Past Exhibitions
Interpretations: Devorah SperberMarch 27–September 1, 2008This “marvelously zany installation artist” (The New York Times) makes sculptures that at first glance appear to be multi-colored abstractions composed of volumes of common craft materials like spools of thread, map tacks, or marker caps. When viewed through special optical devices like a clear acrylic sphere or a convex mirror, however, recognizable images from art history surprisingly emerge. more 
It's Rude to Stare: Drawing and Sculpture by Richard CriddleOctober 4, 2007–February 24, 2008It's Rude to Stare features the sculpture and drawings of English-born, Vermont-based artist Richard Criddle. In a personal 'archaeological dig' into his childhood fears and stories, Criddle, as many of us do, interprets these memories as larger than life. He presents his autobiography as oversized sculptural figures made from wood, bronze, fabricated steel and found objects such as wooden blinds, furniture components, a furnace shovel and heavy industrial hardware.more 
Boxed Sets: Assembling Objects, Images and PeopleMarch 29–September 3, 2007Boxed Sets features assemblage and stained glass artwork of three artists-Lisa Nilsson and Laura Christensen of North Adams, Massachusetts, and Debora Coombs of Readsboro, Vermont-alongside new work they created with local students. The three artists' work relies on boxes and grid-like containers, which are used to form compelling, intricate and colorful designs, as well as narratives and metaphors.more  It's Elementary! Empowering Youth through ArtOctober 12, 2006–February 25, 2007The Fall 2006 Kidspace at MASS MoCA exhibition—It's Elementary!—will offer a look at how children (ages 6–17) from around the globe make visual their enjoyment of, and concerns for, the world in which they live. Kidspace will bring together historic and contemporary artwork of young students from many nations, marking the first time that the gallery will feature a totally youth-made art exhibition, with historical components (some artwork dates back 50 years). 
The New Sound of Music: Hybrid Instruments by Ken ButlerMarch 31–September 4, 2006The New Sound of Music exhibit features hybrid musical instruments created by Ken Butler of Brooklyn, New York. Internationally recognized as an innovator of experimental sculptural instruments, Ken brings together a diversity of everyday materials including tools, sports equipment, and household objects. He has used boots for “violin” bodies, and turned floor mops and children's sleds into “cellos.” He has meshed keyboards with a recycled wire shelves and spotlights to create an interactive musical light show. 
Reading Sculpture: Long-Bin ChenOctober 6–February 26, 2006Taiwan-based sculptor Long-Bin Chen considers himself an “international artistic nomad” who travels the world to create and display his works of art. He transforms old telephone directories, magazines, books, and other printed material into sculptures of human heads, figures, and even representations of hurricanes. He also creates replicas of ancient stone monuments, mummies, weapons, and tools. 
Magic GardensMarch 30–September 5, 2005Throughout the ages, artists have created images of magic gardens. Some are illustrations of make-believe places in which flowers come alive or have supernatural powers. Others are views of real spaces where plants produce interesting patterns and walkways such as a maze or a topiary garden, or a colorful flower and vegetable patch. The Kidspace Magic Garden features vibrant paintings by two individual artists and an artist group, each imagining various ways of using flowers and gardens for their magical properties.
Wonder Worlds: Observations in Pipe Cleaners and Pom-PomsOctober 14–February 28, 2005Boston-based installation artist Linda Price-Sneddon creatively organizes the details of her world using pipe cleaners, pom-poms, colored tape, yarn and putty. She creates patterns found in various places such as oceans, gardens, or towns. Linda also designs unusual shapes and symbols to form made-up, wonder-filled worlds. 
Earth, Wind, and Desire: Wind FarmMarch 4–September 6, 2004Who knows which way the wind blows? 
Earth, Wind, and Desire: Nature ParkOctober 2–February 1, 2004 North Adams' first indoor Nature Park featured the sculptural works of Victoria Palermo and Rob de Mar. You would have been surprised by Palermo's choice of medium as she transformed both natural and manufactured materials into whimsical chairs, abstract sculpture, and colorful trees. Rob de Mar's created fanciful 3-D landscapes that integrated cell phone towers and roads with rolling hills and lush forests.
Susan Leopold: Mixed-Up WorldsFebruary 13–September 7, 2003Susan Leopold: Mixed-Up Worlds featured eleven mixed-media works that showed unusual views of familiar places. With sculptures comprised of mirrors, photographs, and angled walls, Leopold breaks apart images of bathrooms, motel units, and school hallways, and reorganizes their elements to create optical illusions and mazes.
Somebody's Child: Paintings by Willie BirchSeptember 14–January 5, 2003Whether playing music, dancing, resting, or posing, the people in Birch's paintings convey basic human characteristics-pride, strength, tenderness, energy, uncertainty-that are universally recognizable. At the same time, Birch portrays these people in a highly individualized manner and gives their specific experience as African Americans in New Orleans vital form.
Camille Utterback: Engaging SpacesFebruary 8–August 19, 2002In Camille Utterback's installations, video images are projected on screens or walls. Simply by moving or gesturing in the space in front of these images, participants can change them, altering their colors, patterns, shapes, and - in one work - even fragmenting time by activating a stored video clip.
Emil Lukas: Moment of ProcessSeptember 30–December 16, 2001Emil Lukas's artwork combines simple, known materials with complex, unknowable actions. Gravity, light, chemical reactions, and time are used by the artist to alter simple materials like plaster and paper. Lukas often works on a project not knowing what the final result will be. Importantly, for Lukas, it is when these unpredictable forces exert their influence that a pivotal moment of process occurs.
Open and Shut: Artists' DoorsSculpture by Richard Garrison, Ann Kremers, Julia Morgan, Neal Parks, Sue Rees, and August VentimigliaFebruary 1–August 20, 2001We come into contact with doors every day, but we rarely stop to consider their symbolic or metaphorical value. The artists in Open and Shut: Artists' Doors created works of art that compelled us to do just that. The six large-scale sculptures included in this exhibition each used a door or doorway as a basis for exploring a variation on a similar theme.
From Paper to Print: Original Works by Eric CarleOctober 2–December 16, 2000For over 30 years, Eric Carle has created beautiful picture books enjoyed by readers of all ages. From Paper to Print featured 43 of Carle's works, including original illustrations, hand-painted papers, storyboards and more. This exhibition provided a glimpse into Carle's artistic process and invited visitors to paint, make collages, and create original illustrations and stories.
Cristy Rupp: Swimming in the Gene PoolFebruary 2–August 26, 2000Imagine a world where you trip over E. Coli, stare into the eyes of giant insects, and come face to face with the pesticides that cling to your food. You have now entered the world of Christy Rupp. Since the 1970s, this prolific artist has been creating sculpture that makes invisible hazards, like pollution and the results of genetic engineering, visible.
|