The Princeton University Art Museum is set to reopen its doors after being closed since June 2021, launching a spectacular 24-hour celebration that begins Friday, October 31, at 5 p.m. and continues through Saturday, November 1, at 5 p.m. The highly anticipated reopening features free admission and a packed schedule of events including sky gazing, art making, live performances, poetry readings, storytelling, and wellness activities throughout the galleries.
While the indoor festivities promise to draw large crowds, visitors can also explore an impressive outdoor art collection scattered across Princeton University's campus. On Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m., Art Museum staff will conduct Princeton University Campus Art Tours, offering guided walking tours of sculptures created by internationally renowned modern and contemporary artists. The campus houses one of the most significant collections of 20th- and 21st-century sculpture in the United States, with a focus on accessible public art that can be enjoyed by anyone strolling through the grounds.
At the heart of the outdoor collection are works assembled for the John B. Putnam Jr. Memorial Collection, an anonymous gift honoring a member of Princeton's Class of 1945 who died in World War II. Over the years, new pieces have been added to reflect the visions of both past and present artists. These public artworks tell the story of great movements in art, science, and politics, reflecting both the University's and the nation's history through the individuals depicted and ideas expressed.
The Princeton University Art Museum has developed a comprehensive website and self-guided mobile tour that provides users with enhanced access to this extraordinary collection through interactive maps, images, and audio recordings. For those who find the opening day crowds overwhelming, the new Art Museum will reopen on Sunday, November 2, from noon to 5 p.m., offering a quieter alternative to experience the renovated space.
Beyond the museum celebration, Princeton offers a full weekend of cultural activities. The Garden Theatre at 160 Nassau Street presents film screenings including Halloween, Mrs. Warren's Profession, Blue Moon, Nouvelle Vague, and The Mastermind. Friday evening entertainment includes the Raphael Silverman Trio performing at Triumph Restaurant & Brewery at 5 p.m., and McCarter Theatre presenting two acclaimed productions: "300 Paintings" by Sam Kissajukian at 7:30 p.m. and "A Moment of Silence" by Iranian playwright Mohammad Yaghoubi at 8 p.m.
"300 Paintings" tells the fascinating story of Sydney comedian Sam Kissajukian, who quit standup in 2021, rented an abandoned cake factory, and spent six months creating 300 large-scale paintings while unknowingly documenting his mental state. The show, running through Sunday, November 2, explores the connections between art, mental health, and creativity in what critics call a hilarious and wildly original performance.
"A Moment of Silence" offers a deeply human meditation on Iran's turbulent modern history through the story of Shiva, who wakes to find she has slept through the Islamic Revolution and continues to slip in and out of sleep over the next decade, awakening to a drastically altered world each time. The play, which runs through Saturday, November 8, has been hailed as the best to emerge from Iran since the 1979 Revolution and has won numerous international awards.
Saturday's events include the West Windsor Farmers Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., a Princeton University Eating Clubs Tour at 10 a.m., and a Día de los Muertos celebration at Princeton Shopping Center from 1 to 3 p.m. featuring mariachi music, dance, food, and hands-on art projects. Music lovers can enjoy performances at multiple venues, including the James Rosocha Trio at Triumph Restaurant & Brewery at 6 p.m. and CJ Coward at Small World Coffee at 7 p.m.
Sunday concludes the weekend with diverse offerings including a Book Brunch featuring author Colby Cedar Smith discussing "The Siren and the Star" at Princeton Public Library, live music by Tookany Creek at Terhune Orchards, and classical performances by both the Richardson Chamber Players and Westminster Community Orchestra. The weekend wraps up with a discussion on Ovid's Metamorphoses at Dorothea's House from 5 to 7 p.m., demonstrating Princeton's commitment to both contemporary and classical cultural programming throughout the community.
