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Indepth Arts News:
"Open and Shut: Artists' Doors"
2001-02-01 until 2001-08-20
MASS MoCA
North Adams, MA,
USA United States of America
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 - 4. Call (413) 664-4481 ext. 8131 for more
information about Kidspace. Admission to Kidspace is free.
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