Public Re-Opening and Exhibition Reception @ Mattatuck Museum

After nearly two years and $9 million, the Mattatuck Museum is proud to announce its re-opening on Sunday, February 28th, 2021 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. The Museum opens with four new exhibitions, an artist installation in the Plaza, reinstallation of the permanent collection, and a re-interpretation of the Orton P. Camp, Jr. History Exhibit.

The renovation project has brought to life a reimagined space that continues to be a welcoming, inclusive, stimulating, and enriching community anchor. The “new” Mattatuck Museum includes an extensive 14,000 square foot renovation to the existing building and an addition of almost 7,000 square feet to expand educational programming, collections storage, and exhibitions.

Ann Beha Architects (ABA) of Boston developed the plan, which was executed under the management of Downes Construction Company of New Britain. The project allows the Museum to implement an exciting vision that includes two new classrooms; a freight-sized elevator to accommodate large-scale traveling exhibitions; 1,500 square feet of new gallery space; and a more welcoming and inviting public space. In addition, beautiful new amenities including a new plaza and garden, open foyer, expanded Museum Shop, café, and an outdoor roof terrace overlooking Waterbury’s historic green add to the visitor’s experience. “The goal of this project was to literally open up the museum to our community and to welcome them into their museum,” shared Museum Director Bob Burns, “Through the hard work of countless individuals, the revitalized Museum will be a major social, cultural, and educational draw to downtown Waterbury.” This architectural blend of classically detailed event spaces and exhibition galleries combines with the clean lines of the modern addition that includes new educational studio and classroom spaces, a visitor lounge, and a beautiful café which will open later this year.

In keeping with the idea of blending the historic and the modern, the new Museum plans to showcase a broad array of exhibitions and programs in the coming months, kicking off with the inaugural exhibitions opening on February 28th:

· Free as Air and Water (on view through April 11): Guest curator Tajh Rust presents works by five emerging artists, all Yale MFA graduates, that remind us of the fluidity and buoyancy of these elements: Genesis Báez, Maria de Los Angeles Rodriguez Jimenez, Naomi Lisiki, Allison Minto, and Anne Wu. While air and water are classic examples of simplicities we often take for granted, access to both is still a difficulty for many people.

· Unleashed: The Art of Robert C. Jackson (on view through April 18): Full of wit and character Robert Jackson's paintings celebrate contemporary life while consistently drawing from his rich knowledge and love for art history.

· Collecting Presidential History: Signatures and Ephemera: This exhibit represents a significant gift to the Mattatuck Museum of presidential signatures collected by Francis T. “Fay” Vincent Jr. augmented with ephemera from the collection of the Museum. Vincent, a Waterbury native and Commissioner of Major League Baseball from 1989-1992, made this donation in honor of his parents.

· The Future Starts Now: Recent Gifts to the Collection (on view through April 11): Our collection continues to grow in prominence with gifts of fine and decorative art, historical objects, and archives. We are extremely grateful to the generous donors of these recent additions of works that represent a diverse group of artists, Nazca textile fragments, 19th century Tonalist paintings, political ephemera, and texts for our library.

· Cross Currents: A commissioned work by Connecticut artist Don Gummer has been permanently installed in front of the new Museum addition. Inspired by the beautiful and open Green and the intersection of the many roads surrounding it, Gummer has created a new monument to the life of Downtown Waterbury.

These exhibitions are accompanied by a full roster of exciting and engaging programs for adults, families, and children including studio workshops, lectures, artist talks, and more. In response to COVID-19 and social distancing protocols, these programs are being offered both virtually and in-person.

For more information on all of the Museum’s upcoming programs, events, and exhibitions visit the Museum’s website at mattmuseum.org or call (203) 753-0381.