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Institute of Contemporary Art
Rating Details »
Category: Museums
Neighborhoods: Waterfront, South Boston100 Northern Ave
(at B St)
Boston, MA 02210
(617) 478-3100
- Nearest Transit:
-
Courthouse (Silver)
- Hours:
Tue-Wed. 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Thu-Fri. 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
148 reviews for Institute of Contemporary Art
oh em gee. This building is gorgeous. Sitting near the water, this museum is made of glass...well, I don't think entirely but that's mainly what you see: glass. I just kept thinking. I want to have a nighttime party here, especially on the second floor where you see the water. How am I not a water sign? And then I thought how cool would it be if there was also lightening and thunder happening during this party. Cool.
Anyway, student price of $10 and the art is located only on the fourth floor. Take the glass elevator. Even as someone who is afraid of heights, please stand at the very edge and watch as the ground gets farther/closer. Awesome.
We saw the Damian Ortega exhibit. Amazing. My favorites: 1.) The Volkswagen Beetle, which was taking apart, part by part and suspended off the ground. A must see. Definitely. 2.) The 120 glass-blown coca cola bottles...all with its different interpretations. Some looked like dildos, or other body parts, like penis and vagina. But I think that's what the artist intended or maybe that's my perverted mind. 3.) The Classified Corn. "How long did that take?" is the question? So precise.
Another exhibit: In the Making. I especially liked the sculptures. There was one using only pins, one using only charred wood (which reminded me of going to the beach), and one using only scotch tape (which gave off an interesting fluffy cloud/cotton ball effect).
I loved Nan Goldin's photography. Stunning. Really captures interesting moments. Also loved Philip-Lorca diCorcia photography. And Gerard Byrne photography.
Don't forget to check out the Sandra and Gerald Fineberg Art Wall when you first enter. Neat.
When we arrived, there was an hour left before the museum closed. We mainly went because heard the architecture was so amazing. This is reflected by what seemed to be one floor of artwork. You're allowed to take pictures from the area that overlooks the area but no pictures inside the exhibit.
It was nice to unwind at dusk. The water was reflected the pretty pink light of the setting sun.
The few contemporary pieces I saw were interesting. Nothing too avant garde though.
I also liked the small exhibit featuring short films of cascading stones sent to fall like dominoes.
I think an hour is about right to see everything, explore the overpriced gift shop and contemplate dinner while looking at the water!
So...I have to go ahead and state that I think this is highly overrated. I will preface the review by saying that I'm not prone to understanding/appreciating modern art (I'm more of a Renoir, Degas, Cezanne admirer myself) and that highly influenced my couple of visits here.
The building is nice - especially the water front amphitheatre thingy. It offers a lot of light and a nice view - but...I can appreciate all of that without the price of admission. Also - one can enjoy the fun stuff in the over-priced gift shop without paying to get in as well. Honestly, I had more fun in there than I did going through the exhibits.
Ok...so the museum...it's tiny. And if you go to see the installed exhibits and not the special ones...it's much of the same. The issue with this is that unlike larger museums where you often find something you overlooked the first time...that doesn't happen here. I walked through thinking..."yep, saw that. Saw that one, too. I'm bored. Saw that already...is it lunchtime?"
Not my cup o'tea though - as I said before, I realize that my particular tastes lean in an entirely different direction and to some...this has meaningful impact.
Go based on what YOU like. :)
Arrived in Boston on Thursday early evening and took the water taxi straight from the airport to the ICA. What a great building and location. It was Free Thursdays (thank you Target) which made the stop worth it! The coat check staff was efficient and didn't even grumble about our baggage. We quickly started through the exhibits and were so happy to see different types of exhibits from the social experiments in video, photographs, modern art sculptures as well as the Shepard Fairey collection.
It's definitely worth the visit and next time I am in town I would definitely pay for a return trip. It's worth the admission alone to take in the views from the second floor.
This museum was pretty cool. It was a LOT smaller than I expected but hey, it was my second Boston museum. They had a really cool video exhibit. My favorite was a short movie about blind people touching an elephant and describing the experience.
The building and the view of the river/skyline is INCREDIBLE! Soo pretty! I will definitely be back for future exhibits. Also I went on Thursday night when admission is free. That, combined with free parking on the street after six, meant a fun and free evening in Boston.
Ignoring the Shepard Fairey exhibit, which is a pretty clear-cut case of a new museum just trying to get people through the door (fair play to them--it's not as if the government's going to keep these places running), the ICA is doing all the right things.
Case in point: the video lab, which has peek-a-boo windows in order to keep the sound from individual pieces from bumping into the others. This is a constant problem in contemporary museums and galleries--glad to see someone is paying attention (unlike our incompetent friends at the New Museum)! Also, can I get an "AMEN" for a contemporary museum that gives female and international artists their due? The ICA's permanent collection is solid, the vaulting glass looking over the water is gorgeous, and admission prices won't make you laugh incredulously. Check out Paul Chan's "1st Light" projection, which first debuted at the Whitney Biennial a while back, and be sure to look for Louise Bourgeois' works. So moving.
we have been to ICA a few times over the years .. most recently for the Shepard Fairey show .. if you missed it, that show was excellent (everyone calls him "the obama poster guy" now which is kind of sad, he has been turning out amazing work for ages) and you should get the Supply and Demand book. The ICA building is itself pretty impressive, strange and unique on the waterfront among the old seafood restaruants and new condos and hotels. If you like modern, contemporary art this is the place in boston to go. we had a chance to catch a performance here by DJ Spooky a few years back and it was fun, lots of people, lots of great music and visuals, an enjoyable positive art vibe. there was a band playing in the elevator. pamplemousse?!
parking here kinda sucks. your only option is to pay at the big lots or try your luck at the few meters in the area.
I was a guest at a wedding at the ICA. I didn't even know they did weddings and I hadn't honestly been in the "new" ICA yet. Can I just say we had the most beautiful views - the space and the sunset might have outdone the bride to be honest. The food was probably better than at my own wedding (yep I said it!). It was a fun party but still classy. The band did great covers and from what I remember (too many drinks) everyone was having a blast.
This was my first Boston Museum visit. And I'm really glad I got to catch Shepard Fairey's exhibition's last day. First - his exhibition was great. I had seen some of his work, but to see it all in the size and manner it was meant to be seen is something else. ICA also made it really easy to follow along with the free audio guide you could download from the website; great work all in all. Aside from that they had a few exhibits ranging from social experiments to everyday household 'art' which I don't really consider art. I find myself in extremes with contemporary art, either I love it or hate it. And I find it exceptional when a museum finds the balance between the two; the ICA does that well.
On to the architecture: It's a beautifully designed building located in an equally gorgeous location on the Boston Waterfront. You can see the interiors of the building quite easily and the outside as well, especially in the spacious elevator that shows you the view of the waterfront and the entire time all you can think about is how you should be out there in the sun soaking in a peaceful time in front of the water. The entrance is well done as well with it's colorful glasses on the wall. I really like the idea of a rotating exhibit where there isn't any sort of permanence making you want to come back again and again.
I got myself and a friend in free because of my corporate affiliation, but even then the ticket prices are not bad. And for anybody that wants to know, every Thursday between 5-9pm ICA is free to anyone and everyone and it also offers live music which I'm a big fan of. Couple that with the view and awesome art and you have yourself an incredible evening.
It's interesting how differently the ICA is reviewed... some people review only the artistic content and others focus only on the space, location, and other factors like the store or cafe. For me, it's the balance of all of those elements that can make or break a museum.
Not all the exhibits will be liked by everyone... I thought the Tara Donovon and Anish Kapoor exhibitis were fantastic in terms of the range and the artisitic merit. On the other hand, I'm not a huge fan of Shephard Fairey's work, though I thought the exhibit was huge and nicely curated. The collection is decent, you can whiz through it pretty quickly though.
I haven't eaten at the cafe but really, I'd say that's the least important thing to me when it comes to an art museum. The store is small but tastefully put together with a nice mix of household items, jewelry, knick-knacks, clothing, and of course, books. The books can be pricey as they sell them at list price, as most museums do, and I haven't really seen the "sale bin" like I have at larger museums.
Perched right on the water, the ICA is truly a sight to behold itself. The media room still has that new luster to it and the film theater is modern and a perfect place to watch something unique while the bay is in the background behind the screen. I have been to a film event and a DJ event here... both were good, I just wish they would do MORE of them! Finally, I think my favorite part of the museum is the back (or front?) deck, with the huge stepped area to lounge, socialize, and daydream. I could hang there, watching the water for seals, forever.
It can be of bit of a journey to get yourself here, depending on what method of transportation you use, usually I just walk from South Station. I remember when the ICA was in Back Bay and it was tiny! To jump from that space, which was basically a few rooms on maybe 2 levels (if memory comes correct) to the current building is incredible. I think they can only improve from here.
Everybody loves to dis the ICA with a low star rating... that is after they get done talking about how awesome the architecture is and how the Shepard Fairey exhibit rules. People's biggest complaint about the museum seems to be that it's too small, so what you're really saying, Gentle Yelpers, is that the ICA is so rad you wish there was more of it!
The ICA is a new kind of museum, one that doesn't rely on a stuffy permanent collection of art, but a rotating one that invites the public to engage in an ongoing dialogue about the nature of art in our culture. It's more than just about the exhibits, check out the interactive media lab, the theater, just walking on the waterfront and experiencing the architecture is an artistic experience in and of itself. If you want the same old standard museum fare, stick with the MFA.
ICA Membership sure has it's privileges, in fact the ICA is the only world class museum I know that is actually putting their money where their mouth is to attract hip young museum goers with all sorts of cool events and benefits. The Shepard Fairey opening was the hot ticket of the century, I've never seen a museum so crowded and so damn alive with excitement. Isn't that what arts is supposed to be about?
My sister and I split an ICA membership ($125 a year) and we got free tix to the opening, and invitations to special events (with free booze!). The most recent one we went to featured a special members only sale of signed Shepard Fairey prints. Now both of us own a signed original work for a fraction of what it is actually worth.
They also have a kick-ass teen program that makes me wish I was a kid again. Workshops to silk screen your own skateboard deck, turntable classes, and a teen art council that's mostly student run. Talk about encouraging the next generation of artists.
The ICA is what Boston needs, a cutting edge, world class contemporary art museum that pushes the boundary of what we think art is and is constantly engaging new audiences. It may not be what you expect when you think "art museum" but the experience is well worth it.
Finally got in the last weekend of the Fairey show since this was the only thing this place has going right now.
First, if this was a review for the building, it would certainly be 5 stars. Simply a marvel with beautiful interior design and and a vertigo-inducing elevator.
As stated the Fairey show was wonderfully presented, especially with the free audio commentary you can download from the ICA website. However, the rest of the museum was a disappointment. While some of the work was quite nice, there was too much of an emphasis on self-indulgent installations and video. Ugh.
As stated before, we were in and out in 45 minutes, spending the rest of what we thought would be a two-hour trip at the oceanfront theatre enjoying the breeze and the smell of salt air (smelled like Florida.)
I'm going to put this at a 3 star with this caveat: Recommended if there's an exhibition that you're definitely in to seeing. Otherwise I wouldn't roll the dice.
I'll be updating this after another visit and another experience.
I don't get it. Nice building, but if I hadn't gone with a group of other people, I wouldn't have paid to go inside. I don't think this is a "must-see" by any means. But then again, I'm really not one for modern/contemporary art. Some of the things are cool/interesting/nice, but some of these things that people try to pass off as "art" just piss me off.
Maybe it's worth it for the special exhibits?
It's a $5-7 county museum charging $15 at the door. Too small to spend any significant time, must climb 3 floors to even get to the one floor where they have exhibits. You'll be out in 15 minutes flat. Too much film, not that interesting. I go to museums every month in SF and around the world, the ICA left me unimpressed and felt like I threw away the $30 for my Mom and I to enter. We'll maybe they can use it towards buying more art and opeing up some of the other floors. ICA consider it a donation, because I got nothing out of my visit.
When fellow Yelper and good friend Keri found out I was going to Boston, she IMPLORED me that I should not miss the ICA, included written directions on how to get there and even suggested that we go on a Thursday night after 5PM when it is FREE to get into the museum.
Keri was right! Boston's first new art museum in 100 years is a gem. Located in the burgeoning Boston Seaport area it is a stunning building both from the exterior and the interior.
The collection is very cool and forward thinking with a good balance of installation art, sculpture and paintings. Clearly one of the great highlights of the building though, is the observation room on the back of the building looking out onto the Boston Harbor. Since it was evening when we toured the museum, all the lights in the room had been turned off, giving way to the dying sunset and city lights. A magical moment.
Hallelujah, we were able to see the Shepard Fairey exhibit.... and I have to say that was worth the trip alone. If you live anywhere near Boston, OBEY and go see this show.
Kudos to the ICA for having guided tours via your cell phone, OR iPhone. Big Kudos for having informed attendants in each room who can actually answer your questions regarding the show. This is a MUST STOP when in Boston.
very nicely designed new building. i didn't see the main works, but rather went to the shepard fairey exhibit they had going on (the guy that made the obama logo with the word "hope" under his head). it's the best exhibit i've been to in a long time. now that i know what i'm looking for, i see this guy's stickers and art all over the place (apparently the cops arrested him on the way to his opening to make a point against this, well, vandal). he's the one that started that whole "andre the giant has a posse" thing in the 90s.
definitely check this out if you have time, or if the expo comes to your citty
Meh,
One floor of art?
Only a few cool things about this place..
1. Target Free Thursday Nights from 5-9. ( i really wouldnt pay to be here)
2. The Shepard Fairey exhibition. so awesome and probably the best thing I have seen since Takashi Murakami @ the Brooklyn Museum.
3. The ocean room. so peaceful , awesome , and utterly breathtaking. It feels like you are floating on the water. So chill.
The gift shop is fulll of knick knacks that cost way too much. very small and way too crowded when you have more than 10 ppl in there at a time.
overall, the ICA is a cool building but i wish it had more accessbile floors. and more art to explore!
First, the positives. I am a fan of funds, effort, and attention going into any building/institution that further advances Boston's cultural/arts scene. The architecture of the new ICA is stunning, and perhaps all of these renovations have had a hand in drawing exhibitions from more well known, "hotter" contemporary artists such as Shepard Fairey and Tara Donovan. Boston has, for years, been trying to cultivate a contemporary arts scene out of a cultural soil that is (in general) seeped in history and tradtionalism. So this is an important step, and I can certainly appreciate that. Free Thursday nights? Also a great idea.
Now the negatives. The set up of the building is mildly absurd. The fact that you have to trudge up four stories (most of which are computer rooms or various media/meeting spaces that are closed off to the public) to get to the gallery space is somewhat ridiculous. The fact that the gallery is confined to one floor is also ridiculous. Initially, when I saw the plans for the new building, I excitedly thought that gallery/exhibition space was going to make up a lot more of the building. But I guess it was more important to put in a fancy cafeteria and a computer lab. The fact that I have to pay $15 to see one gallery (when I can pay that much to have access to the entire MFA) (or go to contemporary galleries in the South End for free) is a little insulting. Also, while the waterfront views are nice, I miss having the museum in the central location of Boyleston Street. I used to be able to pop in as I pleased, now I have to plan to make a day trip out of it any time I want to go.
The Shepard Fairey exhibit was great, but it's not much of a museum. It's more like a gift shop with a museum attached.
Example: it looks huge from the outside, like 3 or 4 floors, but only 1 floor has the art. What's in the rest of the place?
The cafe is a JOKE. DO NOT eat there. Instead, hop on the T and go into downtown, Cambridge, or another neighborhood for chow.
Visit if there's some artist you really want to see who's having an exhibit, but it's not really a full-day museum. For $20, I also expected a little bit more. Try to avoid on Saturday's if possible.
OP. ED: I don't see the point in bringing large groups of 4-6 year old kids, like it's a day care field trip. What do they care about contemporary art? Take your kids to playland instead so the museum-goers can have a nice, peaceful viewing experience. The day we went it was like a damn Chuckie Cheese, and there's not even any interactive kiddie stuff there. Leave them with a sitter, or better yet go to the Museum of Science (VERY kid-friendly) instead.
Side note: the $10 all-day parking is a great way to experience Boston. Leave your car there if you drive in from the surrounding areas (even if you don't visit the museum) and take the T all around town. Best priced parking anywhere.
Check the ICA on a free Thursday after 5pm if you want to save the price of admission for dinner.
Very cool building and neat views.
The Shepard Fairey exhibit was the bomb! the other modern art NOT! as others below me have said there isn't much to see besides the featured exhibit. make sure you check out Shepard Fairey's work before it is gone.
A friend of mine and I took advantage of the ICA's Target Free Thursday nights last night. From 5pm-9pm the museum is free. It gets very crowded, but it's very awesome.
The location is not ideal transportation wise. It is a bit of a walk from South Station, but the location in terms of having a gorgeous view is fantastic. The building itself is unlike anything else in Boston. In a city with primarily old architecture, the ICA is a breath of fresh air.
I was surprised that for a building so substantial, there is only one floor for the gallery. Granted it is a large floor, but still. One side of the floor is for more permanent pieces and the other side is for the visiting artist. The pieces in this section are very spaced out and were minimal in number. That was a bit of a disappointment. The sides are divied by a walk way the length of a building at the back that looks out on the harbor. It's beautiful!
The visiting exhibit artist, Shepard Fairey, takes up the other half of the floor - which is the majority of the floor. I absolutely loved his exhibit because now I understand that whole "Obey" with Andre the Giant thing. It's really a movement more than anything. You really do need to see it for yourself.
I love this place. They have great, cutting edge exhibits! The Tara Donavon show blew my mind and the current Shepard Fairey exhibit is tight. I can't wait to see what exhibits they have in store for us next. My next goal is to take in one of their events.
If you're in Boston and looking for modern art, this is the place to go.
The ICA is an amazing place. I've been there 4 times over the last couple years now and every time I have thoroughly enjoyed myself. The building is gorgeous, and they really take advantage of the space that they have by having big open rooms in the galleries. The location of the museum itself is also very nice as well. It's not the easiest place to get to, but if the weather is nice there is truly a gorgeous view of the bay and the waterfront area. I really like how they have an auditorium-style-seating setup on the back of the museum so on sunny days people can just come and relax and watch the sailboats in the harbor. The building itself has 4 different floors. I think that they could probably take advantage of one other floor for gallery installations besides the top floor but it seems like they are using it for other purposes (concerts, video screenings, etc.)
They always have some sort of exciting and fun exhibit on display. I love how they have a lot of new age and exciting experimental art on display. Some of the rooms are smaller than others but they usually take maximum advantage of the space available for installations. The artists themselves come and do all of the installations and so the vibe in the galleries is always very hip and natural as opposed to the stiff and rigid vibe you get in larger museums like the MFA. Recently they had the Shepherd Fairey exhibit on display, which if you live in the Boston area, you've probably already heard about unless you were living under a rock. Let me tell you that this was by far and away one of the coolest exhibits I've ever seen put on, and I've seen some really neat stuff. There must have been over 200 pieces in this exhibit by him easily, all of it was tastefully displayed and broken up into sections by date and style.
I came here a couple years back and they had a lot of smaller exhibits by a bunch of different artists which was also very neat. A lot of very experimental sculpture, modern paintings, and a very fun and interactive exhibit by Misaki Kawai which literally looked like a giant mobile of rooms with tiny people all over it doing futuristic fun things.
I also think it's awesome how they have free admission on Thursday nights, and recently they have been throwing what sound like some really cool events with dj's, music, drinks, and lectures by artists. I haven't made it to one yet but they sound awesome!
What I'm trying to say is that they don't have a large permanent collection (partially due to space constraints), so you might be in and out of the galleries in an hour or two, but they always have a bunch of fun art that rotates in and out every couple of months, which in my opinion is better, because you can come back every couple of months and see a whole new set of fun and inspirational art work. I may be biased because I love contemporary art but this is probably my favorite Museum in the city.
How can you not give an art museum a good rating? I give 4 stars, but admit I was a little disappointed.
The ICA has a great scenic location, although not as T friendly as one would like. The building is a beautiful example of breathtaking architecture and in the summer they've even had some dance lessons out on the back deck.
Contemporary Art is not something that I've seen much of to tell you the truth. Many of the the pieces here were thought provoking and others I think need an art degree to understand.
From what I could tell there is only one floor of art. This is where the disappointment kicks in. One floor? I feel like I missed something or even missed a whole floor. The art I did see was obviously influenced by politics, the environment, and "the meaning of life." (that's my term for it). The pieces also encompass various types of media for a well rounded display of work. I was especially drawn to the photographs particularly t he ones of Muslim women and children in war ravage rubble.
Funny enough one family had brought their child with them whom I would gander was about 8 or so. I overheard him saying "I don't get it. This makes no sense." I felt like saying to him, "Yes, some of the adults don't even get it."
The most profound pieces are by Tara Donovan. She takes everyday items and turns them into massive sculptures. Sometimes you have to get up close to even see what the items are. There are cups, needles, toothpicks, rubber bands, etc... The pieces are almost beyond imagination and form shapes that in such a large quantity seem impossible. Definitely a must see.
If you can go Thursday nights when it's free!
With so many useful reviews of the ICA, I will make this very brief.
I'm glad we went on Target's sponsored Thursday night. Had I paid for this I would have been disappointed. It was nice, just not yet worth more then a few bucks to enter.
The gift shop seemed a tad overpriced. Rent must be high on their new digs.
I'm not an artsy person, and I usually classify works of art as "pretty" or "not pretty." I can hardly look at a painting for more than five seconds before yawning uncontrollably. But the Tara Donovan exhibit (ending 1/4/09!) is a sight to behold.
I hope it's okay that my review is mostly of the exhibit and not necessarily the museum. I mean, the museum's nice - the view from the computer lab is pretty awesome and it's right on the water - but if they're cool enough to snag this exhibit, then they must be five-star worthy!
Tip: Save a dollar and park in the Anthony's Pier 4 parking lot for $10 just next to the official ICA parking lot for $11. Uh-duh!
The building itself should garner 4 stars
(Boston's first new art museum in 100 years!!!!)
However...I had set aside 2 hours for the ICA.
How much time did I spend there?
about 45 minutes.
After going to their site, looking at pictures, and even seeing it in person...you would think that this place is massive!!!
Yes this place has four floors
but when I say four floors
I mean one floor
and when I say one floor
I mean basically two galleries.
But, if you havent seen the Shepard Fairey exhibit, you should run and not walk.
Continuing to give out 4 & 5 stars on my yelp reviews is not gonna help with my effort to "debrand" myself as a devout liberal that I am but I just can't help it with the ICA.
Loved the Shepard Fairey exhibit. The museum also has other awesome works, and offers a great view of the waterfront, if nothing else. Unlike many other art galleries I've been to, this place offers something new, modern, and a bit of a "buzz" to someone like me who doesn't know much about art.
Again, Boston just has wonderful museums. I happen to be a fan of more modern art, and who could turn down the gorgeous building?
I found it a bit trickier to get to- definitely take the red line to the silver line instead of just getting off at South Station (at least, if you've been walking all day or it's cold).
On the whole all of the exhibits are very well laid out and different than what you'd find at another museum. I must re-affirm that the outside area is gorgeous, and free Thursday nights are great. Just make sure to take the time and visit this great museum.
Went here during the Tall Ships. What a amazing place. I have not been to this location yet since they moved from Boylston Street. Build is quite contemporary. The Shepard Fairey exhibit was brilliant! I am definitely going back!
Architecturally, the ICA's building is a feast for the eye. I'm a sucker for out-of-the-norm structures and the ICA certainly fits the bill. And its in such a nice location on the water with views back to downtown Boston and across the water to Cambridge.
Internally, I was a bit disappointed with the art exhibited. Seems like there wasn't much to see. Granted I went on one of the evenings when its free, but still.
Now the last time I was there was July '07, and one of the big eye-catching pieces of art was the huge mural in large open space as you enter. It was by Asian artist Chiho Aoshima, and it was called "Divine Gas". Now, I didn't know the name of it at first, and I was mesmerized by the vivid colors and the Asian style of the piece, and when I saw the name of it, it totally flipped my perception of the piece. I thought the puffs of gas I saw were clouds with ferries flying around---I totally dug it. :)
Additionally, I was lucky to catch a band playing in front of "Divine Gas" that evening. It was the R&B singer Tiwa Savage and her band (she's one of those Berklee musical genius's---you Boston people are so lucky to have Berklee!). Anyway, I hung out for most of their set, listened to her awesome singing, and lost myself in the "Divine Gas" **I'll be sure to attach a picture**
If you have not been to the new ICA, go on a Thursday night when it is free admission from 5-9pm. It will be crowded, but it is fun! Currently, you can view the work of Shepard Fairey (who is now famous for his Obama poster) - you will not be disappointed!
I have been here a couple of times so far. I will disagree with the person who said the location is not ideal. You can take the Silver Line from South Station to the World Trade Center, and walk there in about 3 minutes. And, if you drive, you can park right at the ICA, or find a free meter after 6pm.
When you go, try to catch a film in one of their state-of-the-art theatres, try to jump in on a free guided tour to gain more insight about the works of art, and check out the computer learning room that looks out over the harbor. There is also a cafe which I have not tried yet... My favourite place is the long room in between the 2 galleries which overlooks the Boston Harbor. Great place to relax & think about art!
When you are finished checking out the galleries, be sure to visit the shop on the way out. There are some very cool books & gift items there! Of course, I got a Shepard Fairey t-shirt - I had to OBEY the influence of popular culture! ;)
Yes, it's small and there's not too much to see, but it's different and I was into that.
If you only need to burn about an hour to an hour and a half, the ICA is a "chill spot" to check out some interesting stuff before you head to dinner. I didn't really "get" a lot of the art, but I don't know if I was supposed to. I looked at it and wondered how much it would cost for me to get something like that in my house to jazz it up a little bit after I win the lottery. It's a lot of wide open space in the main showroom, but I felt like that was kind of dope. Big ass sculptures and stuff, lots of open space, pretty sweet!
There's a really nice view of the Boston harbor which you can sit and look at (some people take naps there) and there's a few other exhibits scattered about. It's different, kind of fun, but yes, it's small so unless you're getting in for free or don't mind dropping that much cash for an hour (which seems entirely reasonable to me), so have that expectation before you come.
Super easy to get to on the T too, so worry not about this parking nonsense.
What's cool about the ICA is there are a lot of ways you can enjoy it for free. It has that gorgeous outdoor area so you could just chill by the water and browse the gift shop (modern art museums always have the best gift shops).
Or - you can go on a Thursday night between 5 - 9 pm and browse the art on the top floor, then spend more than you would have on the entrance fee drinking and eating at the cafe while listening to funky music and watching the sun go down. Brilliant! The Wolfgang Puck menu was really tasty (except the chicken wings...we tried everything and those were the only fail on the menu).
The permanent exhibits aren't that interesting, but the rotating ones are always really exciting and fun. You can enjoy them as a spectacle or as a piece of art. You could go into the Anish Kapoor exhibit and laugh at how you looked in the mirrors or contemplate the limits of our perceptions.
Overall, I just like being there. It's stimulating, welcoming and modern without being pretensious.
First of all, props to the ICA for FREE Thursday Nights. Even if modern art isn't your thing, take a couple hours on a Thursday night and check this place out - it's worth your time.
I still think that my favorite thing to see at the ICA is the architecture of the building - I love it, I love the views , I love just aimlessly wandering around the building. And the media lab is amazing!
People watching at the ICA is pretty damn fun too.
The exhibits are, well, modern art. I admit, most of it I really don't understand. But I feel as if just being there is stimulating parts of my brain that would otherwise lay dormant behind the over-stimulated logic and math areas of my noggin.
My minor complaint is with the parking lot - WTF is up with it? Maybe it's supposed to be modern art too?
My biggest complaint with the ICA is that inside that phenomenal building there's not much exhibit space. I'm accustomed to being able to spend days in a museum, but you can move slowly through the ICA, stop at every exhibit (limited to one floor), and still finish in a couple hours.
But I'll keep coming back, especially if Thursdays remain free!
As my time during this stint in Boston comes to a close I am only now beginning to find the places of comfort and inspiration that make a city so alive. I've claimed a spot on the broad wooden bleachers, in front of the theater whose orange seats have the same devastating view of the water and skyline as my vantage point. From here, in the sunshine, I feel calm and awakened all at once.
The building and grounds leave me aching with wonder. The precarious fourth floor jutting out to the ocean, its openness and deconstructed design, the stadium style seating in the Mac computer hall that's squarely above the rippling water. It's completely mesmerizing, I have no idea how people can focus in there.
What didn't wow me was the art. Of the permanent works I much enjoyed Cornelia Parker's Hanging Fire but overall I felt like the collection lacked cohesion. Only three galleries were open during this last visit and I really wished some of the empty space was taken up by more of Ranjani Shettar's ethereal sculptural installations. Amazing.
The last star was granted for the ICA's dedication to innovative, compelling programs not only for adults, but teenagers as well. It's fantastic to see an established organization take keen interest in cultivating creativity in our youth with dynamic evenings of hip music, art and community.
The practical:
Silver line, Courthouse stop
Tremendous gift shop
Free Thursdays after 5pm
The ICA is very convenient to downtown. If it's nice outside, you can walk there along the harbor. It's very T friendly if you take the Silver Line. The wind down in the area can be terrible, so bundle up if it's cold.
I really like the building itself. It's best to observe it from the harbor side. If you only see it from the parking lot side, it's kind of tragic. I like the building, hate huge parking lots. Inside, I really liked how everything worked except for the gift shop which is kind of cramped and crowded. Coming out of the main exhibit hall, the view of the harbor is amazing.
Inside, the building really worked for it's purpose. It's not huge, but think of the old space they are moving from. I must admit, I'm not a huge Contemporary Art fan (although the current exhibit is awesome). For that reason, the size really works with me. It takes anywhere from an hour to two hours to get through (faster if you don't stop and stare, slower if you want to check out everything). I highly recommend checking out the multi-visual area. The computer seating area is cool.
I have a membership because I can see myself going back to this place often.
Went this weekend to see the Shepard Fairey exhibit. It wasn't crowded at all and it was really pretty cool to see all of his work, albeit annoying to hear pseudo-artsy squares discuss the OBEY giant when they didn't even know who Fairey was until the Obama portrait became popular. Annoying man on first date with girl who's not even that into him (in whiny voice): "Where do we draw the line between graffiti and street art?" Blegh. Also annoying were the hipster graphic designers, "I mean, I'VE traced portraits in Illustrator and it's really not that hard." BUT ANYWAY, back to the museum. The staff is nice, the museum is nice (although the actual exhibit space seems kinda small given the size of the ICA itself), and I was pleasantly surprised that my BU ID got me in for free.
I don't know much about art, but I've seen enough of it to know what I like. I like Tara Donovan. In fact, I may "more" than like her work, if ya know what I mean. (*wink wink*) But on to the exhibit.
After seeing Donovan's exhibit at the Met 3 separate times, I decided to take advantage of a free direct round-trip flight from JetBlue and an opportunity to stay at my favorite hotel in the country (that's you, Liberty!) to see her survey at the ICA. I know, I could have waited until next fall to go to the San Diego survey, which is arguably (much) closer to me, but what can I say? I had read enough about her work to know that it would be tailored for the space it inhabited, so I wanted to see it in Boston. Plus I'm pretty impatient once my mind is set on something.
The museum is a lovely little jewel in the middle of a(n oddly) sparsely-populated section of the waterfront. It doesn't quite fit into the landscape and seems kind of lonely, far away from the street and behind what was a not-too-filled parking lot with its very modern design and glass exterior. It looked like a very small space from the outside and I briefly thought "I flew across the country for this?"
I paid my admission and went up to the top floor, which is the only floor for exhibits. One floor. That's all. No lie.
I decided to take the "save the best for last" approach and looked at the permanent collection and non-Donovan exhibits. And then... it was time.
I had seen photos of almost all of the pieces (with the exception of the one that was created specifically for the ICA) and was still overwhelmed seeing all of the work. Amazing. Go see it. Now. Stop reading this, close your browser and go to the ICA. Leave a note so people know where you went. Encourage them to do the same.
maybe i have low expectations or something, or i'm just not an art snob enough to know any better. i really like the ICA- the art is engaging, and it's the right amount of stuff for me to look at before i start getting bored of being in a museum. (this review is making me feel like i'm really uncultured now). general admission is $12, which i wouldn't consider too expensive ($10 for students). plus, yes there are the free thursday nights. i have done both... that way it balances out the times you do pay :)
i went this last time to see shepard fairey but i actually enjoyed the social experiments in video exhibit more. i think this might be my favorite "museum" in boston.
