Where will you be in October? November? Chances are good that if you’re traveling this fall, that location will be near the site of a major renovation, reinstallation or completely new museum or art space.

Museums today are going bigger, brighter and more interactive than ever, the better to engage the public. The Barnes Foundation, once tucked away in a residential community in the Philadelphia suburbs, has just opened a jaw-droppingly contemporary new home on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in the heart of the city. The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, once just a philanthropist’s idea and an architect’s rendering, is now a real museum, open to all, that’s transformed its rural Arkansas surroundings. And studio glass pioneer Dale Chihuly has opened a permanent new garden and exhibition space in the shadow of Seattle’s iconic Space Needle for visitors to walk around in.

Perhaps the most highly anticipated opening of the year has been the reinstallation of the Albert C. Barnes Collection. The Barnes Foundation’s new home, designed in limestone and bronze by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, opened to great fanfare (and exceptionally enthusiastic reviews) in May.

For the first time in nearly 100 years, anyone who wants to travel to Philadelphia’s Museum Mile can see the more than 2,000 objects, from masterworks by Renoir, Cezanne, Matisse, Picasso, Modigliani, Degas and Van Gogh, to wide-ranging assortments of Native American pottery and rugs, African sculptures and American decorative metalwork, amassed during the first half of the 20th century by the irascible physician, chemist and self-made millionaire. In keeping with Dr. Barnes’s explicit wishes, this magnificent collection was previously housed in the foundation’s original headquarters in suburban Merion, Pa.

Dr. Barnes believed that art should be an amalgamation of fine, decorative and functional works, and that arrangement has been preserved in the new location. The new galleries show the art in exactly the same configurations as in the old ones, complete with the same moldings and mustard-colored walls. However, many elements—the lighting, the organization of the rooms, access to the building—have been expanded and improved. In addition to the galleries, the new Barnes includes a cafe, a gift shop, classrooms and a 150-seat auditorium. The venue’s wood floors deserve special mention: parts of them once served as support beams under New York’s Coney Island Boardwalk, recycled for use in their present setting.

During his lifetime, Dr. Barnes famously loathed Philadelphia because he was convinced his art was not properly appreciated there. Fortunately for art lovers everywhere, the city has finally made amends, and the doctor’s spirit is very much alive in the new space.

For more of “2012 Fall Arts Preview,” pick up a copy of the Fall issue of AmericanStyle.

American museums are gearing up to launch a full roster of exciting new fall and winter exhibitions. From the Fuller Craft Museum in Massachusetts to the Crocker Museum of Art in Sacramento, Calif., we’ve scoured the country to hand-pick our favorites and share them with you.

• African artist El Anatsui’s many talents will go on glorious display in “El Anatsui: When I Last Wrote to You About Africa,” now through Dec. 30 at the Denver Art Museum. The 40-year retrospective features 65 works, including eight spectacular metal wall sculptures made from thousands of bottle caps, as well as numerous works from the artist’s own collection.

• Winslow Homer first realized the unrelenting power of the sea upon witnessing a shipwreck firsthand in 1881. After that encounter, the perils of water inspired much of his art, as can be seen in “Shipwreck! Winslow Homer and ‘The Life Line’ ” at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. On view now through Dec. 16, it features Homer’s work in watercolors, paintings and prints, with shipwrecks and water rescues as a central theme.

• Long before the development of the radio, television or the Internet, people got information about new technology, innovation and high fashion by attending a World’s Fair. From Oct. 13 to Feb. 24, the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh will take visitors back in time to see more than 200 examples of decorative art and design showcased during those expositions in “Inventing the Modern World: Decorative Arts at the World’s Fairs, 1851–1939.

• “Posters of Paris: Toulouse-Lautrec and His Contemporaries” will also transport viewers back in history, this time to the boulevards of late 19th-century Paris. Running Oct. 14 to Jan. 20, the show at the Dallas Museum of Art explores posters from the City of Light, including the early designs of Jules Cheret and notable poster artists Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Pierre Bonnard and Alphonse Mucha.

• “Faberge: the Rise and Fall, the Collection of the Virginia Museum of Fine Art” at the Detroit Institute of Art traces Peter Carl Faberge’s rise to fame, highlighting his business savvy, artistic innovations and privileged relationship with the Russian aristocracy. On view Oct. 14-Jan. 21, the exhibition features more than 200 jewel-entrusted works, including four exquisite imperial Easter eggs, each of which took at least a year to create.

• The Museum of Arts and Design in New York is mounting an exhibition of works by painter, metalsmith and sculptor Daniel Brush in “Daniel Brush: Blue Steel Gold Light” from Oct. 16 to Feb. 7. A 40-year retrospective, it offers prime examples of the artist’s oeuvre, from large-scale painted canvases to gold-domed containers encrusted with gold granules so minuscule they must be fused with microscopic precision.

• Roughly 75 pieces, including a collection of 17 teacups, bowls and sketches, will go on display in “Chris Gustin: Masterworks in Clay,” Oct. 20 to Feb. 24 at the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, Mass. The retrospective honors the artist’s 35-year career as a teacher and artist, who is known for his biomorphic forms and dedication to exploration of the vessel.

• Art jewelry and glass converge in breathtaking pieces of decorative art in “Cutting Edge: RAM Explores Contemporary Glass Jewelry” at Wisconsin’s Racine Museum of Art. From Oct. 28-Feb. 17, visitors can see work by more than 20 international artists including Joyce Scott, Linda MacNeil and Elsa Freund as part of RAM’s contribution the nationwide celebration of 50 years of studio glass.

• The war in Iraq, 9/11, homelessness, racism—Thornton Dial takes them all on with his paintbrush and pencil. The High Museum of Art in Atlanta will display a 20-year retrospective Dial’s work in “Hard Truths: The Art of Thornton Dial.” It includes 70 large-scale paintings, drawings and found-object sculptures, including 25 on view for the very first time, in the show from Nov. 3-March 3.

• Norman Rockwell is one of America’s most beloved and recognizable artists, best known for chronicling typical 20th-century American life. The Crocker Museum of Art in Sacramento, Calif., will honor the artist with “American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell” running Nov. 10-Feb. 3. Featuring 50 original paintings of some of his most famous illustrations, drawings and war bond posters, as well as more than 300 covers he created for the Saturday Evening Post, the exhibit explores the artist, his work and its impact on American culture.

There’s nothing quite like meeting the artist who created your newest acquisition face-to-face. And one of the only places where that’s guaranteed is at one of a host of art fairs rolling out across the country this fall. Here are some of the best:

• Chicago’s largest and longest continuing art fair is back for its 19th run, featuring some of the world’s most innovative works of decorative art. SOFA CHICAGO, held Nov. 2-4 at Navy Pier Festival Hall, will include some 60 international galleries showing masterworks in contemporary art and design, sculpture and functional art, plus related special exhibitions and an extensive lecture series. www.sofaexpo.com

• From traditional to contemporary, from individual pieces to full room sets, the Providence Fine Furnishings Show offers it all. Moved this year to the newly renovated Pawtucket Armory Arts Center in Pawtucket, R.I., on Nov. 2-4, the 17th annual edition will include the very best designs from a roster of American artists working in a variety of materials and offering a range of price points. www.finefurnishingsshows.com

• Mark your calendars for latest edition of the Jewelry Fair at the Walters, Nov. 2-4 at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, Md. A signature event of the Walters’ Women’s Committee, more than 20 of America’s finest jewelers will gather in the museum’s Sculpture Court to show and sell pieces ranging from traditional to contemporary, worked in an array of materials and techniques. www.thewalters.org

• Collectors, art enthusiasts and discerning shoppers will enjoy the opportunity to meet 100 juried artists and purchase their work at the new Craft at Purchase show in Purchase, N.Y. Held Nov. 2-4, it will include one-of-a-kind and limited-edition jewelry, clothing, accessories and home décor as well as functional and sculptural works in ceramics, glass, metal, photography, wood and mixed media, with all ticket sales to benefit the Performing Arts Center at SUNY Purchase. www.artrider.com

• The Pennsylvania Convention Center is the staging ground for more than 195 artists from across the country during the 36th annual juried Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, Nov. 8-11 in Philadelphia. Glass, jewelry, mixed media, fiber, metal and more will be on display, with a select group of artists from Great Britain also invited to exhibit and sell their work. www.pmacraftshow.org

• More than 200 of the nation’s best contemporary craft artists working in a dozen different mediums will converge at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., for the annual Washington Craft Show. Held Nov. 16-18, the show celebrates 50 years of studio art glass, as well as its own 25th anniversary, with a special exhibit, lectures, movie screenings, an author meet and greet, and much more. www.washingtoncraftshow.com

• The Paradise City Arts Festival kicks off its annual show at the Royal Plaza Trade Center in Marlborough, Mass, on Nov. 16-18, with more than 175 notable American craft artists showing museum-quality art, craft and sculpture. As if that weren’t enough, the show also includes free parking, live jazz and delectable dining. www.paradisecityarts.com

• Truly a celebration of art for all, the Celebration of Craftswomen showcases the juried work of more than 300 artists in the Herbst Pavilion at San Francisco’s Fort Mason Center. Spread over two consecutive weekends, Nov. 24-25 and Dec. 1-2, the fair offers a vast array of handcrafts including clothing, furniture and accessories, jewelry, ceramics and pottery, paper goods and glass—all under one roof, and all made in America.
www.celebrationofcraftswomen.org

• The Miami Convention Center will host its first annual Miami River Art Fair Dec. 4-9 in the heart of the city’s downtown financial district. Promising to be one of the hottest tickets in town, it features an indoor setting of exhibiting international galleries as well as a one-of-a-kind outdoor Riverfront Sculpture Mall showcasing monumental sculpture and installations on the banks of the historic Miami River. www.miamiriverartfair.com

• Craftboston Holiday celebrates its fifth anniversary in style at The Cyclorama at Boston Center, with selective displays by more than 90 craft artists from across the country. From Dec. 7-9, visitors will have a chance to pick up unique handmade holiday gifts and stocking stuffers including glassware, ceramics, fiber and more. www.craftboston.org

• Considered one of the Florida Gold Coast’s most influential contemporary art fairs, ArtPalmBeach will feature art from some of the world’s most distinguished galleries, Jan. 25-28, 2013 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. Visitors can expect to see everything from cutting-edge contemporary work to traditional classics during this elegant three-day affair, as well as taking in art lectures from notable experts, including the 2013 APB Visionary Award recipient Lino Tagliapietra. www.artpalmbeach.com

Contemporary art collectors Giselle and Benjamin Huberman have come back home. After years of splitting their time between Florida and Washington, D.C., they chose last year to return permanently to the National Capital area, back to the place where they launched impressive careers in law and government, and where they raised their children. Their new home, a large contemporary colonial in Potomac, Md., is a glittering showcase for the vast collection they’ve amassed during their marriage.

But the Hubermans are collectors on a mission: they see their four-story home as a place where art collectors and artists from around the world can meet and mingle, dance and dine together, and feast on their shared passion for the arts.

The Hubermans relax with the family’s Lhasa-Poos Lilly and Billy, backed by a detail of a painting by Tom Downing. Credit: Timothy Jacobsen

“It’s really not about us at all,” says Giselle emphatically, “it’s about artists. Ben and I are passionate about the Washington art scene, and we want to emphasize the artists who live and work here.” They are strong supporters of the James Renwick Alliance, the Washington Project for the Arts and Artomatic, the D.C. area’s biggest annual multimedia arts event. The works of young Washington area artists such as Tim Tate, Michael Janis, Sean Hennessey and Chris Shea are displayed prominently throughout the house.

Dominating the airy, light-filled foyer is a sculptural tumble of copper blocks, a work the Hubermans commissioned from Washington artist Rick Wall. Warming the walls in their living and dining rooms are abstracts by famed Washington Color School artists Tom Downing, Howard Mehring, Paul Reed, Leon Berkowitz and Sam Gilliam. Virtually every space in the house is orchestrated so that works by Washington artists can sing.

That musical metaphor is apt, as both Giselle, who was born in Mexico City, and Ben, who was born in Cuba, play the piano. The pair sometimes accompany their guests in song at fundraisers they host; chief among the many causes they support is the James Renwick Alliance, of which Giselle is president-elect.

Large dinner parties are held on the top floor of the house. Guests are seated at one of five contemporary wood tables, including three copper and walnut ones handcrafted by Rick Wall, and two others from the studio of legendary American sculptor Wendell Castle. Often, following dinner, guests drift to the lower level of the house, where a polished wood floor is always ready for dancing.

“At this stage in our lives,” says Giselle, “supporting the arts is really what we want to do.” Nevertheless, both still maintain active careers.

An engineer by training, Ben has held high-level positions in the White House and currently serves as a Navy advisor at the Pentagon. Giselle, a linguist who once chaired the languages department at American University, transitioned into a career as a communications lawyer. She also co-owned multiple radio stations and still shares ownership of telecommunications towers.

Their work keeps them busy. But it is art, the couple readily admits, that keeps them excited. “It’s like breathing, it’s air,” says Giselle. “I need art to feel happy.”

For more of “Collectors on a Mission,” pick up a copy of the Fall issue of AmericanStyle magazine.

Serious craft collectors always keep an eye out for new work, new artists and emerging talent. One of the most consistently reliable sources for satisfying all three of these conditions is the annual winners’ list of the NICHE Awards, a juried competition launched 23 years ago by AmericanStyle’s sister publication, NICHE magazine, as a way to recognize talent and encourage creativity in all craft mediums.

Artists from the U.S. and Canada are invited to enter their best work for consideration. This year, a panel of six judges—Julia Daily, executive director of the Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi; Arthur DeBow, exhibitions director of the Hoffman Gallery at the Oregon College of Art and Craft; Leslie Genszler, retail operations director at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art in Wisconsin; Gwynne Ruckenbrod, executive director of the nonprofit oganization HandMade in America; Ruth Misenko, owner of Seasons on St. Croix Gallery in Hudson, Wis.; and Betsy Poole, museum shop manager at Fallingwater, the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house preserved by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy— worked their way through more than 1,100 entries in nearly 40 categories in the professional division to choose the winners.

Each work was judged on technical excellence, both in surface design and form; a distinct quality of unique, original and creative thought; and market viability. The 2012 awards were presented earlier this year during ceremonies at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, in conjunction with the 30th anniversary edition of the winter Buyers Market of American Craft.

What you see here is just a sampling of the extraordinary work produced by the winning artists. A full list of all the 2012 winners and finalists, complete with images of their entries, can be found at www.NICHEAwards.com.