Steve Schreiner, who is
the son of Ms. Schreiner and the current Chair of the museum’s Capital Campaign stated: “Mom, who rarely if
ever sought attention for herself, would be truly honored to have the new
Catalina Island Museum building named after her. Catalina Island was her favorite place on the planet, and
she remained involved in the museum as a board member until her passing.”
“Blanny was a steadfast
supporter of the Catalina Island Museum,” Dr. Michael De Marsche, Executive
Director of the museum recently stated.
“She possessed an indomitable spirit. Her generosity extended over a period of many years, often
providing critical support that sustained museum operations. Her dream was the construction of a
building that could provide a permanent home to the museum and be
sustainable. We’re reaching those
goals quickly, and it would have been impossible without Blanny. Naming the building after her not only
honors her memory but will always remind us of the enormous debt we owe this
remarkable woman.”
The museum has rented its present facility in the
Avalon Casino since it’s founding, and, according to De Marsche, plans for the
museum’s first permanent home are progressing steadily.
“Architectural plans for the new building have been
approved by the city,” stated De Marsche.
“We are about to solicit construction bids during the coming weeks. It’s quite possible that construction
on the building will begin before this summer.”
Designed by the architectural firm of Marengo
Morton Architects of La Jolla, CA, the construction of the Ada Blanche Wrigley
Schreiner Building will expand the present museum’s space by over 8,000 square
feet. It is the most significant
building project on Santa Catalina since William Wrigley, Jr. built the Avalon
Casino in 1929. Exhibition
space will more than double with spaces dedicated to plein air painting, Catalina
Island history and special exhibitions traveling to the museum from around the
world. Amenities in the new
building will include a spacious entrance lobby and visitor center, a digital
theater, an atrium and sculpture garden, an expansive museum store, rooftop
gardens, and a vault area dedicated to staff offices, storage and
research. The museum is currently
engaged in the quiet phase of a capital campaign that has raised over $6
million of the $9 million needed to construct the museum’s new building.
The Catalina Island Museum is Avalon’s
sole institution devoted to art, culture and the rich history of Santa Catalina
Island. It is located on the ground
floor of Avalon’s historic Casino, and is open 7 days a week, from 10:00 a.m.
to 5:00 p.m. For more information,
the museum may be reached by phone at 310-510-2414 or at its website:
CatalinaMuseum.org.
