Museums are usually quiet, solemn places with patrons intently looking at paintings and sculptures.

Saturday night at the Wichita State Ulrich Museum of Art is going to be different.

“It’s a party,” said Teresa Veazey, Ulrich public relations manager. “People are encouraged to come and bring their friends.”

The event, “Ulrich Redux,” is to celebrate the reopening of the museum after months of being closed for reconstruction and updating.

“We’ve been closed since Thanksgiving,” Veazey said.

The merrymaking starts at 7 p.m. and goes to 9 p.m. It is free for WSU students and Ulrich Museum members. Tickets are $10. Everyone must RSVP by calling 316-978-3664.

Veazey said food and drinks will be available, and a jazz quartet will be playing. WSU President John Bardo will make opening remarks, and featured artist Ronald Christ (pronounced crist) will speak.

“It’s like getting ready for the biggest, toughest critique of my life,” Christ said.

Christ will showcase 38 pieces at the event, ranging from fall 1976 when he started teaching at WSU to one he finished only two weeks ago.

“It covers my whole career,” he sad.

Christ will speak about the show on Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Campus Activity Center.

Veazey said some of the improvements to the museum include a new heating and cooling system, movable display panels, some lower ceilings in the Floyd and Barbara Amsden Gallery, a second set of doors in the Dr. Sam and Jacque Khouri Sculpture Terrace, and the carpet was removed from the second floor.

“The upgrade is to maintain constant humidity and constant temperature,” she said about the new heating and cooling system.

The movable display panels allow greater flexibility.

“The end result isn’t noticeable to a museum visitor, but the changes we made were important to the museum,” Veazey said.