The Foundation
Hours of Operation
Open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am until 5 pm (Summer hours)
Call 719-738-2858 for more info or to make an appointment. For School Tour Visits please email your preferred dates and times to: info@museumoffriends.org.
welcome to the museum of friends
The Museum Of Friends (MoF) is a contemporary art museum that opened in October, 2006 in the Southern Colorado rural community of Walsenburg. Brendt and Maria Cocchiarelli’s shared vision for the new museum was to create a place where everyone feels welcomed and the art created by all people valued. The initial collection of 600 works given by their friends became the core of the collection. Over the last 15 years it has grown to over 1600 works that includes paintings, sculptures, fine art prints, drawings, photographs and digital media. MoF occupies 10,000 square feet of museum display space, with classroom areas, a gift shop and a lower level. MoF's inclusive and egalitarian open door policy intents to uplift the community through engaging programs to develop creativity, inclusion and educational opportunities. Many exhibits public and educational programs explore cross cultural understanding and tolerance the necessary ingredients for a just and peaceful society.
MoF’s grand opening in October, 2007 encouraged the community to explore the building with tours on the 2nd floor that included: the permanent collection, the administrative offices, an art resource library, visiting artist apartment and two galleries devoted to the Pacific. These explore pre-Columbian Mexican, Australian, Japanese, Southeast Asian and focus on Aboriginal Polynesian artifacts. The works on display are greatly treasured by Brendt Berger as they have been passed down to him from his Native Hawaiian ancestors.
In 2010, MoF began to occupy the entire building including the first and lower level establishing the changing exhibition and educational programs, and gift shop Made in Walsenburg.
Earth show exhibits
John Wark's
Colorado Wildfires
with Waldo Canyon
April 22 through July 21, 2023
Opening reception on Saturday
April 22, 2023 from 5-7 PM
John Wark is an artist, pilot, businessman and contributing photographer for Reuters and the Associated Press, as well as dozens of publications including National Geographic, The New York Times and The Denver Post. This exhibit features aerial photographs of the 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire near Colorado Springs, taken from a small plane.

Waldo Canyon Fire photographed by John Wark
Camille Seaman's
Photographs of Our Polar Regions
April 22 through July 21, 2023
Opening reception on Saturday
April 22, 2023 from 5-7 PM
Camille Seaman strongly believes in capturing photographs that articulate how humans are not separate from nature. Her award-winning photographs feature landscapes, icebergs and wildlife, taken in the polar regions.

Lone Emperor with Icebergs by Camille Seaman
Larry Racioppo's
Hurricane Sandy
and LARRY'S SANDY DIARY
April 22 through July 21, 2023
Opening reception on Saturday
April 22, 2023 from 5-7 PM
This exhibit looks at life on the Rockaway Peninsula since Hurricane Sandy, serving as a continuation of Larry’s Sandy Diary, a large artist’s book he made and exhibited in 2013 at the Museum of the City of New York.

Hurricane Sandy aftermath photographed by Larry Racioppo