Fall 2018 MMoCA Newsletter

FALL 2018

EXHIBITIONS
JOEL SHAPIRO: THE BRONZES
Main galleries • Sept 23, 2018–Jan 13, 2019
MMoCA Opening Saturday, Sept 22 • 6–9 PM
Organized by MMoCA and curated exclusively for the main galleries, this exhibition will connect audiences with
the work of Joel Shapiro, one of the most influential sculptors working today. Joel Shapiro: The Bronzes surveys
16 of the artist’s bronze sculptures from 1983 to 2015. This is the first presentation in twenty years to fully examine
Shapiro’s pivotal work in bronze and can be experienced only at MMoCA.
On view September 23, 2018 through January 13, 2019, this exhibition creates an opportunity to directly engage
with the monumental and sometimes playful work of this artist. The sculptures vary in size, including works as large
as 15 by 17 by 15 feet, which are rarely seen indoors. Through bold geometric form, Shapiro’s works explore the
permeable boundary between the abstract and the figural form. The gravity-defying constructions are suggestive of
bodies that are moving or holding dynamic poses.
Joel Shapiro has enjoyed a long and distinguished career. His work can be found in numerous public collections
around the world, including The Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, The Metropolitan
Museum of Art in New York, the Tate Gallery in London, and the Centre Pompidou—Musée National d’Art Moderne
in Paris. Mr. Shapiro was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1998 and has been honored with
prestigious awards such as the National Art Award for Outstanding Achievement by Americans for the Arts and the
Lifetime Achievement Award in Contemporary Sculpture by the International Sculpture Center.
To fully document this exhibition, MMoCA is publishing a hardbound catalogue of the same title. This richly illustrated
book contains a foreword by the exhibition curator and MMoCA director, Stephen Fleischman and features
an essay by the art historian and scholar, Peter Boswell.
Support for Joel Shapiro: The Bronzes has been provided by the Pleasant T. Rowland Foundation; and Ellen Rosner
and Paul J. Reckwerdt.
The lead corporate sponsor of the exhibition is BMO Wealth Management.
Generous support has also been provided by TravelWisconsin.com; The DeAtley Family Foundation; the David and
Paula Kraemer Fund; J.H. Findorff & Son Inc.; Hooper Corporation and General Heating & Air Conditioning; Marv
Conney; Sara Guyer and Scott Straus; Dynee and Barney Sheafor; Nancy Doll and Michael Bernhard; Sylvia Vaccaro;
Dane Arts; Katie Howarth Ryan; the Irwin A. and Robert D. Goodman Foundation, Inc.; Lynda and Charles Clark;
a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for
the Arts; and MMoCA Volunteers.
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WILLIAM J. O’BRIEN: RELIQUARY
State Street Gallery • Aug 18–Nov 11, 2018
This immersive exhibition by Chicago-based artist William J. O’Brien presents a mixed-media installation in
the museum’s State Street Gallery, the centerpiece of which is a large, hand-painted, tent-like structure. A feat
of material experimentation, the exhibition showcases the artist’s ability to combine disparate mediums—from
heavily textured ceramic and bronze vessels to felt textiles and painted muslin—into a visually cohesive installation.
The works included in William J. O’Brien: Reliquary demonstrate the artist’s engagement with art historical
movements. O’Brien covered the surface of his cloth tent with kinetic drawings—calligraphic marks that echo
the intuitive, vernacular mark-making of folk art and Art Brut. The roughly textured surfaces of the ceramic and
bronze vessels reveal the frenetic gestures of the artist’s touch, hinting at the raw physicality of Expressionism.
The inspiration for this body of work emerged as the artist reflected on public and private acts of remembrance
and memorialization. For instance, the standard forms erected to honor individuals or events, such as bronze
memorials and cemetery statuary, are given meaning by the emotions we project onto them. Similarly, the religious
significance of reliquaries is attributed to the holy nature of the object, or relic, they are said to contain. A core
element of O’Brien’s practice is exploring if, through the touch of the artist’s hand, the materials alone can evoke
an emotive power similar to that bestowed onto reliquaries and other venerated objects or spaces.
O’Brien’s tent offers us a dreamlike refuge, an intimate space within a space, a sacred area of reflection set within
the public space of the museum. Inside, the bronze and ceramic objects reveal the intensity of the artist’s hand.
In creating each work, O’Brien physically transfers his emotional and psychological states onto the surfaces of his
materials. And, although these vessels contain no actual relics, traces of O’Brien’s body are nevertheless imprinted
onto the work and his energy imbued into it. A beautifully imagined version of a contemporary shrine, O’Brien’s
installation touches on spirituality, human intimacy, and the affective potential of art.
Generous funding for William J. O’Brien: Reliquary has been provided by the Steinhauer Charitable Trust; Ellen
Rosner and Paul J. Reckwerdt; Husch Blackwell LLP; Gina and Michael Carter; John Rallis and Mary Lynn
Bergman-Rallis; Mark and Judy Bednar; a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of
Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts; and MMoCA Volunteers.
IMAGE CREDITS • COVER: Joel Shapiro, Untitled, 1994-95. Bronze, 68 1/4 x 54 x 28 1/2 inches. ©2018 Joel Shapiro / Artists Rights
Society (ARS), New York. Photo: Maggie L. Kundtz. Courtesy of the artist and Pace Gallery. PAGE 2: Joel Shapiro, Untitled, 1991.
Bronze, 66 x 72 x 36 in (figure), 21 x 26 x 36 inches (house). ©2018 Joel Shapiro / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photo:
Wojtek Naczas. Courtesy of the artist and Pace Gallery. PAGE 3: William J. O’Brien: Reliquary, 2017. Installation view, Shane Campbell
Gallery (Dec. 17, 2017 - Feb. 4, 2018). Courtesy of the artist, Shane Campbell Gallery, Chicago, and Marianne Boesky Gallery, New
York. Photo by Evan Jenkins.
3

EXHIBITIONS
EYE DEAL: ABSTRACT BODIES
OF THE CHICAGO IMAGISTS
Henry Street Gallery • Aug 11, 2018–Jun 9, 2019
Eye Deal: Abstract Bodies of the Chicago Imagists features a selection of works from MMoCA’s acclaimed collection
of Chicago Imagism. Formed during the 1960s, the Imagists were encouraged by their instructors at the School
of the Art Institute of Chicago to find inspiration directly from the world around them, which included the back
pages of magazines and storefront windows. Inspired by the extreme silhouettes presented in advertisements of
the 1950s and 60s, the Imagists created their own exaggerated, warped bodies that playfully mocked the bulging
muscles and tiny waistlines of society’s ideal physique.
In Gladys Nilsson’s Beautify (1994), a woman, and her mirror image, is covered in the commercial trappings of the
cosmetic industry. Her face is covered in a thick white mask of facial cream and above her lipstick nose—clipped
from the pages of a fashion magazine—her askew, crazed eyes peer through the cosmetic façade. She looks odd,
even clown-like, but nonetheless pleased with her cosmetic endeavors: her sneer has turned into a smile.
Parodying the unrealistic bodily ideals in printed matter resulted in artworks that are a witty commentary on the
extreme modifications necessitated to transform the body into the ideal. Eye Deal highlights the unhinged oddities
of the human form when left to the wild imaginations of this humorous and colorful group of artists.
Exhibitions in the Henry Street Gallery are generously funded through an endowment established by the Pleasant
T. Rowland Foundation.
NATHANIEL
MARY QUINN
State Street Gallery
Dec 1, 2018–Mar 3, 2019
MMoCA Opening
Friday, Nov 30 • 6–9 PM
4

EXHIBITIONS & NEWS
FRIDA KAHLO: PITAHAYAS
Imprint Gallery • Oct 12, 2018–Feb 2019
It is fuchsia on the outside and hides...a
whitish-gray pulp flecked with little black
spots that are its seeds inside. This is a
wonder! Fruits are like flowers: they speak
to us in provocative language and teach us
things that are hidden. –Frida Kahlo
A centerpiece of the museum’s permanent
collection, Pitahayas by Frida Kahlo will be
on view in the Imprint Gallery beginning
October 12. Alongside the painting, a digital
experience will share information about the
significance of the artwork’s imagery and
the story of how it came to the museum.
MMoCA is a partner in Faces of Frida, a
digital art project organized by Google Arts
& Culture that is dedicated to commemorating the life and legacy of Kahlo—one of the most important artists of
the 20th century. Faces of Frida provides online access to a virtual collection of more than 800 items, including
artwork images, photographs, and letters. MMoCA is one of the more than 30 cultural institutions, from seven
countries, contributing to this project. Museum curator Mel Becker Solomon extensively researched the provenance
of Pitahayas and provided two essays.
Frida Kahlo: Pitahayas is an opportunity to explore a profound work by a significant artist. Much like the pitahaya
fruit, with its delicate, fleshy center concealed inside its bright pink exterior, Kahlo embedded a deeply personal history
in this vibrant still life. The personal iconography and extensive history of the painting—one that even changed
the skeleton’s smile to a frown—suggests the work is not only a still life, but an intimate self-portrait of the artist.
Generous funding for Imprint Gallery programs has been provided by Willy Haeberli in memory of Gabriele
Haberland.
NEW ACQUISITION: Works by
Kenji Nakahashi (1947-2017)
Kenji Nakahashi’s practice of revealing the extraordinary in the mundane began at a young age and continued
throughout his career. From the geometric symmetry of a tiled subway platform to the complex shadows formed
on two seemingly identical eggs, Nakahashi’s prints and photographs are pristine compositions imbued with conceptual
aims that delight the eye.
Documenting his life’s work was always important to the
artist, but the project took on special urgency in the last
years of his life. Nakahashi passed away in January of
2017, but with the help of his wife Gratia, he was able
to reconnect with museums he visited as a young artist
traveling across the United States. One of these journeys
included MMoCA (then known as the Madison Art
Center), which purchased one of his etchings in 1983. As a
result of this visit, MMoCA recently received a gift of eight
prints and photographs along with the artist’s musings
on his work, which reveal a keen wit and strong sense of
purpose reinforced by the magic of the everyday.
IMAGE CREDITS • PAGE 4: Gladys Nilsson, Beautify, 1994. Watercolor, gouache, and collage on two sheets of paper, 8 x 5 1/2 inches
(each sheet). Collection of the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. The Bill McClain Collection of Chicago Imagism. • Nathaniel
Mary Quinn, Big Bertha, 2015. Black charcoal, soft pastel, oil pastel, oil paint, paint stick, acrylic silver leaf, gouache on Coventry
Vellum paper. 38 x 41 inches. Collection of the Sheldon Museum of Art, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Olga N. Sheldon Acquisition
Trust, U-6501.2015. Image courtesy of the artist and Rhona Hoffman Gallery. Photography by RCH. PAGE 5: Frida Kahlo, Pitahayas,
1938. Oil on aluminum, 10 x 14 inches. Collection of the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. Bequest of Rudolph and Louise
Langer. © 2013 Banco de México Diego Rivera Frida Kahlo Museums Trust, Mexico, D.F. / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. •
Kenji Nakahashi, Time – (B), 1980, printed 1985. Gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches. Collection of the Madison Museum of Contemporary
Art, Anonymous gift in memory of Kenji Nakahashi.
5

MUSEUM EVENTS
TALKS, TOURS, & DISCUSSIONS
SATURDAY, SEPT 22 • 7–8 PM
JOEL SHAPIRO IN CONVERSATION
A LUSSIER FAMILY LECTURE
I’m not interested in strict rules, I can’t abide by them.
Joel Shapiro is renowned for sculptures that embody
an impeccable sense of balance and implied movement.
Since the early 1970s, he has explored abstract
form and its relationship to space, scale, mass, and
color, through large- and small-scale works. In a conversation
with MMoCA director Stephen Fleischman,
Shapiro will discuss his decades-long career. As a part
of the MMoCA Opening, the talk is free for MMoCA
members/$10 for non-members. Lecture hall seating
is limited.
FRIDAY, OCT 5 • 6:30–7 PM
AGAINST HOMEOSTASIS:
MAKING SCULPTURE MODERN
The complex sculpture of Joel Shapiro offers an extraordinary
answer to a complex problem: how can sculpture,
often bound to tradition, position itself as a contemporary
medium? This talk considers how Shapiro suggested
movement and even volatility in sculptures that were,
nevertheless, magisterial, physical, and still.
Michael Jay McClure is associate professor of art history
at UW-Madison where he teaches the history and
theory of modern and contemporary art.
FRIDAY, OCT 19 • 6:30–7 PM
10 WAYS TO EXPERIENCE THE
WORK OF WILLIAM J. O’BRIEN
With its idiosyncratic imagery and range of media,
William J. O’Brien’s work encourages exploration from
a variety of perspectives. Michael Velliquette will lead
viewers through Reliquary using novel methods of
interpretation and sensory investigation to expand
awareness and appreciation of O’Brien’s practice.
FRIDAY, NOV 30 • 6:30–7:15 PM
ARTIST TALK:
NATHANIEL MARY QUINN
I’m trying to explore the complexity of humanity.
Not just portraits. The entire fabric of experience
that makes this person who they are.
Nathaniel Mary Quinn’s deftly crafted paintings
bring together disparate imagery, in the manner of
collage, to portray the multiple, often complex experiences
that define a human life. The artist will discuss
his working methods as well as the sources of and
inspirations for his work. The talk is free for MMoCA
members/$10 for non-members. Lecture hall seating
is limited.
Generous funding for MMoCA
gallery talks is provided by Bell
Laboratories.
DROP-IN TOURS
SATURDAYS, 1 PM
OCT 13 & NOV 10
Drop by MMoCA for lively and informal discussions
of current exhibitions. Expertly led by MMoCA’s
docents, these free, 30-minute guided tours consider
artists’ creative decisions and provide insight into
their methods, ideas, and influences.
October 13:
Eye Deal: Abstract Bodies of the
Chicago Imagists
November 10: Joel Shapiro: The Bronzes
6
Velliquette is an artist and faculty associate in the
UW-Madison Art Department whose intricate paper
sculptures combine exuberant abundance with inventive
formalism.
FRIDAY, OCT 26 • 6:30–7 PM
JOEL SHAPIRO:
FORM AND SUBSTANCE
Will Pergl will consider Joel Shapiro’s sensibilities as
a sculptor, including his recurring motifs, use of scale,
and playful juxtapositions of materiality in abstracted
forms. Pergl is a multi-disciplinary artist and professor
at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design. He also is currently
an artist-in-residence at the John Michael Kohler
Arts Center’s Arts/Industry Program.
DOCENT
TRAINING COURSE
SEPT 25–DEC 18, EXCEPT NOV 20
TUESDAYS, 1–3:30 PM
Enthusiastic about art and people? Organized? Openminded
and curious? Love to learn? Become an
MMoCA docent and join a dynamic group of museum
volunteers. Background in art and art history is
not required. The application deadline is September
14. To apply, contact sheri@mmoca.org or visit
mmoca.org and click support/docent-program.

SPOTLIGHT CINEMA
Wednesdays, Oct 3–Dec 5
(excluding Oct 31 and Nov 21) • 7–9 pm
MMoCA’s Spotlight Cinema features premieres of critically acclaimed and award-winning documentary and feature
films. This year’s series includes Hale County This Morning, This Evening, RaMell Ross’s visionary documentary
of five years in the lives of two young African American men in Alabama. The film won a Special Jury Prize at the
2018 Sundance Film Festival and was described by The New York Times film critic A. O. Scott as “…pure cinematic
poetry…” that “…poses a quietly radical challenge to assumptions about race, class and the aesthetics of filmmaking.”
Curated by Mike King, Spotlight Cinema is held on Wednesday evenings throughout the fall; visit mmoca.org for
the full schedule and program details.
Admission is free for MMoCA members/$7 per screening for the general public. Ticket sales begin at 6:30 pm in the
museum’s lobby. The series is generously funded by maiahaus, Venture Investors, LLC, and an anonymous donor.
MMoCA OPENINGS
Save the date for upcoming MMoCA Opening celebrations, featuring music, hors d’oeuvres from Fresco, a cash bar,
and engaging visual art programming. The evenings are always free for MMoCA members/$10 for non-members.
MMoCA Openings are sponsored by Newcomb Construction Company and The Alexander Company with additional
support from Fresco, and media support from Isthmus.
SATURDAY, SEPT 22 • 6–9 PM
Join us at MMoCA for an opening celebration for Joel Shapiro: The Bronzes. Organized by MMoCA, this exhibition
will survey Shapiro’s bronze sculptures from 1983 to 2015. One of the most influential sculptors working today, this
evening presents a special opportunity to hear the artist discuss his work at 7 pm (seating capacity is limited). The
evening will also offer jazz standards performed live by 2 Broads 1 Band, passed hors d’oeuvres, and a cash bar in
the MMoCA Lobby.
FRIDAY, NOV 30 • 6–9 PM
In a recent Forbes article, the paintings of Nathaniel Mary Quinn were referred to as: “Quite simply, some of the most
innovative and emotionally profound work being done in contemporary painting.” Join us on Friday, November 30,
as MMoCA celebrates the opening of a solo exhibition of Quinn’s work. Beginning at 6 pm, guests may view works
in the State Street Gallery. At 6:30 pm, Quinn will give a talk in the lecture hall (seating capacity is limited). Enjoy
passed hors d’oeuvres from Fresco, and a cash bar. Music for this event will be provided by DJ M. White, CEO,
Intuition Productions.
OPPOSITE: A docent leads a school tour of BIG. ABOVE: Still from RaMell Ross’s Hale County, This Morning, This Evening (2018).
7

MUSEUM EVENTS
GALLERY NIGHT 30 TH ANNIVERSARY
Friday, Oct 5, 5–9 PM • After Party, 9–11 PM
Mark your calendar for Friday, October 5 as Madison
celebrates 30 years of Gallery Night! From fairly
modest beginnings in 1988, to the exciting city-wide
celebration of today, Gallery Night offers an opportunity
to enjoy a variety of visual art offerings throughout the
city. Organized semi-annually by MMoCA, this event
allows a wide audience to engage with local artists.
Assemble a group or venture out on a date to experience
Madison’s vibrant arts scene at dozens of diverse participating
venues including fine art galleries, artist studios,
community centers, and local businesses. Each venue
will showcase original artwork and many will offer artist
talks, demonstrations, live music, and refreshments.
Come to MMoCA at 6:30 pm for Michael J. McClure’s
gallery talk on Joel Shapiro: The Bronzes. Admission to
the talk is free.
As the Gallery Night venues begin to close, the official
Gallery Night After Party will just be getting started.
From 9-11 pm, this party takes over the iconic MMoCA
lobby. Come enjoy music from DJ Millbot, complimentary
snacks, hands-on art activities, and a cash bar
from Fresco. MMoCA’s galleries will even be open late so
guests can enjoy art after dark.
Share your Gallery Night photos and reviews on social
media using #MADGalleryNight and see your snaps projected
at the After Party on our social media feed.
Gallery Night is sponsored by Design Concepts, with
media support from Isthmus.
CIVIC EXCHANGE SOCIETY (CES)
CIDER RELEASE EVENT
Thursday, Oct 11 • 5–8 PM
Art & Sons • 408 E Wilson St, #2
What happens when you put a visual artist in a room with a brewer, a curator, and
a team of designers? First, they band together under the collective name Civic
Exchange Society (CES). Then, they create a series of delicious, high-concept craft
beverages packaged in a minimalist can that also functions as a device to decode
passages of utopian text.
This October, CES introduces CES-002 Liberated Passions Cider, the second release
in its line of craft beverages developed as part of the museum’s ongoing collaboration
with artist Meg Mitchell, Octopi Brewing, and Art & Sons. Made from apples,
plums, and passionfruit, CES-002 Liberated Passions Cider is a flavorfully fruity
cider with a bite of tartness.
Octopi Brewing generously donates a percentage of profits from CES sales to support
MMoCA and its ongoing projects. The cider will be available for purchase at grocery
stores and Food Fight restaurants, including Fresco, Avenue Club, Bassett Street
Brunch Club, Canteen, Cento, Craftsman Table & Tap, DLUX, Everly, Luigi’s Pizza,
Johnny Delmonico’s, and Miko Poke.
Join CES on October 11 for a special tasting celebration at Art and Sons’ studio.
GOVERNMENT WARNING: (1) ACCORDING TO THE SURGEON
GENERAL, WOMEN SHOULD NOT DRINK ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
DURING PREGNANCY BECAUSE OF THE RISK OF BIRTH DEFECTS.
(2) CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES IMPAIRS YOUR
ABILITY TO DRIVE A CAR OR OPERATE MACHINERY, AND MAY
CAUSE HEALTH PROBLEMS.
GOVERNMENT WARNING: (1) ACCORDING TO THE SURGEON
GENERAL, WOMEN SHOULD NOT DRINK ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
DURING PREGNANCY BECAUSE OF THE RISK OF BIRTH DEFECTS.
(2) CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES IMPAIRS YOUR
ABILITY TO DRIVE A CAR OR OPERATE MACHINERY, AND MAY
CAUSE HEALTH PROBLEMS.
Brewed & Canned in Waunakee, Wisconsin
8 54141 00602 1
EMMA GOLDMAN
*****
Brewed Civic Exchange & Canned Society in Waunakee, (CES) is a Wisconsin group of creative producers
working together through acts of creative exchange for the aesthetic
and social enrichment of our community. CES was initiated by artist
Meg Mitchell in conjunction with the Madison Museum of
Contemporary Art, Art & Sons, and Octopi Brewing.
ANARCHISM
STANDS FOR THE
LIBERATION OF
THE HUMAN MIND
FROM THE
DOMINION OF
RELIGION AND
LIBERATION OF
THE HUMAN BODY
FROM THE
COERCION OF
PROPERTY;
LIBERATION FROM
THE SHACKLES
AND RESTRAINT
OF GOVERNMENT.
*****
8

MUSEUM EVENTS
MMoCA ART & GIFT FAIR
Saturday, Nov 17 • 10 AM–6 PM
Sunday, Nov 18 • 10 AM–4 PM
Imagine shopping a juried art fair with artists exhibiting from around the country. You have wine or a warm
beverage in hand, and there is live seasonal entertainment. That’s what you can expect at the MMoCA Art &
Gift Fair this November 17 and 18, the weekend before thanksgiving. Inside MMoCA and the Overture Center,
you can enjoy a fun-filled weekend of relaxed shopping at nearly 100 booths filled with art, gourmet food, and
specialty gifts. There is also wine and tasty beverages at two cash bars, live music, dance performances, and
other attractions for the whole family. To add to the festivities, the MMoCA Art & Gift Fair will once again kick
off Shine on Madison, the annual six-week celebration of the holiday season downtown, which includes an
outdoor market, light displays, and more.
New this year during the fair, Fresco Rooftop Restaurant will offer a curated selection of wines and other offerings
in the MMoCA Lobby, and Catering A Fresco will offer a range of beverages at a bar on the second floor
of the Overture Center in the Promenade Lounge. Gather your friends to appreciate art with a drink and lively
entertainment.
The fair weekend begins with a breakfast fundraiser for MMoCA at Fresco Rooftop Restaurant on Saturday,
November 17 from 9-10:30 am. Tickets to the breakfast will include fresh, seasonal offerings and contemporary
twists on the classics. Watch for invitations to both the MMoCA Art & Gift Fair and the breakfast this October.
To date, the MMoCA Art & Gift Fair is being generously sponsored by Custer Plumb Financial Services,
Neckerman Insurance Services, Isthmus Publishing, Magic 98, and Wisconsin Public Radio.
PRIVATE EVENTS
With gorgeous spaces such as the lobby and rooftop
sculpture garden, as well as an elegant and high-tech
lecture hall, MMoCA is the perfect place to host your
next event. Langer Society members, Business Council
members, and nonprofit groups receive discounted
rates. For information, please contact Bob Sylvester
at bob@mmoca.org or 608.257.0158 x251.
OPPOSITE: Patrons exploring the city on Gallery Night. Photo
© MMoCA. • CES02 Liberated Passions Cider. ABOVE: Guests
enjoying the MMoCA Art & Gift Fair. Photos © Amit Israeli,
Maurice Thaler, and Jennifer Bucheit. • Wedding photo by
Morgan Brown Photography. PAGE 10: Kids’ Art Adventures
photo © Chelsea Weis. PAGE 11: William J. O’Brien, Untitled
(detail), 2017. Felt on felt, 72 x 112 inches. Courtesy of the artist,
Shane Campbell Gallery, Chicago, and Marianne Boesky Gallery,
New York. Photo: Evan Jenkins.
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FREE FAMILY RESOURCES
KIDS’ ART
ADVENTURES
Families are invited to make art together in MMoCA’s
classroom. First, enjoy a lively discussion in the galleries,
and then roll up your sleeves with your favorite
young art explorers to experiment with what you have
learned.
Children aged six to ten with an adult are welcome.
Kids’ Art Adventures are free and begin at 1 pm. Come
15 minutes early to sign up.
SUNDAY, SEPT 23 • 1–2:30 PM
Revel in the sheer size and refined beauty of the geometric
sculptures in Joel Shapiro: The Bronzes. Then,
put your inspiration to use while making a sculpture
out of geometric forms.
SUNDAY, OCT 14 • 1–2:30 PM
Let your imagination fly as you consider the playful
work on display in Eye Deal: Abstract Bodies of the
Chicago Imagists. Afterward, create a multimedia collage
based on Suellen Rocca’s paintings.
SUNDAY, NOV 11 • 1–2:30 PM
Enjoy the immersive experience of William J. O’Brien:
Reliquary, and let the mystical installation inspire you
to create a painted fabric artwork.
MMoCA’s free family resources
are generously funded by the
Nimick Forbesway Foundation.
MMoCAkids
ARTPACK
Stop by the museum’s lobby welcome desk, and ask
for the MMoCAkids ArtPack, the museum’s handson
discovery kit for exploring art. Find the elements
of art (line, shape, color), make a drawing, design a
composition, step into a work of art, and describe the
emotions expressed in art. For further exploration, use
the take-home activity for Joel Shapiro: The Bronzes.
Most of all, have fun!
MMoCAteens
and MMoCAkids
ART GUIDES
Designed to use anywhere in the museum, the
MMoCAteens and MMoCAkids art guides provide
young visitors with many ways to investigate contemporary
art. Find these guides in exhibition learning
centers and at the entrance to MMoCA’s State Street
Gallery.
LEARNING
CENTERS
MMoCA’s Learning Centers offer families a variety of
fun and engaging resources for exploring MMoCA’s
exhibitions. A range of kid-friendly activities promote
imaginative play inspired by works of art. Find
Learning Centers in Joel Shapiro: The Bronzes and
Eye Deal: Abstract Bodies of the Chicago Imagists.
10

CALENDAR OF EVENTS
SEPTEMBER
22 6–9 PM MMoCA Opening: Joel Shapiro: The Bronzes
7–8 PM Artist talk: Joel Shapiro in conversation
23 1–2:30 PM Kids’ Art Adventures: Joel Shapiro: The Bronzes
25 1–3:30 PM Docent training course begins
OCTOBER
3 7–9 PM Spotlight Cinema
5 GALLERY NIGHT
10 7–9 PM Spotlight Cinema
4–9 PM • Museum Store trunk show: Scott Simmons
5–9 PM • Gallery Night
6:30–7 PM • Gallery talk: Joel Shapiro: The Bronzes
9–11 PM • Gallery Night After Party
11 5–8 PM CES02 Cider celebration
13 1–1:30 PM Drop-in tour: Eye Deal
14 1–2:30 PM Kids’ Art Adventures: Eye Deal
17 7–9 PM Spotlight Cinema
19 6:30–7 PM Gallery talk: William J. O’Brien: Reliquary
24 7–9 PM Spotlight Cinema
26 6:30–7 PM Gallery talk: Joel Shapiro: The Bronzes
NOVEMBER
7 7–9 PM Spotlight Cinema
10 1–1:30 PM Drop-in tour: Joel Shapiro: The Bronzes
11 1–2:30 PM Kids’ Art Adventures: William J. O’Brien: Reliquary
14 7–9 PM Spotlight Cinema
17 9 AM–6 PM MMoCA Art & Gift Fair
18 10 AM–5 PM MMoCA Art & Gift Fair
23 8 AM–12 PM Black Friday sale at the Museum Store
28 7–9 PM Spotlight Cinema
30 6–9 PM MMoCA Opening: Nathaniel Mary Quinn
6:30–7:15 PM Artist talk: Nathaniel Mary Quinn
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MEMBERSHIP & GIVING
MMoCA’S BUSINESS COUNCIL
Through the MMoCA Business Council, businesses support a vibrant community by contributing to museum exhibitions,
education programs, and ongoing operations. Thanks to these important contributions, MMoCA can offer compelling,
thought-provoking programming. Through their gifts, Business Council members become known as generous and engaged
community leaders. For information on corporate membership and its many benefits, contact Kaitlin Kropp at kaitlin@
mmoca.org or 608.257.0158 x249. MMoCA thanks the following for their support:
BENEFACTORS ($10,000+)
Ajenda Interactive Media
The Alexander Company
Art & Sons
Bell Laboratories, Inc.
BMO Wealth Management
Eugenie Mayer Bolz
Family Foundation
The DeAtley Family Foundation
Future Foam
Hiebing
J.H. Findorff & Son Inc.
Madison Community Foundation
Madison Magazine
Madison Print Club
MMoCA Volunteers
National Guardian Life Insurance
Nimick Forbesway Foundation
Pleasant T. Rowland Foundation
Steinhauer Charitable Trust
W. Jerome Frautschi Foundation
Wisconsin Arts Board
Wisconsin Public Radio
Zendesk
SPONSORS ($5,000-9,999)
American Family Insurance
American Transmission Company
Brava Magazine
The Century House
Chance Productions
Custer Plumb Financial Services
Dane Arts
The Evjue Foundation, Inc.,
the charitable arm of
The Capital Times
Frank Liquor Co. Group
Great Dane Pub & Brewing Company
Habush, Habush & Rottier S.C.
Hooper Corporation—General
Heating & Air Conditioning
Husch Blackwell LLC
Isthmus Publishing Company, Inc.
Images Plus
John J. Frautschi Family Foundation
maiahaus
MG&E Foundation
Midwest Family Broadcasting
MINI of Madison
Newcomb Construction Company
Octopi Brewing
Old National Bank
Rewind Decor
SupraNet Communications Inc.
The Terry Family Foundation
Theda and Tamblin Clark Smith
Family Foundation
Venture Investors, LLC
Webcrafters-Frautschi
Foundation, Inc.
Wildwood Productions
WKOW 27
LEADERS ($2,500-4,999)
Access Information Management
Adams Outdoor Advertising
Artful Home
Associated Bank
Capital Newspapers
Celebrations Entertainment
Chalmers Jewelers
The Cummings Christensen Family
Foundation
CYC Fitness
Dane County Regional Airport
Design Concepts
Doubletree by Hilton of Madison
Food Fight Restaurant Group
Ganser Company
Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison
Irwin A. and Robert D. Goodman
Foundation, Inc.
Johnson Bank
Milwaukee Valve Company
Pepsi Cola of Madison
Perkins Coie, LLP
Physicians Plus Insurance
Corporation
RSM
TDS Telecom
Think Ink and Design
Total Administrative Services
Corporation
University Research Park
US Bank
Waunakee Remodeling
Wisconsin Lottery
Woodman’s Markets
Yelp Madison
PARTNERS ($1,000-2,499)
Artist & Craftsman Supply
Artistic Insanity
Atmosphere Commercial Interiors
Axley Brynelson LLP
BDO USA, LLP
Best Western Premiere - Park Hotel
Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin
The Capital Times Kids Fund
CMI Management
Colony Brands, Inc.
ERDMAN
Exact Sciences
First Business Bank
First Supply
Full Compass Systems, Ltd.
Godfrey & Kahn
Greater Madison Convention
& Visitors Bureau
Group Health of South
Central Wisconsin
Hausmann-Johnson Bauch Financial
Hausmann-Johnson Insurance
Hovde Properties
J.F. Ahern Co.
Knothe & Bruce Architects
Knox Family Foundation
Lycon Inc.
M3 Insurance
Madison Arts Commission
Oakbrook Corporation
Potter Lawson
Qual Line Fence Corporation
RBC Wealth Management
Red Sage Health
Roman Candle Pizzeria
Saints Madison Juice Company
Sketchworks Architecture
SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital
Strang
Veridian Homes Foundation
Widen Enterprises
WIPFLi CPAs and Consultants
Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra
DONORS ($500-999)
A-1 Movers
The Burish Group of UBS
Madison Veterinary Specialists
Naviant Inc
Stoddard’s Meat Market & Catering
Yahara Bay Distillery
SUPPORTERS ($250-499)
Bag Makers, Inc.
Dines, Inc.
Greater Madison Chamber of
Commerce
Hampton Inn & Suites - Madison
Downtown
Murphy Desmond SC
Nissenbaum and Schleusner Pro
Physical Therapy
Orange Shoe Personal Fitness
Plantes Company
Saints Madison Juice Co
Underground Food Collective
Vierbicher
12

MEMBERSHIP & GIVING
MMoCA BOARD
OF TRUSTEES
OFFICERS
Marc Vitale, President
Vikki Enright, Vice-President
Bret Newcomb, Vice-President
Leslie Smith III, Vice-President
Charlotte Cummins, Secretary
Dynee Sheafor, Treasurer
OTHER TRUSTEES
Joe Alexander
Marian Bolz, Life Trustee
Bryan Chan
Karen Christianson
Jennifer DeMain
Jim Escalante
Dave Franchino
Sara Guyer
Cedric Johnson
Valerie Kazamias,
Chair, The Langer Society
Jason Knutson
Oscar Mireles
Dave Orr
Amy Paulios
Rick Phelps
Jennifer Ridley-Hanson
John Ronzia
John Sims
John Sylla
QuHarrison Terry
NEW LANGER
SOCIETY MEMBERS:
MAY 1–JUL 31
Kat Abbott and Ryan Bradetich
Alaina Baker and Tom Skrzypek
Ben and Marie Barwick
Doug Chalmers and Caryn Xue
Lauren Flegel and Jake Swance
Cassandra Henning and
Jesse Brokish
Norma and Doug Madsen
Max Mussman and Lizzy Derish
Rachel Venegas
Carey Walters and Todd
Bernards
Corey Yealy and Kate Mersch
OPPOSITE: The Learning Center for
Far Out. Photo © Sharon Vanorny.
ABOVE: Guests at the MMoCA
Opening for Irene Grau: construction
season.
NEW REGULAR MEMBERS: MAY 1–JUL 31
Connie Bakker, Esra Balaban, Samantha Bledstein, Miranda and John Boyd, Susan
and John Burmeister, Sarah Canon, Robin Conkey, Flora Csontos and Martin Perales,
Jonathan Dedering and Caitlin Kempen, Brekk Feeley, David Garber and Anthony
Brousard, Erica and Leslie Gittings, Jamie Grant, Kyle Horwitz, Kirsten Houtman
and David Arnn, Matthew Jacob, Christina Keeley and Jason Berry, Jim Kreul, Amee
Lapke, Ellen Lewis, Donna and Mark Lynch, Ann Marshall, Megan McCrary and Lee
Trask, Terri Messinides, Laura Myntti, Pierce Neal, Michele Pato, Sarah and Charlotte
Phillips, Jennifer and John-Michael Pitze, Erzsebet Polyak, Elizabeth and Richard
Prestine, Julie Reneau, Tiffani and Mike Roltgen, Douglas Rosenberg and Li Chiao-
Ping, Kristie Schilling, Lisa-Ashley Smith, Nina Stemwedel, Collin Strang, Tony Sturm
and Erica Turner, Tamia Thomas, Luke Vrooman, Michael Walls, Andrew Weinstein
and Andrea Bennett, Elizabeth Wyns and Dylan Huebner.
PLANNED GIVING
Your passion for the arts and education can live on when you designate MMoCA as a
beneficiary of assets or accounts you would like to donate. This “beneficiary designation”
is one of the simplest ways to make a planned gift in support of the long-term
vibrancy of the museum. It’s as easy as filling out a form. You can name MMoCA as
the sole beneficiary of an asset or one of several.
There are many benefits to making a gift this way including flexibility, ease, and tax
incentives, as well as supporting an organization you value. Moreover,
you can also easily change designations at any time. Assets to
consider designating include IRAs, insurance policies, and
investment accounts.
All who have established planned gifts in support of
MMoCA are recognized as members of the MMoCA
Circle, and are welcomed to numerous special events at
the museum each year. For additional information, please
visit mmoca.org/mmocacircle or call Elizabeth Tucker at
608.257.0158 x245.
SPECIAL PROJECT UNDERWRITERS
MMoCA is very grateful for the following special project underwriters:
A major gift from Pleasant Rowland and W. Jerome Frautschi helps to fund capital improvements at MMoCA.
Brand strategy and design support, including the development of MMoCA’s new brandmark and website, is contributed by
Hiebing.
A major gift from the Nimick Forbesway Foundation supports the museum’s school and family education programs.
ArtZone, MMoCA’s afterschool workshop program offered in partnership with Madison community centers, is supported
by Zendesk Neighbor Foundation, U.S. Bank Foundation, the Capital Times Kids Fund, and the Madison Arts Commission.
Internet service is provided by Supranet Communications. Design and technical guidance for MMoCA’s website is donated
by Ajenda Interactive Media.
13

ABOUT
YOU MAKE IT
POSSIBLE.
Elegant dining
with a view.
MMoCA members
receive a 10%
discount at Fresco
and all Food Fight ​
restaurants.
Join today at
mmoca.org
STAY IN TOUCH
sign up for weekly emails at
mmoca.org/mmoca-notes
ABOUT THE MUSEUM The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
is an independent, nonprofit organization presenting exhibitions by local,
regional, national, and international artists. A permanent collection of more
than 5,500 works of art is maintained and enlarged through gifts and purchases.
The museum’s education department presents programs to increase public
understanding and appreciation of modern and contemporary art.
HOURS
Support from members of
the Madison Museum of
Contemporary Art ensures
that outstanding exhibitions
and educational programs
remain free for all.
THANK YOU!
Galleries Store Fresco
Monday Closed 12–5 pm Closed
Tue–Thur 12–5 pm 11 am–5 pm 5–9 pm
Friday 12–8 pm 11 am–8 pm 5–10 pm
Saturday 10 am–8 pm 10 am–8 pm 5–10 pm
Sunday 12–5 pm 12–5 pm 5–9 pm
ACCESSIBILITY Exhibitions, lectures, tours, and special events
at MMoCA are accessible to people with disabilities. Please contact the
museum at 608.257.0158 regarding accommodations for persons with limited
mobility, sight, or hearing. Relay Service is available by dialing AT&T @ 711.
MEMBERSHIP MMoCA members enjoy many privileges, including free
admission to MMoCA Openings and films; discounts at the Museum Store, at
Fresco and other Food Fight restaurants; invitations to special member events
and previews; opportunities to meet artists; a subscription to MMoCA’s newsletter;
and tax deductions for contributions.
VOLUNTEERING Enthusiastic volunteers are vital to MMoCA’s success.
Visit mmoca.org/volunteer for current volunteer opportunities.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Please notify us about address changes so
that your mailings are not interrupted. Contact Betsy Wyns at betsy@mmoca.
org or 608.257.0158 x224.
JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST MMoCA Notes, the museum’s email newsletter,
keeps you informed about upcoming events, exhibitions, and museum store
specials. Sign up online at mmoca.org.
CONTACT THE MUSEUM
608.257.0158 • info@mmoca.org • www.mmoca.org
© Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. Artworks © the artist unless otherwise noted.
Artworks may not be reproduced without permission of the copyright holder.
ABOVE: MMoCA at night. Photography by Nicholas Sadowski.
BELOW: Visitors at the Zulu Time opening. Photography by Sharon Vanorny.
14

#ARTFAIRONTHESQUARE
Thank you to the generous sponsors who supported
our 60th annual Art Fair on the Square: American
Transmission Company; Habush, Habush & Rottier, S.C.;
Old National Bank; Wildwood Productions; Artful Home;
Dane County Regional Airport; Ho-Chunk Gaming
Madison; Pepsi Cola of Madison; Waunakee Remodeling;
Wisconsin Lottery; Chalmers Jewelers, Whole Foods
Market; Greater Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau;
Doubletree by Hilton, Madison; Madison Magazine;
Isthmus Publishing Company, Inc.; Magic 98; Wisconsin
Public Radio; Wisconsin State Journal; and WKOW 27.
@knitstatrn
@pencilart504
@therealscript
@helensdaughtersstudio
@ianlbartlett
15

227 State Street • Madison, WI 53703
Nonprofit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Madison, Wisconsin
Permit No. 1143
MUSEUM STORE FEATURED
ARTIST: EDUARDO MILIERIS
Watchcraft’s watches are limited edition pieces of wearable art, carefully handcrafted to
ensure quality and originality. These pieces are made with distressed and oxidized, solid,
nickel-free jeweler’s brass and are embellished with brass, copper, and sterling silver. All
watches are numbered and signed. Dials are individually hand-painted by the artist.
GALLERY NIGHT
TRUNK SHOW
Friday, Oct 5 • 4–9 PM
The Museum Store is excited to welcome Scott Simmons, a local artist
who, through his small hot glass studio in southern Wisconsin,
creates beautiful and functional vases, bowls, and ornaments
that enhance any environment. Please join us on Gallery Night!
BLACK FRIDAY
Friday, Nov 23
8 AM–12 PM
The Black Friday Sale at the Museum Store is not
to be missed! With one-day only specials on
gorgeous, handmade items, you can take home
a memorable piece at 25% off, in addition to
your member discount. Details apply.
Watch by Eduardo Milieris
16