kathleen

We’ll be in Spain for the month of May and I’d really like to view contemporary art as well as go to the major art museums. I’m partial to viewing contemporary art since it represents the pulse of a society and current thoughts of its people. Is there a section of Madrid or Barcelona or any other large Spanish city where these contemporary galleries might be grouped? For example, I’m thinking of the Chelsea area art scene in NYC where the galleries showing current artists’ work seem to be clustered together along a couple of streets. Do any of you Spanish fodorites have favorite art galleries that you frequent? Is there a weekly or monthly arts magazine (in English) that lists the current art exhibits?

I’m also thinking of finding the art galleries that are part of the art departments at various universities. Many times these exhibits rotate through faculty, student, and regional artists. Anyone know any particular universities which have listings that I could look up on the web? Sadly, we won’t be in Salamanca, but will be in Madrid, Seville, Barcelona, Cadiz, and a few other cities. Thanks. Kathy

Aduchamp1

The upper floor of the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid is dedicated to contemporary Spanish Art.

One of the best abstract museums in Spain is in Cuenca, day trip or overnight trip from Madrid, and oddly enough began during the Franco era called, Museo de Arte Abstracto Espanol.

The Fundacion Antoni Tapies is dedicated to the Catalan artist.

Time Out Madrid and Barcelona each have sections dedicated to art galleries.

Maribel

kathleen,
Ditto to what Alduchamp has told you regarding the Centro de Arte Reina Sofía in Madrid and the Fundación Tapiès in Barcelona-two "must sees" for cont. art fans.

In Barcelona you can add the MCBA, Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona where you'll find more Tapiès, Zóbel, Chillida, Richard Serra and other names you may or may not recognize.

www.macba.es

Cuenca would indeed make a great day trip for anyone who enjoys contemporary art! You can get there by train or by Auto Res bus (I take the bus-it leaves now from the Estación Sur de Autobuses-www.auto-res.es).

I love the Absstract Art Museum in Cuenca. Across the gorge there's also the Espacio Torner in the San Pablo church. It houses the abstract art of Gustavo Torner. Plus the Fundación Antonio Pérez, filled with contemporary art-in a Carmelite convent of the Old Quarter.

http://tinyurl.com/2yqxus

In Segovia, if you like the works of Rothko, De Kooning, Pollock, you'll enjoy the works of the abstract impressionist Esteban Vicente. His museum is housed in a beautiful mansion, and we really enjoy this impressive collection. It's an obligatory stop of ours every time we go to Segovia (and you can get there now by high speed train from Madrid's Chamartín station-35 min., 9 euros).

www.museoestebanvicente.es

In Madrid several contemporary art galleries can be found in the Chueca district on the streets of Conde de Xiquena (#8 and 14), Libertad (#22) and Barquillo (#43 and 44).

In Madrid's Huertas district you'll find two on Calle San Pedro and one on Alameda (9).

In Barcelona's Eixample, there are several galleries on Consell de Cent (#282, 290 and 315) and in the Gothic Quarter, you'll find Antonio de Barnola on Palau 4 and a couple more on Petritxol (#5 and 8)

For current exhibits in Madrid and Barcelona, when you arrive you can purchase the Guía del Ocio at any newspaper kiosk (comes out every Friday). It's in Spanish only, but if you look under Galerías de Arte, you'll find the addresses & opening hrs.

And in Madrid check out what's going on at the new El Matadero exhibit space (I haven't been yet).

www.mataderomadrid.com (English page)



Hope this helps a bit more.

kenderina

Valencia : http://www.ivam.es/

It is a major contemporary art museum.

kenderina

I forgot, though I doubt you want to come round here..this museum is in the city where I live , Castellon. I'm not into contemporary art but they say it is a good one.

http://www.eacc.es/e/index.htm

kathleen

Wow. Thank you all very much!

I had started looking up the information that Aduchamp listed and discovered that the Fundacion Antoni Tapies is closed the first half of 2008 for renovations. But, I'll check when we get into town. Maybe they will reopen early.

The Reina Sofia was on my list for "Guernica", but now also for the art on the top floor. I had seen "Guernica" years and years ago in MOMA in NYC, but am anxious to see it again.

Maribel,
The groupings of galleries in Madrid and Barcelona is just what I had been wanting. Thank you. I'll look on a street map and find my way.

We plan on going to Segovia for a day so that museum-mansion will easily fit into the schedule.

Cuenca sounds enchanting. I looked up the town after Aduchamp mentioned it. I'll have to try to add it in somehow. We have five days in Madrid, one for a day trip to Segovia, one for Toledo, but that still leaves three. It might fit.

Kenderina, I have a feeling we'll be skipping the contemporary art museum in Valencia, although I browsed through the site and it does look amazing.

I'll also check out the arts listings and the El Matadero space.
Kathy

Maribel

Don't know if your month-long travels will take you to these cities, but there's also the new Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León in León and the Artium in Vitoria.

http://musac.es/

www.artium.org

kathleen

Leon and Vitoria-Gasteiz are going in the opposite direction from our travels. Early on we had to cut the whole northern and northwestern region from the month. Sadly! There is just too much to see. Even Castellon, going toward Valencia from Barcelona isn't possible this trip.

Besides Madrid and Barcelona and surrounding towns, we'll be in the south in Seville, Cordoba, Granada, Cadiz, and Tarifa. I don't expect much in Tarifa, but Cadiz and Seville should have exhibit spaces since there are universities there.

Thanks again. You've given me a lot of possibilities.

Maribel

kathleen,
In Seville on the Isla de Cartuja (where the '92 Worlds Fair was held), you'll find the Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporáneo.

www.caac.es

And in Granada we just visited the Centro de Arte José Guerrero on Oficios 8 downtown-another nice space.

www.centroguerrero.org

Have a great trip!