ICA Boston

The Smallest Institute

by Lucy Opalka

             

Never has a large building felt so small. The Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston was completed in 2006. It is an imposing building from the outside, with glass windows and an overhanging room with a beautiful view above Boston Harbor. From entering the building, it is clear the building is very spacious. The lobby area is so large you could fit our whole school in it comfortably. There is a large art installation on the glass windows and on the wall, a huge colorful arrangement. There is also an extremely large glass elevator, a café, and a gift shop.

            The Institute houses a permanent collection and at least 3 other galleries, plus an interactive room. On the second and third floors there is a theater. However, with its four floors, only the ground floor and fourth floor are open to the public. The galleries are about the average size of three rooms together. In other words, there is barely any room for artwork, compared to other spaces. For the sheer size of the building from the outside this is remarkable. Because of its lack of art, I spent roughly an hour and fifteen minutes viewing the art. Thirty minutes of the time was spent watching William Kentridge’s piece. The rest of the remaining time was spent in the gift shop, which seemed to have more art than the galleries. 

            In conclusion, the building itself is magnificent. It has been designed to look modern, reflecting the pieces it holds. However, if you are not looking for a specific piece to see, it is not worth attending. There are plenty of other museums with more artwork by contemporary artists.