ICA delay won't spoil the party

Wolfgang Puck's crew, scheduled to cater a week's worth of parties marking the opening of the new Institute of Contemporary Art, got a call Thursday. That night, the ICA popped letters in the mail to more than 3,000 people -- donors and members, as well as such invited guests as Frank Gehry, Jeff Koons, and Yoko Ono.

The word was out: There would be no celebrations on Fan Pier this September.

That was life at the ICA late this week, as the staff worked to shift the opening of their new $51-million waterfront home from September to sometime later in the fall. Director Jill Medvedow made the decision Wednesday because of a lengthy list of what she says are minor but important construction details. No new opening date has been given, though the ICA says the delay will be for weeks, not months.

``I'll tell you, we're all tired, but I feel great," Carola Cadley, the ICA's director of institutional advancement, said yesterday. ``You're always a little concerned with people's reactions when you have put it out there publicly, and there's been a date in the world people are looking at. But the decision felt so right. That makes it much easier for you to talk with people."

Last week, the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau sent out an e-mail to 3,000 newspaper, magazine, and television reporters on its marketing list detailing the week of events scheduled for the ICA's September opening. Yesterday, the Visitors Bureau wrote again, this time to let the list members know of the delay, and that they would be the first to know once a new opening date is set.

``Do I think it's a pain? Yeah," said Larry Meehan, vice president of media and tourism for the bureau. ``But it's something that can be dealt with and we'll deal with it. I've been waiting intensely for two years for this wonderful building to open. Two or three weeks won't make a difference."

Boston-based artist Taylor Davis, whose work is part of the ICA's new permanent collection, had planned on hosting her sister's family, who were driving up from Connecticut, for the opening. Yesterday morning, she got a call from Bennett Simpson, the ICA's associate curator.

``I wasn't that surprised because I feel like I have friends that have been sort of talking about the site and saying there's still a lot to do," said Davis.

She also wasn't upset.

``Here's the bottom line," Davis said. ``The big deal is I'm part of the permanent collection. The big deal is the ICA is being built. When that opening happens, I'm going to be psyched to be there."

Laura Millin, the executive director of the Missoula Art Museum in Montana , knows about construction delays. Her institution, in the midst of a $5 million renovation, twice had to postpone the reopening, from April to June and finally to September.

Millin knows Medvedow from when they both lived in Seattle in the 1980s.

``I don't envy [her]," said Millin. ``Six weeks is a tight timeline to shift. On the other hand, maybe you could say it builds even more excitement."

Personally, Millin doesn't mind the delay. With the Missoula museum scheduled to hold its re-opening Sept. 15, she wasn't going to be able to make it to Boston for the planned ICA festivities.

``Now I'll be waiting with bated breath for that new date, and I'll be there," said Millin.

Geoff Edgers can be reached at gedgers@globe.com