New York City Welcomes Museum of Arts and Design
NEW YORK CITY WELCOMES MUSEUM OF ARTS AND DESIGN
New Museum Marks Renewal of Columbus Circle
New York City � (Sept. 10, 2008) NYC & Company, New York City�s marketing, tourism and partnership organization, today announced the Sept. 27 opening of the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD), located at 2 Columbus Circle. The long anticipated opening of the museum marks the completion of a renewed Columbus Circle, reintegrating the building into the life of the City. To celebrate opening weekend, the 54,000 square foot Museum of Arts and Design, designed by Brad Cloepfil of Allied Works, is hosting free admission to the public on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 27 and 28, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
�We are excited to celebrate the opening of The Museum of Arts and Design, an outstanding addition to the City�s arts and cultural landscape and to Columbus Circle,� said George Fertitta, CEO, NYC & Company. �We encourage visitors to build time into their next visit to see their great collection and special exhibition in this new space.�
The Museum of Arts and Design will explore how craft, art, and design intersect in the visual arts today and will focus on contemporary creativity and the ways in which artists and designers from around the world transform materials through processes ranging from the handmade to cutting edge technologies. The Museum will dedicate galleries to its growing permanent collection for the first time and host an expanded program of exhibitions that will examine the craftsmanship, materials and processes of contemporary artists and designers from around the world.
For the Museum's opening, artist Jason Hackenwerth has created large wearable sculptures, known as Megamites, that will be featured in front of the Museum throughout the day. Created from latex balloons with a sophisticated construction technique, the artist and other performers wearing these sculptures will showcase the works with animated demonstrative performances.Some exhibition information follows:
In its new special exhibition galleries on the fourth and fifth floors, MAD presents
Second Lives: Remixing the Ordinary
, a special thematic exhibition showcasing 51 artists from around the world who re-purpose and transform mass-produced objects into extraordinary works of art.
On view in The Tiffany & Co. Foundation Jewelry Gallery on the second floor,
Elegant Armor: The Art of Jewelry
features over 130 works of modern and contemporary jewelry from 1948 through the present, drawn from the Museum's collection of nearly 500 modern and contemporary designs.
Presented in the permanent collection galleries on the third floor,
Permanently MAD: Revealing the Collection
marks the first time in the institution's history that its most significant holdings will be on comprehensive view.
Forward Thinking: Building the MAD Collection
showcases outstanding gifts by many of the Museum's loyal friends and supporters, significantly enriching its collection and ensuring that it will continue to grow in breath, depth, and quality now and in the future.
The Museum of Arts and Design is open Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., closed Monday, Tuesday and major holidays. Admission is $15, members are free. Children under 12 are free.
For more information on the Museum, go to madmuseum.org. For more information on visiting New York City and the five boroughs, log on to nycgo.com.
About NYC & CompanyNYC & Company is the official marketing, tourism and partnership organization for the City of New York, dedicated to maximizing travel and tourism opportunities throughout the five boroughs, building economic prosperity and spreading the positive image of New York City worldwide.
Contacts
Kimberly Spell
NYC & Company
tel 212 484 1270
kspell@nycgo.com Chris Heywood
NYC & Company tel 212 484 1270
cheywood@nycgo.com