Art & Gift Fair

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(2018 pick) It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Browse through nearly 100 booths filled with fine arts, crafts and gourmet foods while enjoying live performances from more than a dozen local musicians and dancers. For even more fun, there will also be a photo booth, a silent auction and, on Sunday, a “bubbly brunch” at Fresco from 9-10:30 am. Hours are 10 am to 6 pm Saturday and 10 am to 4 pm Sunday. The admission fee helps keep the museum free for all year round.

Saturday, November 16, 2019, 10am-6pm; Sunday, November 17, 2019, 10am-4pm

2019 MMoCA Art & Gift Fair Entertainment Schedule:

Saturday, November 16: 10 am: Mad City Funk, Rotunda Stage; 10:15 am: Isabel Coff Music, MMoCA Lobby; 10:15 am: Madison Ballet's “Living Sculptures” stationed in the Overture Center for the Arts Promenade Lounge, MMoCA’s State Street Gallery and lobby staircase. Characters “Nutcracker” and “Plum” in the Reading Nook near the Henry Street entrance; 11:15 am: ARTS for ALL Wisconsin Madison Choir, Rotunda Stage; 12:15 pm: Katrina Harms, MMoCA Lobby; 2:15 pm: Stairwell Music, MMoCA Lobby; 3:15 pm: Tangled Up In Blue a capella, MMoCA Lobby; 4:15 pm: Shekinah King, MMoCA Lobby

Sunday, November 17: 10:15 am: Kanopy Dance Company, Rotunda Stage; 10:15 am: Madison Ballet’s “Living Sculptures” stationed in the Overture’s Promenade Lounge, MMoCA’s State Street Gallery and lobby staircase. Characters “Nutcracker” and “Plum” in the Reading Nook near the Henry Street entrance; 10:15 am: Noah James Hittner, MMoCA Lobby; 11:15 am: Stoughton High School Norwegian Dancers, Rotunda Stage; 12:15 pm: Hypheria, MMoCA Lobby; 1:15 pm: Skylah's Lyrik, MMoCA Lobby; 3:15 pm: Stairwell Music, MMoCA Lobby

press release: A beloved seasonal tradition, the MMoCA Art & Gift Fair gathers high quality craft and fine art, small-batch and gourmet food purveyors, local performers, and holiday shoppers for a fun-filled weekend of shopping that supports the arts and small businesses. A fundraising event supporting the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMoCA), this event will take place on Saturday, November 16 and Sunday, November 17, two weeks before Thanksgiving to kick-off the holiday season.

This year’s MMoCA Art & Gift Fair will showcase the latest work by over 70 carefully selected artists. Guests can talk with the artists and craftspeople with wine or a warm beverage in hand. Arranged throughout the gorgeous spaces of MMoCA and the Overture Center for the Arts, this family-friendly event offers relaxed shopping at nearly 100 booths filled with art, fine craft, gourmet food, and specialty gifts; wine and delicious beverages at cash bars; live music, dance performances, and other festive experiences for the whole family. To add to the merriment, the MMoCA Art & Gift Fair will once again kick off Shine on Madison, the annual downtown holiday celebration, which includes an outdoor market, light displays, and more. 

This year’s MMoCA Art & Gift Fair will offer creative demonstrations, such as hand-made holiday cards and creating a luscious appetizer board. Fresco Rooftop Restaurant will offer Tom and Jerry cocktail demonstrations, a curated selection of wines, and other delicious offerings in the MMoCA Lobby. Catering a Fresco will offer a range of refreshments throughout the Overture Center. Friends, families and individuals can appreciate art and enjoy shopping with a libation in hand and lively entertainment interludes. The fair weekend begins with the Bubbly Brunch, a scrumptious add-on event taking place in the Fresco Rooftop Restaurant on Saturday, November 16 from 9-10:30 am. Tickets to the brunch will include fresh, seasonal offerings and contemporary twists on the classics.

Favorite MMoCA Art & Gift Fair features return such as the Silent Auction, Gourmet Galleries, and the Rediscovered Treasures & Art Sale. Also included will be a designer vignette, a holiday selfie booth, as well as more seasonal inspiration and ideas than ever before.

Guests of the MMoCA Art & Gift Fair are making an important statement and contribution. This event helps MMoCA maintain free museum admission and education programs. Additionally, purchases support artists, craftspeople, and small businesses who are predominately local and regional. A signature MMoCA fundraiser creates an important marketplace for the work of artists and craftspeople. In addition to helping the arts in our community thrive, MMoCA Art & Gift Fair is also a driver of the local economy, drawing people to downtown Madison for shopping and dining.

Featured Artist: Glass blower Sharon Fujimoto has been named the 2019 MMoCA Art & Gift Fair’s Featured Artist. Fujimoto creates her one-of-a-kind glass works using a combination of hand- and mouth-blowing techniques. She designs and makes all of her pieces independently, without outside help in the process. Fujimoto says, “I believe in the simplicity of form and color and the fact that "accidents" are a beautiful thing. I am not the "master" of my medium. I simply go with the flow of the process as a witness, a participant and a supervisor.” She hopes that her pieces will “endure current trends and fads,” and make a connection with those who view them. The featured artwork, Celadon Vase, will be on view and open for bidding in the MMoCA Art & Gift Fair’s Silent Auction during the fair.