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The old Barnes Foundation mansion had inextricable charm and significance, but its idyllic suburban setting could be frustratingly inaccessible for non-Merion residents. After a well-documented legal battle, a polemic documentary and months of unsightly construction, Albert Barnes' heralded art collection will be open to the public again in its new home on the Parkway. The sprawling arboretum may be gone, but by all accounts the spirit of Barnes' eclectically arranged collection has been carefully preserved. To celebrate the move, the gallery's owners are offering free admission for 56 consecutive hours, giving the public an unrivaled chance to see Barnes' storied wall ensembles (the chemist-turned-collector eschewed tradition, clustering paintings with furniture and hardware). To sweeten an already-perfect deal, the Foundation has also invited in a host of performing-arts organizations — though with an array of art this entrancing, you may not even notice.
Sat.-Mon., May 26-28, free (reservations recommended), Barnes Foundation, 2025 Ben Franklin Pkwy., 866-849-7056, barnesfoundation.org.



