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The Museum of Bad Art: Masterworks Hardcover – May 1, 2008

4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 32 ratings

Located in the basement of a theater, the Museum of Bad Art (MOBA) is a unique institution dedicated to the celebration of artistic effort, however misguided. The Museum of Bad Art: Masterworks presents a pulsating collection of more than seventy never-before-published pieces of artwork from MOBA's permanent collection. Comprised largely of canvases found discarded on curbside trash piles or obtained for a pittance at thrift stores, this innovative compilation occupies a niche previously ignored in the international community of art collection, preservation, and interpretation. If the subjectivity of art appreciation were ever in doubt, this astonishing assortment of artistic commentaries will fan the flames of controversy. It is clear that many of these artists suffered for their art; now it's your turn.

 A photographic catalog of 70 exquisitely bad pieces of master artwork from the permanent collection of the Museum of Bad Art in Dedham, Massachusetts. Featuring profiles of select MOBA artists as well as the stories behind the art. ReviewsBoston Globe 4/30/08: Shopping Tip of the Day.

 
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From the Publisher

* A photographic catalog of more than 70 exquisitely bad pieces of master artwork from the permanent collection of the Museum of Bad Art (MOBA) in Dedham, Massachusetts. * Featuring profiles of select MOBA artists as well as the stories behind the art.

About the Author

LOUISE REILLY SACCO is the permanent acting interim executive director of the Museum of Bad Art. A founding member of the MOBA team, she originally served as director of financial enablement. A marketing consultant and cohost of the Frugal Yankee Radio Hour, she lives in Needham, Massachusetts.

 THE AUTHOR SCOOP

What else do you do besides running the Museum of Bad Art (MOBA)?I'm co-host of the Frugal Yankee Radio Hour, a weekly show. I'm a fan photographer at Fenway Park.

How did you get involved with MOBA?I was on the founding team in 1994. Initially, I was Director of Financial Enablement. But, as so often happens in an arts organization, I hung on when other founders were distracted by families, lucrative alternative careers, or death. Persistence paid off and I was named Acting Interim Executive Director. (There was dissension within the Board of Directors about the titles, so I got both Acting and Interim.) When, in a stunning media coup, MOBA was mentioned in the National Enquirer, the Board decided to make my position permanent.

Do you have formal art training?Mike & I are proud of our OJT (On the Job Training) and believe that a degree in art could disqualify a person from a leadership at MOBA. Even the founding Esteemed Curator was a few credits short of an art degree and fought any pressure or inclination to complete that credential until he left MOBA.

Does the MOBA collection ever travel? Yes. We've had exhibitions in Virginia, Ottawa, New York, and several in the Boston area. Before you ask us to come to your city, just line up a corporate sponsor and space, or a museum with some funding. We're ready to pack the art and hop on a plane.

What's next for MOBA A second location (Opening Date: April 2008) in the basement of another movie house: The Somerville Theatre in Davis Square, Somerville. Sign up for our newsletter, subscribe@MuseumofBadArt.org to get all the info.


MIchael FRANK is the curator-in-chief of the Museum of Bad Art. A professional musician and entertainer with enviable balloon-twisting skills, he lives in Boston, Massachusetts.

 THE AUTHOR SCOOP

What else do you do besides running the Museum of Bad Art (MOBA)?As Mike the Hatman, I perform at children's events, making funny balloon hats. I teach guitar. I play with dance bands and for stage shows.

How did you get involved with MOBA?As soon as I became aware of MOBA, I helped in any way I could. When the first Rejection Collection Auction was held in a vacant store in a mall, I put my musical and organization talents to work and led an all-kazoo band through the mall to help gather a crowd for the auction. When the position of Curator was open, I pointed out that I had donated more art to MOBA than anyone other than the founders, and that I already have a tuxedo. The title of Esteemed Curator was retired along the the holder of the title, so I was named Curator-in-Chief.

Do you have formal art training?Louise & I are proud of our OJT (On the Job Training) and believe that a degree in art could disqualify a person from a leadership at MOBA. Even the founding Esteemed Curator was a few credits short of an art degree and fought any pressure or inclination to complete that credential until he left MOBA.

Does the MOBA collection ever travel?Yes. We've had exhibitions in Virginia, Ottawa, New York, and several in the Boston area. Before you ask us to come to your city, just line up a corporate sponsor and space, or a museum with some funding. We're ready to pack the art and hop on a plane.

What's next for MOBAA second location (Opening Date: April 2008) in the basement of another movie house: The Somerville Theatre in Davis Square, Somerville. Sign up for our newsletter, subscribe@MuseumofBadArt.org to get all the info. 

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ten Speed Press; First Edition (May 1, 2008)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 128 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1580089119
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1580089111
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 0.75 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 32 ratings

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Michael J. Frank
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Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
32 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2021
I bought this book from Good Will. I was not expecting it to be in New condition. So Happy to pay only a fraction of the cost of a New book. I am planning to cutting the pictures out and making an Art project. The way the book is printed most of the Pictures of the art work are on one side and the description is on the opposite page. This worked out perfect for me since I will only be using one side of the Pages.

The descriptions of the Art works are very interesting The descriptions include art medium , where ,and how the Museum obtained the art work. Wish the book was bigger and had more pages.
Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2013
Many museums throughout the world display bad art, but this is one of only a handful of museums in the entire world which does so knowingly and intentionally- Paintings which have been rescued from garbage cans, dumpsters and charity thrift stores... The didactics are very cleverly written, Michael Frank and Louise Reilly Sacco have quite obviously spent a lot of time studying classical as well as modern art...
Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2009
As an art history major, I have a special love-hate relationship with kitsch, which is why the first MOBA book is one of my all-time favorites. This second one is also a great book for any art library, with some real high points. However, it doesn't quite measure up to the original volume, which is why I gave it four stars instead of five. It may be that the presentation suffers a bit from the smaller trim size (it's quite small, if you didn't pick that up from the description). And it may be that the novelty factor was completely co-opted by the first book. But I also think that some of the selections aren't quite as unabashedly ghastly as the ones in the first book. I have indeed enjoyed perusing it and chortling on multiple occasions, but a little more selectivity and a lower bar, and I might have awarded it that coveted fifth star.
3 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2020
Funniest coffee table book evah!
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Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2016
The art is creepy, I returned it. The author picks on artists that are nobodies. It's not fair. The captions aren't even funny. There are funnier art critiques on the Internet.
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Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2016
These paintings are an inspiration. They make me want to create my own horrible masterworks. I would love to be displayed in the MOBA.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2013
It wasn't nearly as good (bad) as I'd hoped it would be. Lots of text, not nearly enough bad art.
Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2014
Bad Art. Truly Bad Art. Probably the best book on Bad Art that has been written and compiled in the history of Bad Art.

Top reviews from other countries

Irresponsible aunty
5.0 out of 5 stars You can't live without it
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 12, 2015
A stunningly awful selection guaranteed to make you choke on your tea. Check out the dogs! I'm laughing now and I'm not even looking at the book...
warwick
2.0 out of 5 stars Good service
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 14, 2013
The book arrived as promised. So no complaints about the service. The book itself was a little disappointing in that the idea of publishing a book of "Bad Art" is a great one but there were too few examples of art shown.
One person found this helpful
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