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Museum of Arts and Design: The Insider's Tour
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This weekend the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) will welcome the public to its new and redesigned digs at 2 Columbus Circle. Formerly known as the “lollipop building”—because of architect Edward Durell Stone’s 1964 design, featuring lollipop shapes—the building at 2 Columbus Circle has been redone by Brad Cloepfil and now looks more like a zippered cereal box.
On Thursday, MAD hosted a preview tour of its galleries for members only. Security was tight. Members had to sign-in across the street and brave a red carpet and a welcoming committee, before stepping into the lobby to behold the new staircase, the elevator bank and the gift shop. Overhead, a modernist chandelier of Swarovski crystal hung from the ceiling, looking like a glittering amoeba. A list of major patrons covered one wall. Swarovski was among them.
On the fifth floor, Chief Curator David Revere McFadden was leading donors on a tour of "Second Lives: Remixing the Ordinary." The show features works made from everyday objects. First to greet everyone, as they stepped off the elevator, was "Skylines," a stunning 30-some-foot tapestry on the far wall, created by Ghana-born artist Al Anatsui from metal bottle caps. Jill Townsley’s huge "Pyramid," made with 9000 plastic spoons and held together with rubber bands, balanced precariously nearby.
Standing in front of a piece called "Reading Chair with Buddha Heads" by Long-Bin Chen, McFadden explained how the artist had recycled a huge stack of Southeby’s catalogs to make one of the Buddhas. “I could do that!” quipped one of the group.
Downstairs on 2, MAD’s astonishing collection of extravagant and offbeat jewelry was displayed in case after case, drawer after drawer. A number of members were thrilled to discover that they already owned pieces by some of the artists.
“I feel fortunate, very fortunate! I must have been ahead of the curve!” exclaimed a strawberry blond woman of middle age, after catching sight of Arline Fisch’s sterling silver "Body Ornament," displayed on the wall.
On the first floor, in the gift shop, other members seemed to be trying to make up for lost time. A woman in black was pondering a silver necklace by Guiliana Michelotti: $2,375. Another tried on $385, oxidized silver clip-ons from Germany.
“At the opening, we sold a $26,000 gold necklace with diamonds by Stephanie Albertson,” a clerk observed.
On the staircase, a paramedic followed museum members as they trouped from floor to floor--in case anyone should have a heart attack or slip and fall. He was just a temp, there for the week, he explained. “If anyone gets hurt next week, or anytime thereafter, I guess they’ll just have to dial 911.”
Carlos, a smiling security guard manning a glass door upstairs, was also a temp at MAD. He’s worked all sorts of guard jobs, he said. But he likes museum jobs the best, “because it’s a quiet environment and sometimes you can learn something.”
Carlos lives on 135th street and it’s his dream to work at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where he’s heard they’ve got a union and good benefits. But when he went to apply, they told him he needed a college diploma. “I don’t have one of those,” he said ruefully, “and I don’t see how I’m gonna find the time or money to get one.” Then he swung the door open swiftly, so the members could pass through.
The Museum of Arts and Design will open to the public tomorrow: Saturday, September 27th. This weekend, admission is free for everyone. After that, the price will be $15 and $12 for students and senior citizens. It’s always free for children and members.
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