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The Art of Rain at MoMA: Rain Room (2012)

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Water cascades around visitor in Rain Room, Random International (2012), Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) 2013. Source: moma.org

New York City has experienced an unusually mercurial spring season, variable weather playing havoc with our hopes and immune systems. Random International‘s Rain Room at MoMA (May 12-July 28, 2013) gives you a chance for subtle vindication; here, you control the weather. You can stand in the mesmerizing cascade without a drop falling on you.

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Visitors marvel in the magic, Rain Room, Random International (2012). Source: fastcodesign.com

Using digital technology, Rain Room senses a moving body and causes the rain to fall around it. With this project, experimental studio rAndom International “invites visitors to explore the roles that science, technology, and human ingenuity can play in stabilizing our environment.” Essentially, the audience can create a dynamic work of art using their bodies as the tools with which they shape the room. This is the U.S. premiere of this acclaimed installation, which debuted at the Barbican Centre, London, in October 2012.

Wayne McGregor | Random Dance perform in the Rain Room. © Ravi Deepres & Alicia Clarke. Rain Room, Random International 2012. Courtesy of Barbican Art Gallery.

Wayne McGregor | Random Dance perform in the Rain Room. © Ravi Deepres & Alicia Clarke. Rain Room, Random International 2012. Courtesy of Barbican Art Gallery. Source: dancetabs.

As an instant critical and audience favorite, lines for Rain Room can be excruciatingly long (3 hours on opening day!). MoMA members and their guests have priority access to Rain Room at all times, as well as an exclusive early member viewing hour, from 9:30-10:30 a.m. daily throughout the run of the installation. The best way for the public to ensure the shortest line is to check MoMA’s Twitter feed beforehand where MoMA periodically updates the expected wait time. All reports indicate this one is worth the wait.

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