East Wing of the National Gallery Reopens

The East Wing of the National Gallery Reopened this past Friday. Here's a little about what's been changed:

More space for the permanent collection. One of the biggest upgrades was the allocation of more exhibit space in the existing five-story building. The renovations added 12,250 square feet, allowing for the permanent-collection works on display to be increased from 350 to more than 500. Much of that new space is in the museum’s three skylight-topped towers, two of which are connected by a new rooftop terrace.

Roof terrace: Once you’ve climbed to the top of towers one and two, be sure to head outside onto the new outdoor exhibition space, where you’ll be able to gaze over Constitution Avenue alongside a nearly 15-foot electric blue rooster. The sculpture, “Hahn/Cock” by Katharina Fritsch, was created for London’s Trafalgar Square and is on loan from the Glenstone Museum in Potomac. It’s joined by other works, including Nam June Paik’s “Ugly Buddha” and “Ugly TV.”

The view form the roof top terrace