The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art), Metromix Tucson. in Tucson, Arizona, United States, was founded in 1997, by Julia Latané, James Graham, and David Wright. The museum was founded to create a permanent institution for contemporary art in Tucson's arts district. Originally housed in the HazMat building on Toole Avenue, the museum relocated to the former fire department building on Church Avenue in 2010.
History
Toole Building
In 1992, James Graham, Julia Latané and Dave Lewis founded the Toole Shed Studios under the auspices of the Tucson Arts Coalition (TAC). MOCA was incorporated in the spring of 1997. It was conceived as the next step in the continued growth and development of the Toole Shed Artists’ Studios and as an important addition to the downtown Arts District. In order to better serve the interests of the tenants and the community, and responding to the wealth of local contemporary art activity, the artists of Toole Shed Studios decided to incorporate as an independent cooperative. The articles of incorporation and bylaws were written in 1997 and 501(c)3 status was received by the end of that year. Graham was the Founding Director of MOCA, and Latané served as President of the board with David Wright (founder of Sixth Congress Gallery) as Secretary and Treasurer.
During the spring of 1998, the foundations for MOCA were laid. In August 1998 the opportunity arose to occupy a warehouse space at 191 East Toole Avenue. Over the course of the next four months, volunteers worked to transform the previously abandoned warehouse into the Museum of Contemporary Art, featuring more than four thousand square feet of exhibition space.
Between 2001 and 2003, local gallery owner Elizabeth Cherry served as interim director and curator. In March 2003, Anne-Marie Russell was appointed to the position of Executive Director and Chief Curator, and in 2017 Ginger Shulick Porcella became the new Executive Director and Chief Curator of MOCA.
Fire Station In 2009, Tucson’s Fire Station #1 was decommissioned and the firefighters relocated to a new facility. A request for proposals was issued for the “highest and best use” of the building and MOCA Tucson saw an opportunity to acquire a permanent space while preserving an important piece of Arizona's modernist architectural history. The main hall that once housed fire trucks became the museum's main exhibition space, while the first-floor offices were converted into white-box galleries for showcasing intimate works. The firefighters' quarters were transformed into artist-in-residence accommodations, and the second-floor offices were repurposed into administrative offices and an education space for the museum. Since 2009, MOCA has presented between eight and twelve exhibitions per year, showcasing the works of local, regional, national, and international artists. The museum has also established an Artist-in-Residence Program, developed youth programming for underserved populations, and hosts a variety of public events such as ArtNow!, Artist Talk series, dance, performance, music, and other celebrations of the arts.
Exhibits Date of ExhibitExhibit NameArtist(s)March 6 – June 13, 2010 Made in Tucson/Born in Tucson/Live in Tucson Part 1 Artists included in the exhibition: Taylor Baldwin, Don Bell, Robert Breer, Skyler Brickley, Raven Chacon, Robert Colescott, Bailey Doogan, SJ Gibson, Amy Granat, Harmony Hammond, Alex Hay, Drew Heitzler, Adam Helms, Charles Hitner, Brookhart Jonquil, Marguerite Kahrl, Kim Largey, Jessica James Lansdon, Julia Latané, Carolyn Leigh, Dave Lewis, Jason Manley, Mathieu Mercier, Tom Miller, Olivier Mosset, Vik Muniz Coke Wisdom O’Neal, Raymond Pettibon, Lucy Raven, Francois Robert, Dave Sayre, Aili Schmeltz, Ken Shorr, Luke Stettner, Andy Steinbrink, Eric Golo Stone, Julianne Swartz, Janaina Tschäpe, Kade L. Twist, Dick Tuck, Alex Von Bergen, Steven Yazzie, Nathan Young, and Peter YoungJuly 10 – September 26, 2010 Made in Tucson/Born in Tucson/Live in Tucson Part 2 Artists included in the exhibition: Jack Balas, Matt Cotten, Lawrence Gipe, Dimitri Kozyrev, Kim Largey, Bill Mackey, Chika Matsuda, Armando Miguélez, Dean Narcho, Alfred Quiroz, Lucy Raven, Gwyneth Scally, Kenneth Shorr, Dana Smith, Paco Velez, and Lee Ann Woolery.October 23, 2010 – May 29, 2011The Artist As Collector: Olivier Mosset Artists included in the exhibition: Peter Young, Jeffrey Schad, Vincent Szarek, Virginia Overton, George Belcher, Mathieu Mercier, Serge Bard, Drew Heitzler, Amy Granat, Alexandre Bianchini, Jeff Bursey, Darren Clark, Catherine Eyde, Sylvie Fleury, John Armleder, Cliff Taylor, Emory Douglas, Frederic Sanchez, Hinrich Sachs, Francis Baudevin, Renee Levi, Joan Waltemath, John Nixon, Sarina Basta & Gabrielle Penabaz, S.J. Gibson, Dave Sayre, Chuck Nanney, Nicole Hassler, Steven Parrino, Dimitry Orlac, Emily Sunblad, Haley Mellin,
Lawrence Weiner, Jackie McAllister, Mike Bidlo, Fia Backstrom, Robert Colescott, Liam Gillick, Dan Walsh, Isabel Halley & Joana Avillez, Howard Smith, Christian Robert-Tissot, Dan Graham, Sherrie Levine, Louise Lawler, Michael Zahn, Yves Klein.March 5 – May 29, 2011The Slanted BroomJocko WeylandTomorrowland Aili SchmeltzJuly 9 – October 16, 2011 The Tucson WorkGerben MulderOctober 22, 2011 - April 1, 2012 The Punk Years 1978-86 Raymond Pettibon November 1, 2010 – March 25, 2011 Plata o PlomoCamp Bosworth Winter 2011December 17, 2010 – March 25, 2011Legislate Crazy Armando Miguelez Spring 2012April 21 – November 21, 2012The Air ShowParticipating Artists: Gerban Mulder, Brookhart Jonquil, Mathieu Mercier, Jessica James Lansdon, Olivier Mosset, Janaina Tschäpe, Sarina Basta & Gabrielle Penabaz, Peter Young, Vincent Szarek, Alois Kronschlaeger, Dorothy Iannone, Jocko Weyland, Henry Kerr, Robert Colescott, Coke Wisdom O’Neal, Armando MiguélezSummer 2012June 30 – September 16, 2012Quietly Taking Over the World Vinjon Global Corp Winter 2012December 14, 2011– April 27, 2012Capitalist Masterpieces Peter Young Spring 2013May 25 – July 7, 2012Chrysalis Chico MacMutrie/ Amorphic Robot Works May 25 – September 22, 2013Action Through Redaction Kenneth Shorr July 26 – August 18, 2013The Early YearsWylywn Dominic Reyes July 13 – September 8, 2013The BoxCoke Wisdom O'NealFall 2013October 4, 2013 – March 16, 2014 Untitled (Basin and Range)Alois KronschlaegerOctober 4, 2013 - January 26, 2014How to Kill a Marvin Gaye SongDavid SayreSpring 2014February 15 – May 18, 2014Floating WorldsJanaina TschapeSummer 2014June 21-September 14, 2014BlueprintGuest Curator: Sebastiaan Bremer and Florian Idenburg & Jing LiuMOCA Bas-Relief (Mike-Papa-Bravo)Sebastiaan BremerBAKERMAN I.U.D. (Lizzi Bougatsos, Sadie Laska, and Spencer Sweeny) Fall 2014September 27 – December 7, 2014MoutonFrancois-Zavier LaLanneOn KindnessJacob Kassay & Kyle ThurmanGolden StateGuest curator: Drew Heitzler
Artists included in the exhibition: Samara Golden, Lucy Dodd, Kaari Upson, Lucy Raven, Amy Yao, Pentii Monkkonen, Liz Craft, Mungo Thomson, Scott Benzel, Theodora AllenSpring 2015January 11 - May 31, 2015Robert Barber: A RetrospectiveRobert BarberSummer 2015June 20 - September 26, 2015Mobile Pools6 ArtistsArtists included in the exhibition: Eli Burke, Bryan Crow, Ishi Glinsky, Jessica James Lansdon, Andrew Shuta, Jason WriteFall 2015October 24, 2015 - January 31, 2016Next TimeAlex Von BergenBest Dressed PirateAlex StreeterSpring 2016February 13 - May 29, 2016For All: Selections from the Arts for All ArchiveEvery Word Said: History Lessens from Athens and TucsonNicole Miller1991-2016Max EstengerSummer 2016June 18 -September 25, 2016Tucson 3 Ways: A Foray into Digital AlchemyMachineHistoriesGardens of the PureKitty Brophy, Emma Kohlmann, Alice MacklerChristofer ChurchillChristofer ChurchillSteven ParrinoSteven ParrinoFall 2016October 29 - January 29, 2017Meeting the Clouds HalfwayAranda\Lasch and Terrol Dew JohnsonSleep Never RustsJPW3Sound and NoiseMiranda LichtensteinSpring 2017February 18 - May 28, 2017If You Stay Busy You Have No Time to Be UnhappyHow to Make and Mend Cast NetsAndy SteinbrinkFrom Antelope SpringsDennis JeffyThe Joy of MultitaskingJohn KilduffSummer 2017June 17 - October 1, 2017 A night on the edge of forever: The art of midnight films, free theater, and the psychedelic Underground San Francisco 1969-1973Guest Curator: Steve Terry
Various artists included in the exhibitionWhy?! Why Did You Take My Log?!?!Virginia OvertonSelected Ambient Works, Volume IIChuck NanneyTucson Nights: After dark in the Naked PuebloTucson JohnFall 2017October 7 - December 31, 2017Nothing to DeclareArtists included in the exhibition: Lana Z. Caplan, Saulo Cisneros, Wesley Fawcett Creigh, Miguel Frenandez de Castro, Einar & Jamex de la Torre, Blane de St. Croix, Francisco Eme, Louis Hock, Khaled Jarrar, Kaydee Jimenez, PANCA, Omar Pimienta, Marcos RamirezEstamos BuscandoPaul TurounetBYNOWWEARETHERE Artists included in the exhibition: Isan Brant, Stephanie Burchett, Conor Elliot Fitzgerald, Wren Gardiner, Hellen Gaudence, Jonathan Marquis, Nassem Navab, Karoliina Paatos, Dustin Shores, Galen Trezise, David Taylor Winter 2017January 13, 2017 - March 25, 2018WestificationRosson CrowIn ResidenceRose EkenOut of the PaleVictoria FuTown and CountryRobert MeleeCarl Jung's Assault Rifles The GameBryan ZanisnikSpring 2018April 7 - June 30, 2018Last NationFolkert de JongSpring 2024February 2 – June 23, 2024Sofía Córdova: Sin AguaSofía CórdovaFebruary 2 – June 23, 2024Sara Hubbs and Sarah Zapata: Between Gravity and GroundSara Hubbs, Sarah ZapataMarch 8 - September 22, 2024Fay Ray: PortalsFay RayFall 2024September 13, 2024 - February 16, 2025Karima Walker: Graves for the RainKarima WalkerSeptember 13, 2024 – February 16, 2025CAConrad: 500 Places at OnceCAConradOctober 11, 2024 - February 9, 2025Juan Obando and Yoshua Okón: DemoJuan Obando, Yoshua Okón
Fundraisers MOCA Tucson has two large fundraisers a year: an annual Gala and a Fall Fundraiser. Every two years, the gala features the Local Genius Awards, honoring visionary and innovative Tucsonans whose activities have a global impact and whose talents have been internationally recognized. +LGA Award RecipientsYearAward Recipient2018Carol A. BarnesThomas GroganSusan Stryker2016Ofelia ZepedaMort RosenblumAndrew Weil, M.D.Brad Lancaster2013Rick JoyDr. Gary NabhamDr. Anna DornhausRobert A. WilliamsPeter Warshall, Ph.D.2011Joey Burnes (of Calexico)John Convertino (of) Calexico)Jacob Valenzuela (of Calexico)Dr. Diana LivermanJane PoynterTaber MacCallumLeslie Marmon SilkoJanos Wilder2009Peter SmithByrd BaylorSherwin BitsuiSuzana DavilaRobert ColescottHowe Gelb
Residency programs
Artist-in-Residence Program MOCA Tucson has a competitive artist residency program that was relaunched through a public application process in 2017, receiving several hundred applications for just seven annual slots lasting between two weeks and three months. Selected artists receive private studio and housing space, studio visits with curators, production stipends and PR support, as well as an opportunity to present a public program, exhibition, or lecture at the museum. +2017/2018 Artists-in-ResidenceDateArtist(s)October 8–28, 2017Bryan Zanisnik November 11–23, 2017Gelare Khoshgozaran October 8, 2017 - January 13, 2017Robert Melee January 15 - March 31, 2018Kris Grey Scotty Wagner and Bailey Hikawa May 1–22, 2018Rachel Frank October 1 - December 31, 2018Tra Bouscaren
Curator-in-Residence Program MOCA recently launched a Curator-in Residence Program starting in 2019 with the first Curator-in-Residence, Alex Young. Selected museum professionals will be given a three-month residency and MOCA will provide time, space, and access to resources for a curator to develop an exhibition, conduct research, and engage with MOCA Tucson’s artists-in-residence.
References
External links MOCA website https://web.archive.org/web/20110208210625/http://www.thezmag.com/article-162-moca-then-now.html