MOCA GA celebrates 25 years of championing Georgia artists

A rendering of the future MOCA GA campus designed by Mack Scogin Merrill Elam Architects Courtesy MOCA GA This weekend Atlanta s Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia MOCA GA marks a quarter-century of amplifying the voices of the state s contemporary artists Founded in by artist Annette Cone-Skelton and developer David S Golden the museum has grown from a grassroots vision born in Cone-Skelton s pool house office into a cultural institution of nationwide significance Currently MOCA GA is a vital force in the Southeast s arts landscape with an expansive collection dynamic offerings and a mission rooted in artistic stewardship Since its founding MOCA GA has been dedicated to cultivating a thriving society around contemporary art and championing the work of Georgia-based artists says Cone-Skelton who continues to lead the museum as president CEO and director Over the years the museum has become a hub for emerging and mid-career artists offering opportunities for exhibition mentorship and professional expansion Its curatorial vision has spotlighted artists across disciplines while helping to shape Atlanta s identity as a center for contemporary art Read More The Goat Farm campus to reopen in phases beginning this spring MOCA exhibit to address themes of race nationalism and displacement Now MOCA GA is preparing for its next evolution A custom-designed facility slated to open next year adjacent to the Goat Farm Arts Center on Atlanta s Westside will provide expanded gallery space a research library and a inhabitants archive Designed by Mack Scogin Merrill Elam Architects the new building will also encouragement two coming initiatives Art for Healers a wellness-centered scheme for clinical professionals and the Young Artist Project connecting Atlanta youth with creative opportunities This move reflects our long-term vision to serve as an accessible innovative asset for contemporary art Cone-Skelton declared of the move It allows us to deepen our impact on Atlanta s cultural landscape Even as it grows the museum remains grounded in its founding ethos supporting living artists and nurturing the communities that sustain them Since its founding MOCA GA has been dedicated to cultivating a thriving district around contemporary art and championing the work of Georgia-based artists ANNETTE CONE-SKELTON MOCA GA PRESident ceo directir So what defines a contemporary art museum built for Georgia by Georgia These five milestones tell the story It made its debut on Peachtree Street MOCA GA was conceptualized in early in Cone-Skelton s Midtown pool house office The museum s first population location opened in at Peachtree Street just down the road from the High Museum Its earliest holdings came from an office collection Before founding the museum Cone-Skelton curated CGR Advisors corporate art collection alongside Golden When CGR downsized in more than works by Georgia artists were donated to help seed MOCA GA s permanent archive It pioneered new models for artist endorsement The museum s Working Artist Project WAP provides mid-career Georgia artists with an -month fellowship solo show and printed catalogue Past fellows include Fahamu Pecou Roc o Rodr guez Cosmo Whyte and Masud Olufani Its archival work began with Benny Andrews In Cone-Skelton commissioned Museumscape a lithograph by Georgia-born artist Benny Andrews to commemorate the museum s founding The collaboration launched MOCA GA s audio-visual archive now one of the the greater part key oral history support documenting Georgia artists It created space for Georgia s past present and future From retrospectives of historic figures like Herbert Creecy and Mildred Thompson to boundary-pushing shows by rising artists like Zipporah Camille Thompson and Krista Clark MOCA GA has consistently balanced preservation with innovation The post MOCA GA celebrates years of championing Georgia artists appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta