Full Circle: Acquisitions and Exhibitions

March update: MMoCA is pleased to announce that its galleries are reopening to the public at noon on Friday, March 12. The Museum will have limited hours: Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, noon-6 PM.

Reservations are not needed to visit, but guests will be required to wear a mask, in accordance with Dane County’s most recent public health order. In addition, capacity in the galleries will be capped to maintain adequate social distancing. Other measures, such as hand sanitation stations and additional cleaning protocols, are in place. Guests may be asked to wait in the lobby or visit another MMoCA gallery to ensure proper social distancing.

Fresco, the Museum’s rooftop restaurant, is closed for the season. Guests will be able to access the Rooftop Sculpture Garden, which includes a recently added bronze work, Untitled, (1982-85) by artist Joel Shapiro. The work is part of the Full Circle: Acquisitions and Exhibitions show, which is now on view.

Please check mmoca.org/welcome-back for more details on safety precautions, and on our social media channels for information on new and upcoming exhibitions, educational programming, and wellness activities this spring. We look forward to welcoming you back!

press release: Full Circle: Acquisitions and Exhibitions is an expansive show that traces the museum’s collecting and exhibition history over the past 30 years. Full Circle reflects the culmination of the work and dedication of recently retired Director Emeritus Stephen Fleischman. Extended through Aug. 22.

Curated by Fleischman and Curator of the Collection Mel Becker Solomon, the exhibition highlights artworks acquired to complement and bolster the strengths of MMoCA’s permanent collection in the areas of Chicago Imagism, contemporary photography, and works by Midwestern artists. The exhibition features familiar favorites alongside more recent acquisitions, including those by Romare Bearden, Deborah Butterfield, Sam Gilliam, Brad Kahlhamer, Jacob Lawrence, Truman Lowe, Roberto Behar and Rosario Marquardt, Susan Rothenberg, Frank Stella, and John Wilde.  

Full Circle includes a wide range of artistic sensibilities, media, and ideas at work. MMoCA hopes that viewers will find objects that speak to them or perhaps bring back fond memories of days spent in the galleries. We look forward to seeing you at the museum!

There are just a few guidelines that we are asking every visitor to follow, and some enhanced sanitation measures that our staff will take to ensure everyone’s health and well-being. We ask that all guests agree to the following policies, which are based on local public health guidelines, prior to visiting the galleries:

• Masks or cloth face coverings required for all guests over the age of 5
• Maintain social distancing of 6 feet or more
• Wash your hands, or use hand sanitizer, often

MMoCA galleries will have floor markings and signage to aid in social distancing efforts, and hand sanitizer and tissues will be located at key points throughout public spaces. Guest capacity also will be limited based on local public health guidelines. MMoCA will implement a number of other important safety measures. Please check our website frequently in case policies and preventative measures change.