There are a good number of things I am looking forward to experiencing this fall, my first in North Adams.

1. I cannot wait to see the changing colors of the leaves and have the grand experience of driving through the Berkshires and seeing the stunning fall foliage.

2. I am a sucker for fall weather. Cooling temperatures and rain showers make me a very happy girl.

3. The Teenage Prayers are coming to play at MASS MoCA’s Alt Cabaret series in October!

4. I hear the North Adams Fall Foliage parade on Sunday, September 30 is not to be missed.

5. The Teenage Prayers are coming!

6. Did I mention The Teenage Prayers are coming??? Seriously, I am so excited for this band to play at the museum. I listened to the Prayer’s CD and unreleased cuts of their new album from their myspace page non-stop while I was writing the press release for the event. Now, days later, I am still waking up in the middle of the night with their songs stuck in my head (A good sign that I am addicted.) My favorite review of the Prayers comes from Good Times Magazine who describes the band as, “An evangelization baptized in the fires of rock and soul… The stuff rock and roll legends are made of.”

So friends since school has started I feel inclined to give you a bit of homework. Start by visiting The Teenage Prayers myspace page. Next listen to their music non-stop from now until October 20th. Finally buy your tickets to The Teenage Prayers Alt Cab show NOW and prepare yourself for an unforgettable performance!

Cheers,

Brittany

This 80′ long sculptural wave will be installed in MASS MoCA’s second floor along with several Kiefer paintings. The exhibition entitled Anselm Kiefer: Sculpture and Paintings opens October 20, but the wave will be moved into the galleries starting Monday, September 17. Check the website or call for details. We promise towering cranes, an enormous platform outside the gallery window next to the upside down trees and generally astonishing feats of engineering as we move this enormous sculpture in. Meanwhile check it out in our Courtyard A outside Cafe Latino.

To learn more about the Kiefer exhibition. Read the rest of this entry »

WILLIAMSTOWN, MA- The Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute and MASS MoCA (Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art) strengthened their collaborative efforts today as the Clark announced that it has acquired 29,000 square feet of building space at the 13-acre former factory site in North Adams, Massachusetts. Read the rest of this entry »

Artforum loves Eric van Lieshout’s humor. Photographer Kevin Kennefick, one of our dearest friends, took this picture of van Lieshout’s installation recently.

Here are some general comments about MASS MoCA from the silver notebook in the lobby:

“I’m glad we came!”

“We would have appreciated getting more information on the former use of the space and the history of the building.”

“Finch very engaging & Killaars. The rest ho-hum.”

“Our 4^th visit to MoCA. Made at MASS MoCA exhibit really puts it all together. Hope you will make this permanent. Gives great perspective on what you are all about to 1^st time visitors as well as repeats like us. Thank you!”

“You can fool some the people… The emperor has no clothes… Ugliness in a beautiful old building .. total rubbish – God help the kids.”

“Van Lieshout was great! The rest was totally lacking & the least impressive work I’ve seen here.”

“Spectacular building / space love the toilets!!”

Great space, fascinating works of art! Challenges us to think outside the “conventional visualâ€� box.”

“Am a huge art lover/supporter — Sad to say saw nothing of merit here. Great bldg. tho.”
“This place is a gas!”

“Disappointing this time.”

“The wood floors are beautiful, liked the old brick walls! Get it?”

“The best part was the opportunity to tackle the question “What is art?â€� with my son. No definitive answers of course, but a great conversation!”

“Thank you! We enjoyed your space. We took the 2pm tour today, your docent was GREAT! God speed.”

“Fabulous tour – really made a huge difference in ability to feel the art:”

“Thank you! This place has inspired me to do what I love! It’s been a wonderful experience!”

“This is the worst museum experience I have ever encountered. I am an avid appreciator of art — this was not art.”

“Having a fantastic guide really helps the museum experience. Keep it up.”

“This is the oddest museum ever. I love it!”

Some recent comments from the silver comment book in the lobby:

“I especially like The Believers. Restores our faith in faith and belief — in artistic vision”

“Loved it! Was just going to stop by briefly and stayed 2 hours + more – Particularly enjoyed The Believers exhibit, Theo Jansen a good thing I got the video.”

“Great space, engaging shows – Loved Theo Jansen’s animals!”

“Keep trying.”

“Juvenile, shallow conceptually, poorly crafted — just plain silly. You know it IS possible to be avant-garde an still have some standards when you vet artists.”

“The Believers were truly unbelievable. Ugh!”

“Loved Witch Vortex. Many images/concepts will live on. Thanx!”

“The Believers was ‘hoaky’. Earlier years were better — especially Matthew Ritchie.”