MCASD To Honor David Copley With A Community Free Day January 31

On Thursday, January 31, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) will offer free admission in honor of David Copley, the organization’s late board president and a long-time benefactor whose birthday falls on that day.

 

MCASD invites the public to both of its locations in La Jolla and downtown as a way to honor Copley’s vision of making art accessible to everyone and his interest in seeing San Diegans activate public spaces and take advantage of the arts.

 

“In the wake of David’s recent passing, we wanted to honor him throughout the organization he supported so deeply,” says Hugh Davies, the David C. Copley Director and CEO at MCASD. “David understood the value of a museum to a vital community. Offering free admission on David’s birthday reminds us of his deep commitment to the visual arts and to MCASD.”

 

David C. Copley, who died November 20, 2012, was the Museum’s President of the Board of Trustees and a Trustee for over 15 years. He had chaired a board meeting only a short time before his death.

 

Copley’s generosity to MCASD was remarkable. A $1.5 million gift in 1998 from the James S. Copley Foundation endowed the directorship of the Museum. In 1993, a $500,000 contribution helped fund the establishment of MCASD Downtown at America Plaza (The David C. Copley Gallery is located on the main floor of this building). In 2004, Copley gave $3 million for construction of the new museum building across the street from America Plaza, which opened in 2007 (the Copley building is adjacent to the Jacobs Building, which occupies the former baggage building for the Depot).

 

Visitors are invited to enjoy complimentary admission at both Museum locations during normal hours of operation, 11am-5pm. (www.mcasd.org)

• MCASD La Jolla > 700 Prospect Street. On view:

                    Behold, America! Art of the United States from Three San Diego Museums

                    Photography in Mexico: Selections from the Collection

• MCASD Downtown > 1100 and 1001 Kettner Blvd. On view:

                    The Very Large Array: San Diego/Tijuana Artists in the MCA Collection

                    Select works from the permanent collection