January 15, 2001

Open and Shut: Artists' Doors is the New Exhibit in Kidspace

(January 15, 2001 -- North Adams, MA) Open and Shut: Artists' Doors, the newest exhibition in Kidspace at MASS MoCA, opens February 1 and features interactive sculptures by local artists based on the theme of doors. As literal and metaphorical passageways to other "worlds," the doors included in this exhibition emphasize the complexity of our relationship to various built environments and constructed spaces and create exciting environments around and through which viewers may move. The door sculptures are life-sized doors that can actually be opened and shut; these are sculptures that can be entered, exited, and explored by both children and adults.

The doors in the Kidspace exhibition were created and designed by six regional artists: Richard Garrison from Albany, New York; Ann Kremers from North Adams, Massachusetts; Julia Morgan and August Ventimiglia, both from Williamstown, Massachusetts; Neal Parks from Belchertown, Massachusetts; and Sue Rees from North Bennington, Vermont. The works include references to other cultures, transitions from childhood to adulthood, ambiguity between inside and outside, scale and altered perspective, elements and possibilities of chance, and even factories. Some of the doors are actually from MASS MoCA's 19th-century factory buildings.

This spring every student from the North Adams elementary schools -- Brayton, Greylock, and Sullivan -- will visit Kidspace with their class for a guided tour and art-making workshop taught by Kidspace staff. In addition, every teacher in these three schools will participate in teacher workshops hosted by Kidspace staff. In the workshops, teachers will learn and practice the art-based projects that accompany the Open and Shut exhibition. Teachers work on these lessons with their students in the classoom before and after their trips to Kidspace. These projects build on the themes and concepts discussed and explored in Kidspace and include lessons in creative writing, close observation, geometry, language and metaphor, design, and construction.

Exhibiting artists will participate in residencies in the three schools this spring. Artists will meet students, answer questions and lead art-making workshops in the schools.

In addition to school visitation, Kidspace is open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 ö 4. (Saturday opening starts February 3, Sunday opening starts February 18.) Call (413) 664-4481 ext. 8131 for more information about Kidspace. Admission to Kidspace is free.

Kidspace at MASS MoCA is made possible by the generous support of the Sterling & Francine Clark Art Institute, the Williams College Museum of Art, and MASS MoCA. Additional funding has been provided in part by the National Endowment for the Arts (a federal agency), the Massachusetts Cultural Council (a state agency), the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, Wal-Mart, the Cherkis family, and the Brownrigg Charitable Trust in memory of Lynn Laitman.

MASS MoCA, the country's largest center for contemporary visual and performing arts, is housed on a vast 13-acre campus of restored factory buildings at 87 Marshall St. in North Adams, Massachusetts.

For Immediate Release
Contact: Katherine Myers
(413) 664-4481 x8113
katherine@massmoca.org