LOST AND FOUND AT MATERIALS FOR THE ARTS 1978 – 2018

Since 1978, millions of items have come through the doors of Materials for the Arts to be repurposed, reused and reimagined.   A few years ago, we thought it would be exciting to highlight some of the more unusual, eclectic and downright weird items that have come our way.  This show is the culmination of that idea.  Many staff members and volunteers helped to curate the items you see here.

We have to thank Sony, USA for the bulk of the technology we have included. When they moved offices in 2016, they dismantled the Sony Wonder Lab and donated their collection to MFTA.  The diversity and richness of their donation gives us an intimate look at over 100 years of inventions that have transformed our world.

Sebastian Grant, adjunct faculty at Parsons School of Design – The New School,  painstakingly researched each item and the wall text was written from his findings.

Materials for the Arts has served as a connector over the past four decades, linking people who have stuff with people who need stuff.  Our show tells the story of  these items, once shiny and new, that shaped the way we lived our lives.  It is a celebration of a shared human experience.

This exhibit is made possible through the generous support of Friends of Materials for the Arts.