An Ode To Joy: MASS MoCA Debuts EJ Hill's First Solo Museum Show
The North Adams museum threw a pink-hued opening reception for Hill's "Brake Run Helix."
Zane, Erika deVries, Nelson Santos and Richard Presser
Although contemporary artist EJ Hill’s work has been influenced by politics and his life as a queer Black man in America, his new exhibit at MASS MoCA is not strictly serious in nature. After all, as social justice activists frequently have reminded us, joy is an act of resistance; sometimes you must take a break from fighting the good fight to stop and smell the flowers. At the opening reception for his first solo museum show, “Brake Run Helix,” on Friday, Oct. 28, Hill told the crowd the exhibit featured his three favorite things: the aforementioned flowers, the color pink, and roller coasters. Being the largest piece of artwork in the exhibit, the bubble-gum-pink coaster, named “Brava!”, takes center stage. Four years in the making, it is now time for Hill, the exhibition’s curator Alexandra Foradas, and others who worked on the project to “give away” the art to viewers (and riders), said MASS MoCA Director Kristy Edmunds in a toast to the team’s hard work. At the reception, guests were invited to inspect the “rideable sculptural installation” and witness two volunteers take the one-car coaster for a spin. You can sign up to take your own ride here.
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Matteline deVries-Dilling, founder of Lite Brite Neon, one of the evening's honoree of this year's Upstate Benefit adresses the gala from the Caboose's caboose.
- Karen Pearson. Courtesy Art Omi.
Olana senior vice president and landscape curatorMark Prezorski, president Sean Sawyer, The evenings honoree Kristin Gamble and New York State Assemblymember Didi Barrett.
- Oxygen House Photo
