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Following its recently-completed renovations, the new Museum of Arts and Design (MAD), will open to the public on September 27. With an impressive 54,000 square feet, this new building offers nearly three times the interior space of the museum’s former incarnation. More importantly, for the first time in its history, MAD now has a space dedicated solely to housing its permanent collection. During a ribbon-cutting ceremony held this morning, Mayor Bloomberg inaugurated the new building along with Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn as well as Jerome Chazen, Chairman of the Capital Campaign for 2 Columbus Circle.
While exploring the six exhibition floors at the new MAD during a press preview held last week, one was immediately struck by the way natural light bathes the interior artwork without ever competing against it. MAD's new Columbus Circle address affords it the rare New York independent stand-alone location, allowing sunlight to shine in from every direction. And that’s to say nothing of its exterior; the nine-story building, designed by Brad Cloepfil of Allied Works Construction, is adorned with iridescent ceramic tiles and strips of glass that allow the exterior to shimmer all around the circle.
Within the mirrored, cubic tower you'll find a collection of contemporary art that emphasizes and celebrates the creative process as well as the finished product. While looking at so many stunning pieces, it can be easy to forget that they were once simple, raw materials—and moreover that it took the work and ideas of an actual artist to craft them into innovative works of art and design. To further the museum's mission, the sixth floor is entirely dedicated both housing three artist studios that are open to the public (so that anyone can observe masters in the midst of their craft) as well as to educational workshops. On the lower level, there is also a 155-seat auditorium that will serve as a valuable space for lectures and educational presentations, as well as film screenings.
During the museum’s press conference held last week, we previewed the striking new galleries and inaugural exhibitions. "Second Lives: Remixing the Ordinary" was among the most impressive. The exhibition features everyday household items transformed into imaginative works of art. Vinyl records are metamorphosed into swarms of butterflies; hundreds of chunky sunglasses compose a chandelier; plastic forks and cotton swabs make up a flower-shaped light installation. It is fascinating to see mundane objects contextualized in such a way that their functionality is all but forgotten in favor of art. "Second Lives" runs until February 15th.
MAD’s vast array of jewelry was also among our favorites. As part of their permanent collection, surprisingly enough, MAD houses the only collection of contemporary jewelry in the United States. So aside from Tiffany & Co., this is the best place in town to get your fill of sparkling chandelier earrings and necklaces that defy chunky. In addition to the cases that adorn the walls of the second floor, there are literally dozens of pull-out drawers underneath them, which contain even more pieces—an eclectic array of bracelets, rings and more—in a variety of mediums from wood to bronze and even paper. This strikes us as a really clever, space-effective way to display an incredibly varied collection.
As MAD officially opens to the public September 27, admission is free during the inaugural weekend. You can read more about the Museum of Arts and Design here.
All photographs copyright © NYC.com. Special thanks to Heidi Riegler.
Tags:
2 columbus circle, Brad Cloepfil, mad, museum arts design, Second Lives
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Posted 19 days ago
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The Museum of Arts and Design is set to re-open in its new home at 2 Columbus Circle on Saturday, September 27. Fortuitously, MAD will be open to the public for free during its inaugural weekend. Some of the exhibitions on display include Elegant Armor: The Art of Jewelry and Remixing the Ordinary, which showcases mundane, mass-produced objects transformed into contemporary works of art. Also be sure to look for the performers wearing large, balloon-like sculptures known as "Megamites" (designed by Jason Hackenworth) in the front of the museum during the inaugural celebration.
At 54,000 square feet, the new location is triple the size of the museum's old building. Designed by Brad Cloepfil of Allied Works, the museum can now hold its entire permanent collection, as well as variety of revolving, temporary ones. MAD also houses several unique installation pieces, including a ceramic, abstract wall relief by Ruth Duckworth and a stained-glass commission by Judith Schaechter. In keeping with its mission to inform, educate, and encourage artistic exploration, there are several classrooms and studios on the museum's sixth floor, as well as a 150-seat auditorium for lectures, performances and symposiums.
Architecturally speaking, the new exterior remains loyal to the boxy original. While it has a more geometric, tiled façade, it still resembles the museum’s old look in a way that’s sure to satisfy preservationists. However, some critics claim the design isn’t bold enough to justify its remodeling. Whatever your opinion on the design, New Yorkers are sure to acknowledge that the new MAD will serve as yet another great artistic space in the city.
Admission is $15 dollars for adults and $12 students and seniors; members get in free. For additional information and historic background, do visit the museum's recently-upgraded website.
Image © Allied Works Architecture
Tags:
mad, museum arts design
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Posted 33 days ago
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One of the many rooms you might enjoy during the holiday opening today at the Metropolitan Museum of Art is the panoramic portrait of Versailles, shown above in a photograph taken yesterday. Painted at Kingston, New York, and New York City between 1818 and 1819, this seminal work fills an impressive space found between the Temple of Dendur and American Wing. Take along your copy of Richard Brody's Everything Is Cinema, a seminal quasi-hagiography of Jean-Luc Godard, and stand out from the crowd by reading it perched on a shaded bench on the rooftop garden, where you can also enjoy Jeff Koons' whimsical sculptures.
Also read our review of the Greek and Roman galleries which undoubtedly will be packed with visitors.
Tags:
john vanderlyn, met museum, temple of dendur, versailles
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Posted 41 days ago
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In recent years, the French artist known as Invader installed a number of intriguing street-art projects he calls attacks in several cities, some of which are still visible here in the Chelsea gallery district. Above (right) the former Heavenly Body Works building on West 22nd Street between Tenth and Eleventh Avenues, home now to a Comme des Garçons boutique, you'll find a handsome green Pac-Man ghost made of Rubik's cubes. And a block away (left) at the corner of West 21st Street and Eleventh Avenue you'll find this nice tile Space Invader.
Invader first installed some great tile work in 2000 in SoHo and around town. In 2006, Invader installed some massive Rubik's Cube-inspired sculptures around Paris, and you can admire some of his more recent exhibitions on his website.
Tags:
comme des garcons, invader, pac man, space invaders
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Posted 46 days ago
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While the forlorn Dia flagship at 548 West 22nd Street remains for lease, the appointment of Philippe Vergne as Dia’s new director heralds a new season in hopefully a new direction—any direction would be appropriate.
On September 10, both the Broken Kilometer site on West Broadway and The New York Earth Room on Wooster Street re-open. And on Monday, September 15, Robert Buck will lecture on Andy Warhol at the Dia Art Foundation, 535 West 22nd Street at 6:30 pm. Admission is $6; $3 for members, students, and seniors. Tickets are available at the lecture only. Reservations are suggested, please call 212 293 5583.
On September 21, Zoe Leonard's "You see I am here after all, 2008" opens at Dia Beacon. Phone (845) 440-0100 or visit Dia's website for more information.
Tags:
andy warhol, broken kilometer, dia chelsea, dia foundation, earth room
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Posted 56 days ago
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