Fuller at Fifty: Nearby craft museum inspires passionate supporters

Lois Corr loves to talk to people about Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton. A former longtime resident of Canton now living in Norton, she became interested in the museum not long after she moved about 14 years ago and hasn’t looked back.

Lois Corr at the entrance to the “Striking Gold: Fuller at Fifty” exhibit. (Candace Paris photo)

Set on a tranquil, woodsy site across Upper Porter Pond from D. W. Field Park, Fuller Craft Museum has been welcoming the public to frequently changing exhibitions of contemporary craft for 15 years. Originally built as the Brockton Art Center Fuller Memorial in 1969, it showcased drawings and paintings. After a name change to Fuller Art Museum, it began collecting art in every medium but hit its stride with a switch to contemporary craft. It exhibits pieces made by artists who work primarily with their hands in ceramic, fiber, glass, metal, and wood.

As a museum educator, or docent, Corr leads tours for school children, adults, and seniors with Alzheimer’s. She is also co-chair of the Council, an arm of the board of directors. Currently, she is assisting with a new Council project, CONNECT, an outreach initiative to groups outside of Brockton.

“I do a lot of outreach on my own,” Corr said. “I’m very passionate about the museum!”

Her enthusiasm is contagious; she has persuaded several people to become museum educators. (The author herself recently became a museum editor at Fuller Craft.)

Corr does not have an art background. “I always liked art, especially contemporary,” she said, “but I was never good at it myself.” Originally trained as a nurse, Corr worked in doctor’s offices, but found the medical field not “as fulfilling as expected.”

In Canton, she was involved in Temple Beth Abraham (now B’nai Tikvah) and with raising her two sons, Jonathan and Andrew, who both did very well in school. “I liked the Canton community and I loved the Canton school system,” Corr said. “It inspired my sons and made them the people they are today.”

She said some of the highlights of their schooling were learning under Martin Badoian and competing on the math team, and, for Andrew, his experience with Russian studies and a trip to Moscow.

After about 25 years in Canton, Corr and her husband, Steven, retired to a condo in Norton. Not long afterward, she decided to get involved at Fuller Craft after talking to a friend who volunteered there. From the beginning, it was an inspiring experience. She started going on trips organized by the museum to visit galleries and artist’s studios. One thing led to another, and soon she was helping with fundraising.

“I continued to learn and grow, and now I really have a love for the museum,” Corr said. “I call it my museum!”

Although people sometimes view art museums as formal, even elitist institutions, Fuller Craft Museum projects an atmosphere of openness. The contemporary architecture is inviting, with its dramatic but casual feel, plenty of natural light, and views of enticing landscapes. The museum encourages visitors to engage with the art; some exhibits contain pieces with obvious or subtle political messages or even humor. A Fuller Craft slogan is “Do not touch the art. Let the art touch you.”

The museum works to live up to its namesake’s intent: Myron L. Fuller was a Brockton businessman, scientist and philanthropist who intended the museum to benefit members of the community. Brockton residents are admitted free of charge, and the museum gives many tours for school children each year.

The museum is celebrating its 50th anniversary this fall with a gala on October 19. In addition, a related exhibit opened recently, “Striking Gold: Fuller at Fifty,” which showcases the varied uses and interpretations artists have made of gold. These go well beyond jewelry to encompass, among other media, sculpture, photography, pottery, and a beautiful mobile made with gilded Doritos.

Corr finds such creative variation fascinating. “It’s amazing, what basic materials can be used to create different objects using different techniques,” she said.

Corr said that she’s impressed by everyone associated with Fuller Craft. Everyone she’s encountered, she said, “is passionate about what they do and has a love for the museum.” Through volunteering, Corr said, she has given much but has “definitely received more back.” Attending receptions and meeting artists and other people she wouldn’t have met otherwise has made her a “better, more educated person.”

Corr said Fuller Craft is a place where art comes alive. “The setting is beautiful,” she said. “It’s an unknown treasure.”

The museum is located at 455 Oak Street in Brockton, a mile from Good Samaritan Hospital and about 20 minutes from Canton. To learn more, go to fullercraft.org.

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Posted by Candace Paris on Oct 3 2019. Filed under Features. Both comments and pings are currently closed.