Madison visual arts felt depleted in 2005 with the transitional limbo of the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (waiting for its new home in Overture to open in the spring), and the losses of Spaightwood Galleries, Wendy Cooper Gallery and Art Beat Gallery & Studio.
Then came the astonishing gift of the Chazens (prompting the controversial renaming of the Elvehjem), which projected a bright future for the city’s cramped public art museum, to more than double gallery size and add a dazzling collection of contemporary art, among other enhancements. The sudden renaming is ultimately appropriate: The Chazens have allowed a very good museum to court greatness….