We’re interested in Massachusetts organizations that identify a specific need in the arts, then shape their programs accordingly – the right horse for the course, so to speak.
Here, we look at Maud Morgan Arts, an art center that tailors its programs to its community of artists – and to the eclectic creativity and generous spirit of the artist after which it’s named.
Who: Maud Morgan was an abstract expressionist painter who, though she exhibited alongside Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko, was under-recognized during her lifetime. The Maud Morgan Arts Center (not to be confused with the Maud Morgan Prize for women artists at the MFA Boston) is located in the Agassiz neighborhood of Cambridge, where Morgan lived for much of her life. The artist was a generous source of inspiration to artists both young and old, so it’s fitting that the center offers programming for adults as well as children – supported in part by exhibitions and sales of the artist’s work. And like Morgan, the center has a flexible, ever-creative nature.
What interested artists need to know: Maud Morgan Arts offers classes and programs for all ages in beautiful 2D, 3D, printmaking, and ceramics studios. “All our classes and workshops are limited in size and taught by highly qualified artist/educators,” says Maud Morgan Arts Director Catherine Kernan. Among the artist/instructors teaching small, tutorial-style classes or workshops are recent MCC Drawing Finalist Raul Gonzalez and past ArtSake guest bloggers Deborah Davidson and Adria Arch.
Along with the opportunity to learn from colleagues and peers, artists can rent the center’s printmaking and ceramics studios or rent the space for presentations and film screenings. Also, artists and curators can submit proposals for exhibitions in the center’s Chandler Gallery. And, artists interested in gaining educating experience can propose a class or workshop to teach.
What’s up next: The Spring Session has been announced, including wheel throwing, acrylic painting, observational drawing, and printmaking. Upcoming workshops include “Watercolor” with Joel Janowitz; “Drawing” workshops with Jon Imber and with Deborah Davidson, and “Screenprint” with Boriana Kantcheva.
Images: Maud Morgan Arts, photo by John Horner; Maud Morgan, BLACK CORNER (1976), Screenprint, 40×23 1/2 in; Boriana Kantcheva (Maud Morgan Arts staff member), THE STRAWBERRY EATERS (2009), Gouache on paper, 26×19 in.
Juliet Lockwood says
It’s wonderful to see that Maude Morgan left things in order so that her legacy could follow after she had passed. I am from a family of artists and we’re not that organized, but I would love to teach a workshop or rent the press for a weekend of producing mono prints. I am at Mass Art Graduate Ann, a fan of Maud’s great breadth of work.