "Now that it's closed, it's a bummer."