A Moment Ago, Everything was Beautiful

Remembering Gary Baseman’s A Moment Ago, Everything was Beautiful, his first museum installation that opened September 2005 at the Pasadena Museum of California Art.

The centerpiece of the installation featured Baseman’s 7-foot tall Magi Spirits that represent our emotional memories, past feelings, and circumstances. For this exhibition, Baseman invited viewers to reflect on their own memories – writing them down on specially-designed stationery, then wrapping them around a gold coin that they presented to the Magi Spirits. The participatory action of reflecting, writing and presenting a memory or thought is one that Baseman continues today in his installations.

This installation was dedicated to the memory of the artist’s cousin, Beverly Nina Baseman Potten.

The Pasadena Museum of California Art showcased A Moment Ago, Everything was Beautiful September 15- October 28, 2005.