{"id":323467,"date":"2023-04-28T10:30:29","date_gmt":"2023-04-28T17:30:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sdnews.com\/?p=323467"},"modified":"2023-04-26T13:17:01","modified_gmt":"2023-04-26T20:17:01","slug":"mcasd-celebrates-successful-one-year-anniversary-of-reopening","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/mcasd-celebrates-successful-one-year-anniversary-of-reopening\/","title":{"rendered":"MCASD celebrates successful one-year anniversary of reopening"},"content":{"rendered":"

Now celebrating its one-year anniversary, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego\u2019s flagship La Jolla location, after being closed for four years for remodeling, has much to boast about \u2013 and look forward to.<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/em>Since reopening we\u2019ve welcomed 120,000 visitors to the museum to visit our galleries and see our exhibitions, or who joined us for special events,\u201d said Edie Nehls, MCASD\u2019S chief advancement officer. \u201cThe first year, our curators were especially focused on underrepresented artists.\u201d<\/p>\n

Promoted as a space where people \u201ccan see themselves and their reality reflected in the art of our time,\u201d one of the key goals of the reconfigured and reinvigorated MCASD at 700 Prospect St. is to advance new scholarship for under-examined women artists.<\/p>\n

Toward that end the museum, which reopened on April 9, 2022, held four exhibitions of famed contemporary female artists in its first year: \u201cNiki de Saint Phalle in the 1960s,\u201d showing how the mosaic artist \u201claid critical groundwork for feminist visual art and performance\u201d; \u201cGriselda Rosas: Yo te cuido,\u201d the Tijuana-born artist’s “decidedly skillful and profoundly beautiful” textile drawings and sculptural installations; \u201c<\/em>Celia Alvarez Munoz: Breaking the Binding,\u201d the first career retrospective of this conceptual artist featuring over thirty-five artworks including large-scale immersive installations, photographic series, and book projects; and \u201cAlexis Smith: The American Way,\u201d the first retrospective of the California artist in 30 years. Smith is renowned for her mixed-media collage works drawing heavily on film, literature, and pop culture.<\/p>\n

Pointing out MCASD La Jolla has \u201cover 5,600 works of art in its collections,\u201d Nehls noted, \u201cwe have about 5% of our collection, about 200 works of art, on view right now in our collection gallery.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another first for MCASD in its post-remodel inaugural year was the re-creation of the museum\u2019s full-service cafe, now known as The Kitchen. The new eatery offers breakfast and lunch Wednesday through Sunday. With seating for 80 guests exclusively outdoors, the 2,420-square-foot- courtyard, Gartner Court, is set against the backdrop of a historic former residence designed by 20th-century architect Irving J. Gill. Comfortable and charming, yet contemporary, best describe the appeal of The Kitchen\u2019s new garden caf\u00e9.<\/p>\n

Nehls said another highlight of the museum’s first year after reopening was its introduction of the Prebys Play Day Experience, a fun and free family day honoring the late philanthropist. Spilling out onto terraces and throughout galleries, Prebys Play Days, on the second Sunday of each month, including free admission, tours especially created for multi-generational participants, at-your-own-pace guides, hands-on art activities, an accessible food program, and transportation.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s meant to be an inter-generational day where families are welcome to come, youth can experience artmaking, and families can engage in art activities together, play together,\u201d said Nehls adding, \u201cWe have welcomed about 500 people a day for the Prebys Play Day Experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking ahead, Nehls said MCASD offers free admission to active-duty military. \u201cWe will be creating special educational tours and some programming for active military and their families,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

MCASD La Jolla also has an artmaking workshop program for people over age 55. \u201cWe are excited to draw people in to experience artwork, spend time on our ocean-view terrace, and enjoy a drink and a nibble,\u201d said Nehls.<\/p>\n

The refurbished museum has also been successful in renting out its various spaces to the public for events of all kinds including wedding receptions, birthdays, fundraisers, and special events.<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/em>The museum was created for the people of San Diego, by the people of San Diego,\u201d noted Nehls. \u201cIt reflects not only the people who gave money to expand the museum, but those who gifted their works of art to make the museum come to life. It is inspirational to me to see how much people care about arts and culture in San Diego.\u201d<\/p>\n

MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART SAN DIEGO<\/p>\n

A few of the achievements from the past 12 months following the grand reopening of The Joan and Irwin Jacobs Building, after being closed four years for remodeling\/expansion:<\/p>\n