Looking for something fun to do with your girls on a boring afternoon? Why not take a quick day trip to one of the strangest yet interesting art museums Pittsburgh has to offer?
Located in Pittsburgh’s North Side, The Mattress Factory is a cool way to spend a few hours away from (but pretty close to) campus. Although it’s small, it holds many permanent and temporary modern art installations that will inevitably boggle your mind a little bit. For example, artist Nika Kupyrova’s installation called “Roadkill” is a white room with white tiles that has seemingly random objects placed all around it. The visitor is able to walk through the room and examine the objects as closely as they wish.
Speaking of his installation, Kupyrova says “I find the deep-rooted familiarity and strong narrative potential of found objects very appealing. Essential to my work is the ability of such objects to create an emotionally charged space, which allows the viewer to interpret it according to their unique experience.” Having the artist’s thought on his piece definitely helps frame some meaning for it. However, somtimes it is even more fun to go in without expectations and take from it what you will.
Another interesting installation worth noting is Yayoi Kusama’s “Infinity Dots Mirrored Room,” a room with neon colored dot decals on the floor, blacklight lighting, framed by mirrors on every wall and the ceiling. When entering this room and lookg at oneself in the mirror, you are reflected everywhere along with the dots. It’s actually very fun to experience…and hey, you might even want to use it to take the best new (and trippy) profile picture ever!
Checking out a place filled with cool, creepy, and perception-altering modern art can be a lot of fun, and admission is even free with a Pitt ID. It’s easy to have fun, learn something new, and maybe even find a new appreciation for art at the Mattress Factory. No art major required!
For more information, check out the Mattress Factory’s website at http://www.mattress.org