Madison Museum of Contemporary Art: Art inspires interior design at Design MMoCA 2010

April 23–May 2, 2010

Gala Preview: April 22, 2010

MADISON, WI– Move over Top Design and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Madison Wisconsin is home to the true interior design reality show.

The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMoCA) will host its nationally acclaimed interior design showcase, Design MMoCA, from April 23 to May 2, 2010.

MMoCA is located in the heart of downtown Madison, one of the few cities in the world to be built upon an isthmus, situated between two glacial lakes and literally surrounded by natural beauty.

Design MMoCA 2010 celebrates the intersection of beauty, art and interior design through temporary “rooms” that are created by architects and designers, and displayed in the museum’s galleries. The ten day event will be accompanied by an extensive program of lectures and events.

Design MMoCA 2010 challenges 16 of the region’s most creative designers and architects to use works of art from the museum’s permanent collection, including works by nationally and internationally acclaimed artists, as inspiration for the one-of-a-kind room designs. Rooms will take shape in the galleries and lobby of the museum–itself designed by renowned architect Cesar Pelli–and will include living, eating, working, and sleeping spaces. Come experience art merged into daily life!

Design MMoCA 2010 features a robust event schedule, including:

* An opening gala on the evening of Thursday, April 22. In addition to previewing the room designs, guests will have the opportunity to mingle with members of the design community and sample champagne and hors d’oeuvre pairings created by Fresco, the museum’s rooftop restaurant.

* A public meet-the-designer session on Sunday, April 25, in which visitors can meet all of the participating designers, ask questions, and inquire about design styles, techniques, and philosophies.

* A series of design lectures, including presentations on green architectural design, designing around art, choosing frames to complement décor and art, and many other topics.

* A series of gallery talks centered around the room vignettes.

A slideshow of all rooms created for Design MMoCA 2008 may be viewed on the museum’s website: http://mmoca.org/events/designmmoca/slideshow/index.html

All proceeds raised through Design MMoCA will benefit the museums’ free-admissions policy, as well as its education and exhibition programs. Ten-day admission to Design MMoCA is $12; advance tickets will be available online for $10 beginning March 1.

Design your next visit to Madison! Come stay for the night, a weekend or longer to explore a city that blends urban sophistication with cultural arts, excellent live music and theater venues, boutique shopping and eclectic dining opportunities. http://www.visitmadison.com

For more information on Design MMoCa 2010 visit http://www.mmoca.org

For information on visiting Madison visit http://www.visitmadison.com