Exploring "Living Moving Growing": Maren Hassinger’s Groundbreaking Retrospective at BAMPFA

Exploring "Living Moving Growing": Maren Hassinger’s Groundbreaking Retrospective at BAMPFA

The Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA) is set to present an ambitious retrospective exhibition for the acclaimed multidisciplinary artist Maren Hassinger, opening in June 2026. Marking the artist's largest career survey to date, this exhibition titled "Living Moving Growing" honors Hassinger's innovative contributions over five decades, revealing the dynamic interplay between sculpture, performance, and environmental engagement at the heart of her creative practice.

The Artist and Her Legacy

Maren Hassinger, celebrated for her unique synthesis of movement and sculptural form, has forged a remarkable artistic path since the 1970s. Her works often utilize everyday materials such as wire rope, tree branches, and plastic bags—transformed through her vision into evocative installations that invite intimate, physical engagement and reflection on nature, community, and time. This retrospective offers a rare chance to experience her evolving oeuvre in one venue, from early minimalist sculptures to expansive immersive environments.

Exhibition Highlights and Themes

Curated by BAMPFA’s chief curator Marg Norton and senior curator Anthony Graham, the "Living Moving Growing" exhibition underscores Hassinger’s identity as both a sculptor and performer. Norton explains that this duality is central to understanding Hassinger’s approach, where movement informs sculpture and vice versa. The show features:

  • Early seminal works from the 1970s, crafted from wire rope and natural wood.

  • Large-scale installations, some recreated for the exhibition with help from the University of California Botanical Garden to source organic materials.

  • Site-specific pieces like Love (2008), consisting of inflated plastic bags containing love notes, highlighting themes of intimacy and shared experience.

  • Workshops and performances, including a reimagined Women’s Work (2006), engaging participants in newspaper knotting, continuing Hassinger’s tradition of collaborative art-making.

This layout follows a loose chronological flow interwoven with site-specific interventions that maintain a living, evolving dialogue throughout the exhibition’s six months.

Artistic Process and Contemporary Resonance

The exhibition emphasizes the artistic process as a form of connection and care—not only among people but also towards the environment. Hassinger’s use of ordinary, often overlooked materials breathes new life into them, creating works that feel both monumental and intimate. Norton notes that Hassinger’s art cultivates a "sense of permanence" and encourages audiences to consider their relation to ecology and community—concerns that are acutely relevant in today’s global context.

Through performances and workshops, the retrospective extends beyond visual art to embody a living practice, inviting visitors to participate actively in the evolving narrative of Hassinger’s work. These elements highlight the importance of creativity as a challenge and an adventure, as Hassinger herself describes it.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: When and where is Maren Hassinger's retrospective exhibition?
A: The exhibition "Living Moving Growing" opens in June 2026 at the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA) in California and will run for six months.

Q: What kinds of works will be included in the exhibition?
A: The retrospective includes a broad range of Hassinger’s work spanning five decades, including early wire rope and tree branch sculptures, large-scale installations, performances, and interactive workshops.

Q: How does Hassinger's multidisciplinary approach manifest in her work?
A: Hassinger uniquely blends sculpture with performance and movement, creating works that are both physically engaging and thematically resonant with nature, community, and environmental care.

Q: Are there interactive components to the exhibition?
A: Yes, workshops and performances will be integral, including a reimagined version of "Women’s Work," inviting active visitor participation.

Q: What role does the environment play in Hassinger’s art?
A: Environmental themes are central, with Hassinger transforming ordinary natural materials into artworks that evoke growth, life, and interconnectedness.

This retrospective offers a comprehensive, vibrant exploration of Maren Hassinger’s art, highlighting her profound impact and relevance in contemporary artistic discourse.

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