Calendar

Exhibitions

The Collection

109 East 6th Street Walsenburg, C0 81089 USA (719)738 2858
info@museumoffriends.org

Tues - Sat Noon - 5 p.m.

Founders

M.C. Berger
Maria Cocchiarelli-Berger was born in Brooklyn, New York, graduated from Syracuse University with a BA in art history. She later received a BFA in painting and drawing, as well as two master degrees, (an MS in Art Ed and an MFA) all from City University of New York, at Queens College. . click here to continue

Brendt Berger
Born and raised in Oakland, California, Brendt Berger discovered both a love of and a talent for art in grade school. This was the foundation for what has been a professional career as a print maker, painter, educator and most recently as a partner and curator of the Museum of Friends in Walsenburg.click here to continue

   The Museum Of Friends (MOF) is a contemporary art museum which opened in October of 2006 in the Southern Colorado community of Walsenburg by artists Brendt and Maria Cocchiarelli Berger. MOF occupies 6000 square feet of museum display space with room for expansion.
            The museum’s name stems from the fact that the initial 600 piece collection on exhibit is almost entirely comprised of paintings, photographs, sculpture and other pieces of art which had been given separately to Brendt and Maria by their respective artist friends. These friends continue to provide the museum with additional art to expand the collection.

MISSION STATEMENT
            Core to MOF’s mission is Brendt and Maria’s philosophy that there is more meaning to collecting art than its appraisal as an investment. The Mission of the MOF is to share the art which was freely given to the founders as well as their love and knowledge of art through museum and satellite art exhibitions, on-site and outreach education programs, a reference library, an interactive web site
            There is another mission as well. The Walsenburg is in an ideal position to attract travelers interested in art. The community is located on I-25 the main highway between Denver, Colorado, and Santa Fe New Mexico. It is also part of the “Scenic Highway of Legends” which is a historical and cultural tourist destination. Brendt and Maria believe that the MOF can also be a catalyst to attract other art and cultural facilities and organizations for both residents and visitors to enjoy.

COLLECTION OVERVIEW

The more than 600 pieces of art on exhibit at the MOF include paintings, drawings photographs, sculptures, and artifacts that were presented as gifts to Brendt Berger beginning in 1959 to 2008 and to Maria Cocchiarelli-Berger starting in 1978 to 2008. Many of the artists who provided this art were friends of Brendt and Maria while they lived in New York. One very unique part of the collection, housed in what is known as The Pacific Rooms, include items related to Brendt Berger’s Hawaiian ancestry as well as other items collected from the Pacific Rim.

PROGRAMS

The MOF offers far more than a static presentation of contemporary art. A full schedule of on-site and outreach activities take place including school tours of the museum geared to the specific to the curriculum goals of the organizing teacher followed by a hands-on writing or drawing activity. weeks in advance. Each Tuesday is Toddler Tuesday, featuring a creativity session designed for the toddler and parent.