ART MUSEUM FOR MORE THAN ART

Contemporary art museums shoulder responsibility for more than just housing art. They can also contribute to the well-being of the parent city, generate tourism and its consequent revenue, and galvanize local redevelopment. Next week writer Katharine Logan will show how the Figge, a new museum by British architect David Chipperfield, not only envelopes its collections in a luminous embrace, but also symbolizes the regeneration of Davenport, Iowa’s riverfront downtown.

HOME SWEET GRANITE

For thousands of years, people have used granite and marble to build palaces and temples, but such natural stone has generally cost too much for use in residential construction. Recently, several companies from southern Brazil have joined forces to provide affordable finished products made from what had been considered a luxurious material. Next week writer Candace Nelson will trace the path of natural stone from its geological roots to your kitchen countertop.