After giving its current home, the Huntington Mansion, a facelift the National Academy Museum & School in is re-opening its doors on September 16, 2011.

6 exhibits will be staged to celebrate the occasion including these 2:

Will Barnet at 100 (Sept. 16 – Dec. 31, 2011):

"In the first New York retrospective of the artist’s work, Will Barnet at 100 will explore the dialogue between figuration and abstraction that has defined Barnet’s remarkable 80-year career. A painter, printmaker and teacher who has worked largely outside the various schools of Modernism, Barnet has made significant and unique contributions to American art in the realms of both abstraction and figuration. Will Barnet at 100 will feature approximately 45 works from private and museum collections."

An American Collection (Sept.16- Dec. 31, 2011):

"A salon-style installation of approximately 120 paintings from the museum’s collection, An American Collection spans the period 1820-1970 and reflects the diversity of American art and the Academy’s membership. The installation features portraits, landscapes, figure, and genre paintings covering a broad range of styles from the Romantic era of the 1820s through the re-emergence of Realism in the 1960s."

Art fans and budding artists will be thrilled to know that Free Admission will be offered for the reopening week-end (September 16 to September 18) to these 2 exhibits as well as to Art Classes. Seats for art classes are limited so it will be on first come, first served basis. Full details here...

Museum is located at 1083 Fifth Avenue (at 89th Street) and School at 5 East 89th Street

Subway: 4, 5, 6 to 86 Street

Opening hours:  Wednesday trhough Sunday: 11am – 6pm