Checking In On Art Museums Since Harvey Hit

Across the state, some museums fared better than others.

By Hady MawajdehAugust 29, 2017 12:41 pm,

From KERA’s Art&Seek:

As Hurricane Harvey careened through Texas, museums scrambled to protect priceless treasures. On Monday morning, Art&Seek connected with folks from across the state and we learned that some some fared better than others.   The Rockport Center for the Arts, which is home to a sculptural garden and an exhibition space, was severely damaged over the weekend.

The Center’s Executive Director Luis Purón said on Facebook that he had yet to reach the museum, but the images he’s seen show that the Center’s porch has blown away and that the roof has been exposed.

The Art Museum of South Texas, on the campus of Texas A&M Corpus Christi, was more fortunate. Karol Stewart is the coordinator of community services there.

“What I can tell you right now is that the art museum is still intact,” Stewart says.

Museum staff was able to move artwork into the museum’s vault. That includes pieces from a touring exhibition of American portraits curated by the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery.

“All the artwork is safe and was well protected. And the building is intact,” says Stewart. “And we’ll know more Wednesday once we’re able to assess the damages.”

The museum did take some water damage to the lower level, but that the concrete structure seems to have held up.

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