MASS MoCA Turns 20 with Help from Annie Lennox and a Neighborhood Block Party
The largest contemporary art museum in America threw itself a fun 20th birthday party and invited everyone.
Spirits were high on Saturday, May 25 as MASS MoCA celebrated its 20th birthday with some of its biggest fans. The festivities kicked off with a benefit performance of songs and stories by renowned singer and activist Annie Lennox, whose exhibit, "Now I Let You Go…" opened to the public that day along with exhibits by Cauleen Smith and Joe Manning. The group show Suffering From Realness also debuted, and Anselm Kiefer re-opened for the season with new works. Post-performance, the museum welcomed its friends and neighbors to an outdoor block party, complete with food trucks and free games and art-making. A specialized van served as a pop-up stage for live sets from local bands Misty Blues, Double Diamond and Jeb Barry and The Pawn Shop Saints, as well as a surprise appearance from Sally Taylor. The celebration wrapped up with a concert by NPR's Tiny Desk Concert winners Tank and the Bangas inside the Hunter Center. Happy birthday, MASS MoCA! I’m sure we’ll be seeing you again real soon.
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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
