The Museum of Contemporary Art Connecticut (MoCA\CT) celebrated a dynamic and well-attended opening of Looking for History: Rick Shaefer, Ellen Harvey, and Michael Borders, filling the galleries last night with a multigenerational audience that transformed the Museum into a hub of spirited exchange. Artists Rick Shaefer and Ellen Harvey, whose works launched the exhibition, were present to speak with the guests about their practices and the themes of the show.
Images from the evening are available at this link
On view through November 15, 2026, Looking for History unfolds across MoCA\CT’s galleries, with each artist presented in a dedicated space that invites visitors to move between distinct yet interconnected perspectives. Rick Shaefer’s Colossianchors the full season, while Ellen Harvey’s The Disappointed Tourist is featured through August 2, followed by Michael Borders’ Connecticut Industry from August 13 through November 15. Throughout the run, MoCA\CT will host community conversations, intimate studio visits, film screenings, and hands-on workshops that connect audiences with the exhibition’s themes.
During the reception, guests were drawn to the awe-inspiring scale of the installations: the monumental, meticulously rendered charcoal drawings in Shaefer’s Colossi, and the more than 200 detailed, postcard-style panels arranged on a grid across three full gallery walls for The Disappointed Tourist. There were also video components: guests gathered in the screening room to view two videos that gave them insight into Shaefer’s process while a smaller monitor in the main gallery featured a motion graphic titled Walls as Paradox.
“I am excited that those exchanges won’t end this evening,” noted Robin Jaffee Frank, Executive Director of MoCA\CT. “Through our CORA Foundation Community Conversations, Looking for History is more than an exhibition; it’s a shared space where we acknowledge the challenges of our past and present and recognize that the choices we make now will shape our collective future. Art has the power to shift our energy from debate to dialogue, and that’s where community is built.”
From the artists’ perspective, the opening was a resounding success. “The space at MoCA\CT seemed perfect for debuting my large drawing series, Colossi with room for visitors to get in close to see the mark-making and then to back away to get a cinematic take,” said Shaefer. “To also have a piece from the Refugee Trilogy series in its own room with preparatory sketches was a wonderful bonus. Seeing so many large works in one room and getting to see some works in progress alongside them gave visitors a broader sense of my practice than is usually possible.” MoCA\CT is honored to be the first institution to present Shaefer’s Colossi series in its entirety.
Harvey shared Shaefer’s appreciation for the space as well as for the complementary aspects of the shows within the exhibition. “ I love the conversation that MoCA\CT has created between my and Rick’s work — both projects use nostalgia to reframe our understanding of the present, but in such different ways,” she said. The response to Harvey’s show was also one of awe, with many guests captivated by the sheer volume of her beautiful paintings. You could hear them noting which of the lost sites they had visited, and others remarking on which sites they would like to see. During her opening remarks, Harvey reminded anyone whose ‘lost place’ does not yet appear in the project that they are welcome to submit it through The Disappointed Tourist website.
As visitors spend more time with these exhibitions over the coming months,Looking for History is poised to continue sparking reflection on whose stories are preserved, whose are overlooked, and how we might imagine a more inclusive future. This opening marked just the beginning of a season-long conversation.
Exhibition Schedule
Rick Shaefer: Colossi
June 25 – November 15, 2026
Ellen Harvey: The Disappointed Tourist
June 25 – August 2, 2026
Michael Borders: Connecticut Industry
August 13 – November 15, 2026
Exhibition-Related Programs and Events
Gallery Talk with artist Rick Shaefer
Thursday, July 9, 6 – 7pm
The CORA Foundation Community Conversation with artist Ellen Harvey + Dan Woog
Thursday, July 16, 6 – 7pm
Opening Reception: Michael Borders, Connecticut Industry
Thursday, September 10, 6 – 8pm
Art Workshop: Encaustic Collage with Leslie Giuliani
Thursday, September 17, 6 – 8pm
Studio Visit with artist Rick Shaefer (members only – 15 people max)
Saturday, September 26, 11am
The CORA Foundation Community Conversation with artist Michael Borders
Thursday, October 15, 6 – 7pm
The CORA Foundation Community Conversation with artist Rick Shaefer
Saturday, October 24, 4 – 6pm
Storyfest Planet Female Global StoryFest: short films + spoken word performances, curated by Dusty McCullough
Saturday, November 7, 6 – 10pm
Visitor Information
Looking for History: Rick Shaefer, Ellen Harvey, and Michael Borders is on view until November 15 at the Museum of Contemporary Art \ Connecticut (MoCA\CT), 19 Newtown Turnpike, Westport, CT 06880. Visitors are encouraged to check mocact.org for current hours, ticket information, and additional program details.
About MoCA\CT
The Museum of Contemporary Art \ Connecticut (MoCA\CT) is a premier destination for thought-provoking visual arts exhibitions, musical performances, and arts education programs that enrich the cultural landscape of Connecticut and beyond. Through the arts, community engagement, and multidisciplinary initiatives, MoCA\CT connects diverse audiences with the art and ideas of our time.
Media Contact
Sandra Nygaard
Director of Marketing + Communications
sandra@mocact.org | 203-222-7070
