2012 Summer Tour Highlights

This summer The Nationwide Museum Mascot Project mascotted 14 art museums across the U.S. to include: Hammer Museum, Los Angeles,  Museum of Modern Art, Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, Chloë Flores, Museum of the Living Artist, San Diego, Orange County Museum of Art, Museum of Latin American Art, Long Beach, ARC Pasadena, MOCA Geffen, Los Angeles, Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton, NJ, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia and the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York.

More photos/video | KCET article by Robby Herbst | ARTINFO article by Kyle Chayka

Mascots to Infiltrate Art Museums

Summer Tour to kick-off at Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego on June 3rd

Los Angeles, CA- the Nationwide Museum Mascot Project (NWMMP) is pleased to announce its 2012 Summer Tour that will kick-off this Sunday June 3^rd at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego.  This summer, NWMMP will mascot multiple venues including Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, ARC Pasadena (pre-tour), Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, Chloë Flores, Museum of the Living Artist, San Diego, Orange County Museum of Art, Museum of Latin American Art, Long Beach and more.

Here’s what people are saying:

“Don’t f#*k with The Hammer experience.” -Hammer Museum, Los Angeles
“I think it is a fabulous initiative (!)” -The Jewish Museum, New York, NY
“Please don’t come.” -Los Angeles County Museum of Art
“Mascot us-RIGHT NOW!” -Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
“I think it is best to leave our name off (mascot) materials.” -Hammer Museum, Los Angeles
“This summer it’s Mascot-mania at MOCA DETROIT!” -Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit
“Stop emailing me, I have already forwarded your messages to marketing.” –SFMOMA

The Nationwide Museum Mascot Project promotes art museums with custom made, sports team-like mascots that engage with visitors and staff alike through handshakes, high-fives and hugs, pro-museum sign picketing, social networking and workshops.  Free giveaways range from homemade buttons and stickers to balloons, zines and corn-dogs. This project is on the tipping point between sincere promotion and playful parody.  Since 2008, the Nationwide Museum Mascot Project has represented an expanding list of art venues in Southern California, New York, and Chicago that include noteworthy institutions such as the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, San Diego Museum of Art, and Orange County Museum of Art.  Look for mascots this summer at a museum near you! The tour will conclude on August 9^th at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego.

Press Release: Summer 2012 Tour

Summer Tour Schedule

ARTINFO Interview

2012 Summer Tour Schedule

We are pleased to announce our 2012 Summer Tour Schedule!

5/12: Slightly Cheeky, curated by Sara Pfeifle, ARC Pasadena (Pre-Tour)

6/3: Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD), Summer Tour Kick-off

6/13-17: Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD), Dep Space Residency

6/16: Hamtramck Public Library, Mascot Movement Workshop with Lisa LaMarre, 12p

6/17: MOCAD, Mascot Movement Workshop with Lisa LaMarre, 12-4p

6/17: Museum of Latin American Art, Long Beach, CA, in conj. with Play with Me, 12-3p

6/21: Museum of the Living Artist, San Diego, CA, 7p

6/30: Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, 1-4p

7/1-30: Chloë Flores, (virtual art space and curatorial project)

7/8: Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA), Newport Beach, CA, 12-4p

7/15: Museum of Latin American Art, Long Beach, CA, in conj. with Play with Me, 12-3p

7/13-18: East Coast Tour: MOMA, ICA, Philadelphia, Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton, NJ

8/5: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, 2-5p

8/9: Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD), TNT, 7-10p

8/12: Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, 4-6p

8/16: MOCA Geffen, Los Angeles, 12-1p