BY KATE BRAUER AND ROB JANSEN

Spring is here! While acclimating ourselves to the seasonal change, we decided to take a look at some exciting aesthetic changes occurring in area art museums and galleries. The visual arts landscape in Cincinnati will change greatly in May with the opening of the new LOIS AND RICHARD ROSENTHAL CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ART (Walnut and Sixth streets, Downtown). Designed by Zaha Hadid, the new building will be the first freestanding home for the CONTEMPORARY ARTS CENTER. The 87,000-square-foot building, which broke ground in 2001, marks Hadid's first commission in the U.S. and the first new art museum in the country designed by a woman. "This new building will make the Contemporary Arts Center the most accessible institution of its kind in the nation, moving contemporary art away from the fringes and literally bringing it into the life of our city and its residents," said CAC Director CHARLES DESMARAIS. Recently, we had the opportunity to tour this state-of-the-art facility and were greatly impressed by its innovative use of space and its attempt to create new ways of interaction among art, artists and viewers. For those interested in celebrating the opening of this groundbreaking new building, the CAC hosts a Grand Opening Preview Party May 31. Info: www.contemporaryartscenter.org. ... For those saddened by the closing of Closson's downtown, Thursday brings good news: Closson's reopens its art gallery in a new location and with a new name. THE PHYLLIS J. WESTON ART GALLERY AT CLOSSON'S (2643 Erie Ave., Hyde Park) draws its eponymous name in honor of 38-year veteran gallery director PHYLLIS WESTON, a national authority on American Impressionism with a keen eye for talent and a knack for discovering important regional artists. The gallery's first opening will feature a special collection by JENS JENSEN and MICHAEL SCOTT; Scott will be on hand for the opening. In addition, the savvy Weston has procured original works by PABLO PICASSO, HENRI MATISSE and JOAN MIRÓ for the grand opening, certainly an event not to be missed. Closson's art gallery first opened in 1866 and has been a cornerstone of the Cincinnati art world for generations, representing such well-known names as FRANK DUVENECK, EDWARD POTTHAST and JOHN TWACHTMAN. Hours: Monday-Wednesday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Thursday-Friday 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday 12-5 p.m. ... Speaking of Phyllis Weston, the CINCINNATI ART MUSEUM (953 Eden Park Drive, Eden Park) opens its CINCINNATI WING on May 17 featuring the Procter & Gamble collection, curated by Weston in conjunction with JOHN SMALE, P&G's former chairman. The collection, which the CAM has been displaying since Feb. 15, is just a small portion of the works to be featured in the CAM's new Cincinnati Wing. The new wing is 18,000 square feet of renovated and newly designed space consisting of 15 galleries designed to tell the story of Cincinnati's evolving role in the art world. A few of us at CityBeat had the distinct pleasure of touring the wing while it was still under construction. The structure is magnificent, lending itself to a natural traffic flow that will tell the chronological story. Bringing the past and the present together in a truly compelling sense, CAM has commissioned Cincinnati artist MARK FOX to create an installation for the grand opening. CAM Director TIMOTHY RUB told us the plan for the wing is to continually renew itself with new works by emerging local artists. We think it's nothing short of brilliant -- a bold move on the part of the CAM to bring history into the present and to increase awareness of Cincinnati artists locally and throughout the country. A month and a half remains until the Cincinnati Wing officially opens, but we're waiting with baited breath.

E-mail Kate Brauer and Rob Jansen

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