Serendipity is such a dear and cherished friend!
The Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia (MOCA GA) had been on my radar for quite some time, but I just got around to it this past weekend. And what a great experience! So great, that I went twice in the same day!
I had the great fortune of just catching the exhibition, "Ayokunle Odeleye: Thirty-two Years of Public Art"—it was the last day of the exhibition—AND it just so happened (here's the serendipitous part) that there was later that day a panel discussion with Ayo and three other public artists and the Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs' Public Art Program Manager...there was no way I was going to miss that discussion!
I arrived at the Museum, on the well-known antique shop-laden Bennett Street in Buckhead, and was welcomed with enthusiasm and was provided ample detail about the Museum and its current exhibition. I learned about the upcoming exhibition on the way out (more on that in a moment).
How much you enjoy a new museum, attraction, city, restaurant, job, or an in-law, greatly depends on that first impression...and the young lady at the museum that day (unfortunately, I didn't catch her name) totally made my experience of MOCA such that I've adopted it as part of my museum repertoire henceforth.
Going in, I immediately recognized Ayokunle's work. And I was loving how the exhibition was laid out. It was the first time I'd seen a retrospective of this sort...I was totally engaged.
There also is a catalog of the exhibition. Ayo later told us that he'd never himself seen his work laid out in such a way—being viewed as a collection of lifetime works. And that's exactly what it was.
Ayo is a public artist...one on the monumental scale. So, the exhibition couldn't possibly hold a collection of his "original" works—those are all over the country, many right here in Georgia, and as far away as Alaska!
What the exhibition included were drawings, photographs, and miniature (relatively speaking) models of the larger, real-life pieces. And obviously an Ayo touch, much of the photography (at least one in a set of photos) of the finished piece, included Ayo himself with his creation.
After touring the quite museum, I departed for a previously self-committed tour of another museum, all the while devising a plan to return for the two o'clock panel discussion.
I made it back in plenty of time (a future post will explain that excursion—pure, lighthearted fun) and even had time to stop for a quick bite after Imy return to Buckhead.
In contrast to my quiet visit earlier, there was standing room only for the panel discussion!
The moderator was introduced by MOCA GA's President/CEO/Director Annette Cone-Skelton. The moderator was Lisa Tuttle, a charming artist herself. The panelists included Maria Artemis, Curtis Patterson, Matt Haffner, Ayokunle Odeleye, and Eddie Granderson…and they were all brilliant.
Also, each of them looked and felt quite familiar. I would have sworn that I'd before met each of the artists on the panel, and maybe I have over the years.
I highly recommend exploring Atlanta's public art...there are some pretty amazing pieces out there. Actually, that sounds like a really fun full-day excursion. Hmmmm...
And when you do, ask yourself—at least of your local public art—"How does this represent my community? How does it make me feel about where I live?"
So, on Saturday, January 26, the next MOCA GA exhibition will be unveiled...."Ruth Laxson: Hip Young Owl." This exhibition is the first museum retrospective of Atlanta's Ruth Laxson and will feature more than 125 works. Sounds rather exciting.
I can hardly wait to return to The Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia...I'm thinking this is a new museum on my short list of Atlanta favorites. We'll soon find out.
Pop over to the wanderlust ATLANTA Facebook Page where you'll find more photos of my exploration of Ayo's brilliant public art and MOCA GA. And then go experience Atlanta!
The Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia (MOCA GA) had been on my radar for quite some time, but I just got around to it this past weekend. And what a great experience! So great, that I went twice in the same day!
 |
| Ayokunle Odeleye at the Museum of Contemporary Art |
I arrived at the Museum, on the well-known antique shop-laden Bennett Street in Buckhead, and was welcomed with enthusiasm and was provided ample detail about the Museum and its current exhibition. I learned about the upcoming exhibition on the way out (more on that in a moment).
 |
| The 1898 Memorial (Wilmington, NC) Ayokunle Odeleye, Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia |
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| The 1898 Memorial (Wilmington, NC) Ayokunle Odeleye, Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia |
 |
| Ayokunle Odeleye, Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia |
Going in, I immediately recognized Ayokunle's work. And I was loving how the exhibition was laid out. It was the first time I'd seen a retrospective of this sort...I was totally engaged.
There also is a catalog of the exhibition. Ayo later told us that he'd never himself seen his work laid out in such a way—being viewed as a collection of lifetime works. And that's exactly what it was.
Ayo is a public artist...one on the monumental scale. So, the exhibition couldn't possibly hold a collection of his "original" works—those are all over the country, many right here in Georgia, and as far away as Alaska!
 |
| Chi Wara Sundial Lantern (Atlanta, GA) Ayokunle Odeleye Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia |
 |
| Ancestral Totem (Atlanta, GA) Ayokunle Odeleye Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia |
I made it back in plenty of time (a future post will explain that excursion—pure, lighthearted fun) and even had time to stop for a quick bite after Imy return to Buckhead.
In contrast to my quiet visit earlier, there was standing room only for the panel discussion!
The moderator was introduced by MOCA GA's President/CEO/Director Annette Cone-Skelton. The moderator was Lisa Tuttle, a charming artist herself. The panelists included Maria Artemis, Curtis Patterson, Matt Haffner, Ayokunle Odeleye, and Eddie Granderson…and they were all brilliant.
Also, each of them looked and felt quite familiar. I would have sworn that I'd before met each of the artists on the panel, and maybe I have over the years.
I highly recommend exploring Atlanta's public art...there are some pretty amazing pieces out there. Actually, that sounds like a really fun full-day excursion. Hmmmm...
And when you do, ask yourself—at least of your local public art—"How does this represent my community? How does it make me feel about where I live?"
 |
| The Three Guardians (Brentwood, MD) Ayokunle Odeleye Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia |
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| The Three Guardians (Brentwood, MD) Ayokunle Odeleye Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia |
I can hardly wait to return to The Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia...I'm thinking this is a new museum on my short list of Atlanta favorites. We'll soon find out.
Pop over to the wanderlust ATLANTA Facebook Page where you'll find more photos of my exploration of Ayo's brilliant public art and MOCA GA. And then go experience Atlanta!
 |
| The Aurora Court Panels (Aurora, CO) Ayokunle Odeleye, Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia |
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