Description

While MOCA Grand Avenue was under construction, the museum opened an interim exhibition space called the "Temporary Contemporary." Constructed in the 1940s as a hardware store and used as a warehouse and police car garage, the "TC," was subtly renovated by renowned California architect Frank Gehry. The TC captivated critics and museum patrons with its accessibility, informality and lack of pretension; John Russell referred to it in the NY Times as "a prince among spaces," and William Wilson wrote in the LA Times that it "instantly had the hospitable aura of a people's museum." Due to the popularity and suitability of the building for exhibitions. In 1996, MOCA received a $5-million gift from The David Geffen Foundation, and the TC was renamed The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA.