I wish I would have been there an hour earlier when there was more light out, but you can still see the progress I noticed riding by today.  Trees have been added to the perimeter.  And the interior decor is.... ummmm..... fierce?

 

http://www.wmagazine.com/artdesign/2012/10/farshid-moussavi-cleveland-museum-of-contemporary-art-ss#slide=1

 

A nice article regarding MOCA and Farshid Moussavi.

^ Thanks!  good find.

Untitled by cle618, on Flickr

Untitled by cle618, on Flickr

Untitled by cle618, on Flickr

Untitled by cle618, on Flickr

Is that a projection or a billboard?

It's a banner down the side of the older apartments. They are also adding what looks to be a giant swingset in the plaza- could be wrong, but that's what it looked like last night

Just a reminder (which may not be needed) that some of new stuff inside and outside the building is part of the opening exhibit and isn't permanent.

How does the finished plaza look?  Since the webcam has been taken away I no longer get to see daily updates. Being in Los Angeles is frustrating to see the progress. Any pics would be greatly appreciated.

How does the finished plaza look?  Since the webcam has been taken away I no longer get to see daily updates. Being in Los Angeles is frustrating to see the progress. Any pics would be greatly appreciated.

 

So far, the plaza is a little underwhelming IMO. Very plain with an oddly placed line of trees, ill try to get some pics.

 

Has anything ever been proposed for the parking lot at Euclid and mayfield?

^Do you mean Euclid and Ford?  That is being reserved for Phase II of Uptown.  I am hoping they are simply waiting to gauge leftover demand after Phase I to determine how big (i.e. tall) they want to go.

 

I actually like the placement of the trees.  The plaza looked weird without them.  The trees give it a more defined area and I'm happy that they went with more mature trees than you see in a lot of new developments.

^^^^ Is the billboard/projection on the side of the older building a long term advert or is it just for opening weekend.  I hope its a long term it looks as though it adds tremendous energy to the area. Any news on october openings in uptown besides moca opening on the 8th.

How does the finished plaza look?  Since the webcam has been taken away I no longer get to see daily updates. Being in Los Angeles is frustrating to see the progress. Any pics would be greatly appreciated.

 

The cam is back up. Just tried it. http://24.123.243.38/

^Ooh, good find- I too was missing that cam!

^Do you mean Euclid and Ford?  That is being reserved for Phase II of Uptown.  I am hoping they are simply waiting to gauge leftover demand after Phase I to determine how big (i.e. tall) they want to go.

 

I actually like the placement of the trees.  The plaza looked weird without them.  The trees give it a more defined area and I'm happy that they went with more mature trees than you see in a lot of new developments.

 

Oh no, I completely agree that the trees are nice- I just feel like the plaza is a bit too simple for my taste. Especially on the intersection corner, the gardens seem a bit flat and underwhelming. Just my opinion though. I guess I'll make final judgement when it's 100% done and set to normal

 

Thanks for the info on ford/Euclid. I've been wondering about that.

I absolutely love the plaza design !

 

 

I've got my tickets for the public preview on Columbus Day!!!

Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland readies new building for public debut (video)

Published: Monday, October 01, 2012, 9:45 PM    Updated: Monday, October 01, 2012, 9:50 PM

Steven Litt, The Plain Dealer By Steven Litt, The Plain Dealer

 

MOCA opens this weekend MOCA opens this weekend David Noor, chief curator at MOCA, Cleveland's museum of contemporary art, talks about MOCA's new home at the corner of Euclid and Mayfield in uptown Cleveland. Grand opening parties are this weekend, and the museum is free to the public on Monday, Oct. 8. Watch video

 

The Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland, which opened in a tiny storefront on Euclid Avenue in University Circle 44 years ago and then left in search of more space, has finally come back to its roots.

 

On Monday, the museum showed off its striking new building at Euclid and Mayfield Road in University Circle to members of the media.

 

The $27.3 million, 34,000-square-foot structure is a seductively mysterious four-story gemstone sheathed in reflective panels of black stainless steel. It was designed by architect Farshid Moussavi of London, a native of Iran and an up-and-coming international star. The building is both her first museum and her first assignment in the United States.

 

"I think it's the new Cleveland," said Stewart Kohl, president of MOCA's board of trustees. "MOCA will be a kind of draw that we really haven't had."

 

www.cleveland.com/arts/index.ssf/2012/10/museum_of_contemporary_art_cle_8.html

great job.

 

 

VIDEOS:

 

http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/cleveland_metro/cleveland-museum-of-contemporary-art-putting-on-the-final-touches-for-its-grand-opening-weekend

 

http://www.wkyc.com/news/article/263617/3/MOCA-complete-University-Circle-neighborhood-growing

another great video

 

In Cleveland, a Flashy New Museum But an Even Better Neighborhood

 

Next Monday, the Cleveland's Museum of Contemporary Art will officially move into its new $27.3 million home on Euclid Avenue. Designed by Iranian-born and London-based architect Farshid Moussavi, the sophisticated, gem-shaped museum reminds visitors that Cleveland can still build the kinds of flashy cultural toys associated with bigger, wealthier cities.

 

MOCA Cleveland may make the loudest design statement, but it's far from the only symbol of bold, 21st century urbanism in the University Circle neighborhood.

 

The neighborhood has seen a diverse set of investments, including high density residential ....

 

(cross posted in UARD thread)

 

 

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/neighborhoods/2012/10/cleveland-flashy-new-museum-even-better-neighborhood/3477/

 

When I was out at lunch in UC today, MOCA was sold out and a long line waited to get in.

...As would be expected on the first day. Great to see though.

IIRC, they were offering free admission yesterday for the grand opening / Columbus Day holiday. Still, great to hear that much interest!

 

Yes that is correct.

There was a sign out front though that said "Today is sold out", or something to that effect. Probably weren't allowing anymore people in line.

As I said, the line was very looong.

 

fyi...the next free day is November 3.

Cleveland’s new Museum of Contemporary Art by Farshid Moussavi now open

 

 

A lot is riding on the opening of Cleveland’s Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). For the frugal and cash-cautious MOCA, the museum must be a successful art destination that brings visitors and dollars in the door. For the community, the expectations are that the project will be the lynchpin in the regeneration of the area. And for Farshid Moussavi, the London-based architect who is designing her first museum and first project in the United States, the building must hit the right note with the public and the critics if she if to climb the artistic ladder as others have and win similar, substantive commissions.

 

http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=20975

 

MOCA gets some signage today

 

 

 

MOCA gets some signage today

 

 

 

Wonder how many people will lock their bikes to it?? :o

More pics of MOCA http://www.dezeen.com/2012/10/10/museum-of-contemporary-art-cleveland-by-farshid-moussavi/

Just a cool shot of MOCA found in a search. I will edit with credit if I find the source.

More coverage...but I feel slightly dissing toward Cleveland:

 

http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/bulletin/new-museum-of-contemporary-art-in-cleveland-shines/6869?tag=main;featured-stories

In a word- condescending.

I find the above article very annoying, actually. It's written portraying Cleveland as a Rust Belt backwater with MOCA being the saving grace of the city's cultural scene- quite a sensational inaccuracy. While MOCA's new building is absolutely stunning and the team that brought it to fruition deserve major accolades for their achievement, it's only a small piece of the city's impressive arts and cultural scene. I mean the thing might literally be able to fit in CMA's new atrium. To suggest there was little, if any, cultural tourism in the city pre-MOCA- I'm sure that would give a good laugh to the people over at Playhouse Square, CMA, the Orchestra, and on and on and on..You're dumb, lady. Rant over.

It's the typical drivel some Cleveland ex-pat journalists have - god forbid they produce an article that doesn't have at least a backhanded compliment or three. What was more appalling to me is that she holds degrees from Stanford and Columbia and the article reads like something out of a backwater college newsletter.

^Agreed.  Even aside from the codensention, what an awful post. Anyone so naive to be surprised to find flashy starchitecture in small or rusty metros really has no business posting journalisty looking stuff on the topic.  JFC, lady, open your eyes to the world around you.

^agree 100%.  I sent her a message telling her it was weak.

It's the typical drivel some Cleveland ex-pat journalists have - god forbid they produce an article that doesn't have at least a backhanded compliment or three.

 

I call it "I used to live in Cleveland but now I live someplace that I think is cooler, and that makes me cooler, I think, but I have to knock Cleveland to help me feel confirmed in my life decisions" syndrome.

It's the typical drivel some Cleveland ex-pat journalists have - god forbid they produce an article that doesn't have at least a backhanded compliment or three.

 

I call it "I used to live in Cleveland but now I live someplace that I think is cooler, and that makes me cooler, I think, but I have to knock Cleveland to help me feel confirmed in my life decisions" syndrome.

 

BINGO!

So I sent the author a message and she quickly replied:

 

I wrote "I found it condescending and weak.  Being from Cleveland, you should know that culture has what kept Cleveland alive for decades.  Scores of minorities, races and ethnicities all molding their part of town.  Arts, music, theatre has always had a huge, nationally respected place.  Your flare for the dramatic or whatever you were shooting for was a reach."

 

She replied in an email:

 

Hi Dan,

 

 

Thanks for your note. I appreciate your taking the time to write.

 

 

I think you're right that I overshot this time. I'm going to update the post.

 

 

Laura

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's nicer than what I wrote, but basically the same thing.

I wasn't offended by the article. She meant well. But yeah, the orchestra, art museum and Cinematheque are all very much on the national radar already.

Just read the post.  She obviously updated it because I couldn't find much wrong with it.

 

Found this note at the bottom:  Update, December 4: An earlier version of this story said that Cleveland was not a culture destination though it has a long history with the arts and some world-class cultural institutions such as the Cleveland Orchestra. The story has been updated, and the writer regrets the tone of the initial version of this piece.

Meh, the post is better now, but I still think these kinds of pieces are silly fluff.  It's awesome to review the building as a work of architecture and art destination, but she totally whiffs at the context.  Countless midsized cities hire fledgling or full-flung starchitects to design contemporary art spaces.  Just look at Cinci, Columbus, Denver, Kansas City, St. Louis, etc. This isn't to take away from the Cleveland MOCA, but this building does not have some kind of bigger meaning about the city moving on from its problems or differentiate itself, IMHO.  It stinks, because pointing these things out often makes us sound defensive, but I'm just amazed how people so clearly untraveled or otherwise ignorant about national architectural or museum trends can get work like this posted.  Then again, I have no idea how prominent a site SmartPlanet is, so it's possible we're just picking on some low level amateur post.  In which case I feel kind of guilty.

You NEED the fluff pieces though, as long as they're positive. Can't overlook that. That's part of changing the image of Cleveland. (Something we don't pay as much attention to as we should.) We need "sexy". Don't ignore the "sexy", people!  8-) So, although fluff pieces may not be your thing (and I, like you, don't know how big this particular site is), things like this do influence people who's only exposure to Cleveland is from the handful of times our sports teams are on national TV. Don't sleep on it. Its important. Image matters in 21st century America.

I wasn't offended by the article. She meant well. But yeah, the orchestra, art museum and Cinematheque are all very much on the national radar already.

 

Yes, yes Cleveland is well known for its stellar arts and cultural institutions (especially when you consider its size) but anybody that has any familiarity of the area also knows how large an extent or role that the local arts culture plays here.  I have lived in many places, and none have quite matched at the level that Cleveland has in this regard.

 

Also, most people recognize that importance and role as one of the only places that publically funds their arts organizations and groups.     

this is anecdotal, but i keep hearing about some opening gala where the whole art world desended or will descend on cleveland for moca. not sure if it happened or will happen? anyone know??

 

anyway, cleveland's moca is definitely in the zeitgeist and is the talk amongst the ny art world folks these days. something to try to keep capitalizing on for sure.

 

By the way, if you buy the Ambassador-level ($125) membership at the Cleveland Museum of Art, you get reciprocal admission at MOCA.

The opening gala, mrnyc, was the weekend of October 6th. Through #hashtags on twitter and instagram, I was pretty surprised to discover the art world (nyc/LA) did, in fact, focus on Cleveland for MOCA's opening. Private tours of CMA and the Progressive Collection were also given that weekend to visitors. MOCA did make quite a splash. I've been twice(having never been to the old museum) and am in love with it.

By the way, if you buy the Ambassador-level ($125) membership at the Cleveland Museum of Art, you get reciprocal admission at MOCA.

 

 

Ooooooo, that's good to know. My lady and I are thinking about which cultural venue to become a member of for the time being as the kids have outgrown the Science Center and such

By the way, if you buy the Ambassador-level ($125) membership at the Cleveland Museum of Art, you get reciprocal admission at MOCA.

 

 

Ooooooo, that's good to know. My lady and I are thinking about which cultural venue to become a member of for the time being as the kids have outgrown the Science Center and such

 

Yes good to know, although TBideon and CLE618 would hate that!

The opening gala, mrnyc, was the weekend of October 6th. Through #hashtags on twitter and instagram, I was pretty surprised to discover the art world (nyc/LA) did, in fact, focus on Cleveland for MOCA's opening. Private tours of CMA and the Progressive Collection were also given that weekend to visitors. MOCA did make quite a splash. I've been twice(having never been to the old museum) and am in love with it.

 

 

ah so it happened, the opening was the event -- thank you. i guess i am still hearing the positive fallout from my artworld pals -- and its good to hear!