Longview Museum of Fine Arts is gearing up to unveil its new space in a former bank building on Fredonia Street around the corner from its current home. A section of the 50,000-square-foot structure is set to welcome the public Nov. 2 for a trial opening.
It will be the largest fine arts museum in the region once fully completed. Inside, visitors can see the building’s original bank vault doors, its 1960s vintage mosaic, and on the walls, a marquee art exhibit fit for an occasion long in the making. Opening day will dovetail with the first day of “George Rodrigue: Painting for Myself,” an exhibit boasting more than 50 works by the late Louisiana artist.
Rodrigue built a global reputation for his abstract paintings of blue dogs with haunting yellow eyes and moody landscapes depicting his home state. “We want this exhibit to be our first hurrah,” said Tiffany Jehorek, LMFA executive director. “It’s a beautiful show and lasts for seven months until May 3.
” Longview is the third city to display the exhibit. Two of George Rodrigue's famous dogs as seen in Banana Split Sundae, a painting to be featured in the LMFA exhibit, "George Rodrigue: Painting for Myself," opening November 2 at the museums new Fredonia Street location. (LMFA/Longview News-Journal Photo) Tentative hours for the museum at its new home are 11 a.
m. to 5 p.m.
Wednesday through Sunday. However, a temporary closure of the Fredonia Street building is planned after May 3, 2025, so work can continue. Th.