Every museum has a well-kept secret.  Whether it’s a stolen sketch, a haunted hallway, or a hidden painting tucked beneath another print, such covert wonders are proudly guarded as they help form each cultural hub’s individuality.  Today we reveal one of our favorite secrets—Phyllis Criddle.  You may not have heard of her (yet) because we have been keeping her all to ourselves.

Though only 23, she’s worked at MASS MoCA for 7 years, more than half the life of the museum! Starting as a member of the Art Fab crew, she went from working with hardware to working at Hardware, the MASS MoCA Store, where she is now the assistant manager.  Phyllis does more than run the store.  She has created a custom line of MASS MoCA clothing and accessories, embodying the museum’s mission of catalyzing new, bold art, which includes her famed Wilco dress (seen above, modeled on Phyllis).

Her first MASS MoCA creation was a dress crafted from the museum’s logo-splashed t-shirts.  Completely hand-sewn and definitely one-of-a-kind, the dress was rumored to be purchased by one of the creators of the video game phenomenon Rock Band.  His wife even appeared at MASS MoCA this past summer, wearing the dress to the Bang on a Can Festival.  Phyllis also was commissioned to create Katharina Grosse inspired tablecloths, which were draped over every table at the museum’s 2011 Benefit in New York.

The buzz around Phyllis has recently grown ever since she debuted her Wilco fashion line, created out of hundreds of wristbands from the Solid Sound Festival held at MASS MoCA.

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Looking for that cool present that will give you the status of most-skilled gift-giver? A present that is artsy and defies science?

Look no further, it’s stocked in our shop, and it’s called Grass Logic.  That’s right, just like Tree Logic, our upside-down trees that welcome visitors to MASS MoCA.

Here’s how Grass Logic works!

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MASS MoCA is constantly seeking new ways to get our visitors around town while they’re here at MASS MoCA.  Enter MASS Transit, the museum’s newly introduced bike rental program. A helpful and environmentally friendly mode of transportation to reach downtown North Adams and neighboring towns, the program is being met with oodles of enthusiasm from museum visitors, visiting artists, staff and friends of the museum.

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Late last week we launched our NEW online store.  Now you can shop for MASS MoCA gear in your pajamas at 2 AM (which is usually when the urge for a new t-shirt or catalog strikes, how else can one explain the success of QVC and Home Shopping Network?)

Please take part in our completely unscientific poll and let us know which of the beautiful LeWitt ceramics you’d like to find under the tree this year.  See the full selection here.   We’ll draw a name from everyone who responds and send you a free t-shirt. (Sorry we can’t send you the LeWitt pottery you like, we are a non-profit after all….)

Come to North Adams and pick up Hardware’s Pick of the Day: Iron Me On – 30 Sheets of “awesome” fabric transfers. 20% off  the $12.95 price if you say you saw it on the Blog! Get to HARDWARE at MASS MoCA or MM by Design on Spring Street in Williamstown today.

@ MMxD this weekend: 20% off one item for Williams College students, parents, faculty, staff, and alum.  50% off anything purple and all cow shaped items!

Here’s an update on MASS MoCA by Design.

Its our new store in Williamstown on

The door is right under the images and Red Herring sign. You can’t miss it. We had loads of people walking in while we were still setting up over the last few days.

Here’s what to look for if you’re going south

and here’s what you’ll see if you’re walking north. Read the rest of this entry »