Museum of Arts and Design 2009 Annual Report Dear Friends
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mad museum of arts and design 2009 annual report Dear Friends, 2009 marked not just our first full year at 2 Columbus Circle, but an entire year of extraordinary firsts for MAD. Among them: welcoming our 500,001st visitor to our new home; our first performing arts series,The Mix; our first film series,French New Wave Essentials, presented in collaboration with the Museum of the Moving Image; our first wine bar, MADCrush; our first satellite location for The Store at MAD; our first Family Day, celebrating our Upper West Side neighbors; and, of course, our first restaurant,Robert at MAD. Other firsts deserve a special mention, among them our inaugural graduating class of ArtsLife interns—six young people who, thanks to Cathy Seligman and Bonnie Eletz, got an on-the-ground education in running a New York City museum in the summer of 2009—and our Open Studios, where daily, artists welcomed countless visitors who questioned, probed, and came to understand viscerally the connection between materials, making, and process. 2009 was also the first time MAD had operated at 2 Columbus Circle with nearly twice the annual expense budget that it had on West 53rd Street—in a faltering economy. We are proud that, because of the efforts of our untiring Board of Trustees and staff, we succeeded in finishing the year with a small operating surplus—and that we were able to stretch our resources to accommodate public demand by enhancing programming and even, remarkably, adding a sixth public opening day in 2009. Left: Guests enjoy Most exciting to each of us at MAD is the chance to bring the ever-changing world of a MAD opening. photo: Liz Ligon. contemporary arts and design to a new audience. Our online MADblog has been a particular hit. We’ve heard comments including, “it’s so fun to be in this building that was such a On our cover: mystery for New Yorkers for so many years;” “the encouraged interaction with the museum MAD’s education and its art is amazing,” and, “as a long time fan of the Museum of Contemporary Crafts, department produced an amazing vairety then the American Craft Council, and now the Museum of Arts and Design, I wish you of behind-the-scenes great success! The building and its renovation are smashing.” Thank you to the hundreds programs in 2009. From schoolchildren to of bloggers who complimented us on the visitor experience at 2 Columbus Circle—and to seniors, and from our the hundreds of thousands of visitors who joined us, discovered us, or rediscovered us at Open Studios to our ArtsLife Internships, 2 Columbus Circle in 2009. all were welcome. For more information, see page 6. As we move forward with our plans for 2010—including new and expanded programs to Cover photos by: accommodate your needs—we extend our thanks especially to Barbara Tober, Chairman Alan Klein; Emerita, and Nanette L. Laitman, former President of our Board of Trustees, for their Sara Silverstein; IrinaSarnetskaya; remarkable and spirited leadership over the past years. Their unwavering commitment to Christina Latimer; MAD and to our mission is unmatched. We are grateful that we will continue to benefit Katie Sokoler. from their counsel for many years to come. We hope to see you at MAD soon. Holly Hotchner Lewis Kruger Nanette L. Laitman Director Chairman, Board of Trustees 2/3 M Annual Report 2009 exhibitions3MAD’S EXHIBITIONS PROGRAM HAS GREATLY EXPANDED IN ITS NEW HOME AT 2 COLUMBUS CIRCLE. IN 2009, THE MUSEUM SHOWCASED TWELVE DISTINCT EXHIBITIONS IN THE NANETTE L. LAITMAN GALLERIES. AS WELL AS MAD’S SIGNATURE DIGITAL INTERACTIVES— AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE EXHIBITION GALLERIES—VISITORS COULD DIAL IN TO FREE AUDIO CELL PHONE TOURS FEATURING CURATORS, ARTISTS, AND OUTSIDE EXPERTS SPEAKING ABOUT WORKS IN MAD’S COLLECTIONS AND EXHIBITIONS e r t Second Lives: Remixing the e Object Factory: The Art of u Slash: Paper Under the Knife Ordinary Industrial Ceramics October 7, 2009–April 4, 2010 September 27, 2008–April 19, 2009 May 6–September 13, 2009 The third installment in MAD’s MAD’s inaugural exhibition at 2 Object Factory—showcasing 200 Materials and Process series, Slash Columbus Circle—extended by objects by 50 artists, designers, explored the rediscovery and use popular demand—featuring work by and industrial manufacturers of traditional craft materials and 50 established and emerging artists from 18 nations—was the fi rst techniques by an innovative group from all fi ve continents who created major international survey of of international artists, who created objects and installations from everyday industrial ceramic production and works that were scissored, knife-cut, functional goods. contemporary ceramic products, burned, torn, laser-cut, or shredded. designs, and art. Elegant Armor: The Art r Read My Pins: The Madeleine of Jewelry Gord Peteran: Furniture Meets Albright Collection September 27, 2008–July 5, 2009 its Maker September 30, 2009–January 31, 2010 Innovative pieces of contemporary May 27–August 16, 2009 An exhibition of the distinctive art jewelry from our permanent The fi rst solo exhibition and brooches that became former collection, dating from the 1940s to monograph fully documenting Secretary of State Madeleine the present. Works ranged from the the work of Canadian artist Gord Albright’s personal signature during subtle to the fl amboyant, from the Peteran, today’s leading conceptual and after her years in offi ce— purely geometric to the organic, and furniture maker. expressions of femininity, badges of from narrative to sculptural forms. individuality, and diplomatic tools for GlassWear delivering messages to world leaders, Permanently MAD: Revealing July 15–September 20, 2009 politicians, the American public and the Collection Organized jointly by MAD and beyond. September 27, 2008–ongoing the Schmuckmuseum, Pforzheim, Permanently MAD, presented in MAD’s Germany, GlassWear showcased more Totally Rad: Karim Rashid Does collections galleries, showcases than 120 imaginative and visually Radiators approximately 250 works at a time exciting glass works by 60 leading March 4–May 17, 2009 from our permanent collection of international jewelry artists. The fi rstMADprojects exhibition, more than 2,200 objects. showcasing the most exciting Abraaj Capital Art Prize examples of new radiator design—30 Klaus Moje: Painting with Glass August 26–October 7, 2009 beautifully crafted and intelligently April 29–September 20, 2009 The Prize encourages collaborations conceived steam-heat designs in Painting with Glass featured 68 between contemporary artists production today, each selected by objects by master artist Klaus Moje, from the Middle East, North Africa leading industrial designer Karim including a new large-scale mural and South Asia (MENASA) and Rashid. and many never-before-shown works established and internationally from private collections. acclaimed curators—bridging the t Ghost Stories: New Designs from gap between the Middle Eastern Nendo and Western art worlds and offering October 27, 2009–January 10, 2010 selected artists opportunities to A transformation by Canadian/ realize ambitious art projects. In Japanese design team Nendo of the late 2009, the work of the fi rst three MADProjects gallery into a magical winning teams was on view at MAD. landscape of new designs that imbued chairs, vases, and lamps with whimsy and optical illusion. u Photos left: Matthew J. Cox. 4/5 M Annual Report 2009 education3OUTREACH PROGRAMS ARE A HALLMARK OF THE MAD EXPERIENCE. IN 2009, MAD’S EDUCATION DEPARTMENT EXPANDED ITS SIGNATURE OFFERINGS FOR CHILDREN, TEACHERS, YOUTH, FAMILIES, AND ADULTS, MAINTAINING MAD’S PROFILE AS AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION FIRST AND FOREMOST. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED BELOW. PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS lectures and workshops that supple- Cultural Collective AND TEACHERS mented the teachers’ knowledge of The Collective is a gathering point contemporary art, craft, and design for groups and organizations that u MADlab K—12 practices. have goals similar to MAD’s, but lack MAD’s fl agship arts in education the space or resources for public program served more than 7,500 PROGRAMS FOR MUSEUM presentations and meetings. In 2009, students in 2009. The start of the VISITORS we presented more than 50 programs 2009/2010 academic year saw a throughout MAD—including in our strong increase in the number of e Open Studios theater—with our 25 partners: high school partnerships; a new Arts This signature behind-the-scenes Access expansion program offered view of the craft of making features American Craft Magazine • American free standards-based workshops and artists working daily on MAD’s sixth Institute of Graphic Artists, New tours for Title I schools with little or fl oor, completing projects in materials York Chapter • Art Matters • Bard no access to basic arts and design such as ceramics, fi ber, mixed media, Graduate Center • Carnegie Mellon education programs. glass, and metals while talking (Entertainment Technology Center) with visitors about their processes, Church of Craft • Creative Capital r ArtsLife Internships materials, and concepts. In 2009, 24 Design Onscreen • Etsy • Greenwich In 2009, MAD inaugurated paid artists participated in the program; House Pottery • High 5 • International summer internships for 8 New York many worked closely with MAD’s Association of Art Critics, NY City high school students, providing artist/educators to enrich the MADlab • IRUBNY • La Than Imperial real work experience in the arts. The programs. Embroidery • MoreArt • Museum focus was especially on underserved of the Moving Image • Smithsonian neighborhoods and at-risk youth; Studio Sundays National Museum of the American applicants were required to apply Intergenerational workshops led by Indian • New York Foundation for the formally to the program, submit two MAD’s professional artist/educators— Arts • Performa • Peters Valley Craft letters of support, and have active focused on materials, process, making, Center • Scholastic Achievement parental involvement in the program and learning with your hands—were Awards • SlowLab • Society of in order to participate.