T
he Museum of Arts and Design
(MAD), (www.madmuseum.org)
is one of my favorite museums
in Manhattan. This Museum
displays and documents
contemporary and historic innovation
in craft, art, and design.
MAD is the place to go to see what
lurks in the creative minds of those
creative visionaries who think
outside the proverbial box.
MAD Has An
Ideal Location
MAD is located at 2 Columbus Circle, a
small, trapezoidal lot on the south side
of Columbus Circle, near West 59th
Street, between 7th and 8th Avenues.
Located a few steps away from
Central Park, the
neighborhood is a bustling
thoroughfare of tourists
and residents alike.
I have very fond
memories of this area,
having once lived
nearby on Central Park
South, while I
attended the Art
Students League
of New York, on
West 57 Street.
Now, when my friend comes to stay at
her pied-à-terre on Central Park South,
we always include a visit to MAD.
MAD Encourages
Creativity Across
Many Fields
Unlike larger museums in the city, MAD
is the perfect size if you want to
explore the entire contents of a
museum in one visit. You will feel
thoroughly satiated and inspired by its
array of beautiful and unusual objects.
MAD is known for its encouragement
and promotion of contemporary
creative individuals across creative
fields. It presents talents of artists,
designers, and artisans who apply the
highest level of ingenuity and
skill to their work.
There is always a new
jewelry artist to
discover. For example,
“Maryland to Murano:
Necklaces and
Sculptures by Joyce
J. Scott” is an
upcoming exhibition
that opens on
September 30,
2014.
Dining at Robert Offers
Awe-Inspiring Views
On your visit to MAD, you may want to
dine at Robert, a modern American
restaurant located on the ninth floor
of the Museum. It has extraordinary
views of Columbus Circle and Central
Park. Here you may enjoy a meal in the
dining room or relax with cocktails in
the lounge next to a baby grand piano.
Hours of operation include: Brunch
(Weekends Only): 11:00 - 3:00; Lunch:
Daily: 11:30am - 3:00pm; Small Plates,
Drinks and Desserts: 3:00 - 5:30;
Dinner: Wed-Sat: 5:30pm - 12:00am;
Sun-Mon: 5:30pm - 10:00pm; Tue:
5:30 - 11:00pm.
ABOVE
Robert, the restaurant located on
the 9th floor of the Museum of Arts
and Design
LEFT
Joyce J. Scott, Ribbon Dancers, 2009,
Woven glass beads. Courtesy of
Mobilia Gallery, Cambridge, MA
RIGHT
Installation view from ‘NYC Makers:
The MAD Biennial’ opening night, June
30, 2014. Photo by Gulshan Kirat