Saint Mary's College Expands Its Hearst Art Gallery

has begun construction on an expansion of its Hearst Art Gallery, a favorite haunt of local artists and art lovers.

College spokesman Michael McAlpin said in a prepared release Wednesday that the new construction will enable the gallery to increase exhibition space by 50 percent, and to display a greater number of the 4,500 works of art from Saint Mary's permanent collection in two new large galleries.

The gallery will remain open during construction, McAlpin wrote, and gallery director Carrie Brewster said the current exhibition “,” will remain on view until Sept. 11.

"Even though we have fences up all around the construction, we encourage visitors to come see Pam Glover's work. She was an amazing artist and the exhibition includes 61 plein air landscapes and other works, including postwar fashion illustrations," said Brewster. Public hours are Wednesdays through Sundays, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

The Gallery’s , which features works by California’s 19th century master landscape painter, will be closed until construction is completed in early October.

In addition to the work at the Hearst Art Gallery, other capital improvements currently underway at the college include the installation of a new artificial turf for an athletic practice field and building a new ball park — which is part of the planned .