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Mass MoCA | |
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Founded in a factory town with lots of cheap, large spaces, Mass MoCA in North Adams MA can exhibit huge works of art that would confound other museums. |
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The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (tel 413-662-2111) wants "to foster and present exciting new work of the highest quality in all media – and in all phases of its production." In other words, you never know what you might see here: a finished gigantic work of sculpture, a performance art piece in rehearsal, artists painting, sculpting, welding, drafting sketches, discussing old work and new work and work yet to be conceived. It's not just the huge interior spaces of the museum's 26 former industrial buildings on its 13-acre (5.26-hectare) campus. It's the technical, support and administrative staff that help to make an artist's conception a reality. Once one of the country's largest factories for printed cloth, then a design and manufacturing facility for sophisticated electronics, the factory campus was available in 1986 when Thomas Krens, director of the Williams College Museum of Art, was looking for large spaces in which to display oversize works of contemporary art that couldn't be displayed in traditional museum spaces. The factory campus would have one gallery as long as a (US) football field (91.44 meters), and other, smaller spaces. The idea for Mass MoCA was born. The museum opened on May 30, 1999. The museum stages five major exhibitions each year, and over 80 performance events. For information on current offerings, or to become a member of Mass MoCA, see the Mass MoCA website. What to See & Do in North Adams |
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The campus of Mass MoCA on the Hoosic River in North Adams MA.
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