Although the MIT campus is dotted with works by international artists such as Alexander Calder, Henry Moore and Louise Nevelson, visiting the approximately 40 pieces across MIT's mile-long campus can be difficult on foot.
So, strap on some wheels!
On Wednesday, July 13, the List Visual Arts Center is offering a rolling tour of MIT's outdoor art collection for graduate students who wish to explore MIT's public art via bicycle, in-line skates or skateboard.
"Art on Wheels" will be led by List Visual Arts Center staffers David Freilach (on skates) and Hiroko Kikuchi (on bicycle). The tour will depart from the List Visual Arts Center (Building E15) at 5:30 p.m. and last 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Refreshments will be provided. In case of rain, the tour will be held July 14.
"With art spread out all over a large campus, from Sloan School to Westgate, our art tours always have to skip some objects," said Freilach, administrative officer for the List Center. "We thought if we could get our audience on wheels, we could cover a lot more ground," he said. "And to be honest, I need more exercise."
The tour will include a visit to both the intermediate model (in the List Visual Arts Center) and the 40-foot sculpture titled "The Big Sail" by Calder (in McDermott Court). America's first abstract artist of international renown, Calder is best known for inventing the mobile. The tour will also roll past Pablo Picasso's "Figure D̩coup̩e," a cast concrete work outside the Hermann Building (E53), and Moore's "Reclining Figure" between Buildings E25 and E15. Moore's figure is a working model for a sculpture at Lincoln Center in New York City.
List organizers are also planning excursions to see the public art inside one or two buildings (one of the leaders will stay outside to guard the wheels). Freilach hopes to include the Zesiger Center and the chapel, if nothing is scheduled for that time. "We'd hate to barge in on a wedding," he said.
Funds for the "Art on Wheels" tour were provided by Isaac Colbert, dean for graduate students, using student life fees. The tour is one of a series of events presented by the List Center for the benefit of graduate students during the year.
While the List Center does not conduct regularly scheduled walking tours of the campus sculptures, they can be arranged by appointment with the center.
For more information, e-mail Sarah Schoemann at sschoema@mit.edu or call 617-452-3586.
