Not all that long ago we took a road trip. We journeyed quite a distance into and across the states of New York and Massachusetts. We were well inland during the trip. It was late fall and there was some colour left in the trees-all in all a pretty drive. Parts of the drive that were not so scenic were the many deserted warehouses and factories-sitting derelict and sometimes vandalized. They tell of a time, decades ago, when those building housed vibrant industries and employed many people. One building that has been rejuvenated and beautifully so is the former factory that now houses the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art or Mass MoCA in North Adams, MA. It is the largest museum of contemporary art in the United States. The museum is on the site of a former textile printing factory. As you walk up to the museum you come upon trees in an unusual spot.
There are several buildings and floors of exhibits. The exposed brick and hardwood floors provide a wonderful background for art.
The exhibit One Floor Up More Highly by Katharina Gross was housed in a space that is as large as a football field.
Three floors in the main building displayed wall art conceived by Sol LeWitt. The exhibit will be at MASS MoCA for 25 years-you have plenty of time to see it. LeWitt‘s wall drawings were usually executed by people other than the artist himself. I compare it to designing Vogue sewing patterns and then others make the outfit. He would use teams of assistants to create his works. Between 1968 and his death in 2007, LeWitt created more than 1,270 wall drawings. The art and the manner in which it was created is remarkable. We thoroughly enjoyed the museum and plan to return to MASS MoCA. A good to do that might be after May 2012, there will be an exhibit of Canadian contemporary art – Oh, Canada . If you plan to go to North Adams, let me know, we have some thoughts on accommodation.
Have you ever seen Sol LeWitt’s art? I think we may have seen it in other galleries.
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