Morning at the MAM-BA

The Museu de Arte Moderna da Bahia (Museum of Modern Art of Bahia) also known as MAM-BA is located close to the water within the historic site of Solar do Unhão, a complex of buildings dating back to the 16th century. It is one of 12 state (Bahia) museums under the Institute of Artistic and Cultural Heritage. The complex, a plantation house, chapel, slave quarters, and sugar mill, was initially part of the sugar trade.  Enslaved Africans worked in the mill transforming cane into sugar--a hellish process. Today, this cultural center houses contemporary and modern art works, folk art, and a community art workshop offering courses in printmaking, drawing, papermaking, ceramics, and sculpture.  There are 8 exhibition galleries, a theatre, library, cafe, and spaces for conservation, restoration, technology, and museology. MAM-BA is open from 1:00-6:00pm Tuesday-Sunday and is free to the public.  In the evenings traditional Bahian dance and folklore are performed there. We met with teaching artist and printmaker, Bruno Costa to tour the spacious printmaking studio.  Raimundo Mundin, artist and Coordinator of Art Education for the museum looks forward to MICA students and faculty working in the space!