Machine Project

Machine Project was a Los Angeles based not-for-profit arts organization and community event space.

Machine Project

Film screening at Machine Project on Alvarado Blvd. in Echo Park, Los Angeles.
Established	2003-2018
Location	1200 D North Alvarado Street Los Angeles, California United States
Director	Mark Allen
Website	www.machineproject.com

History

Founded by Mark Allen, Machine Project launched in 2003 with its inaugural show, 'Tom Jennings - Story Teller,' an installation produced by Tom Jennings, which was displayed from December 6, 2003 until January 24, 2004.^[1] In the museums first year, it displayed six different exhibits.

Machine Project later moved toward larger collaborations, holding residences with major art museums, including a one-day takeover of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) on November 15, 2008 featuring 10 hours of performances, and a several month residency at the Hammer Museum in 2010, resulting in 80 programs including a series of micro-concerts in a coatroom.^[2]

In 2014, Machine Projects intervened in the Gamble House in Pasadena, an early 20th century Craftsman home that once belonged to David and Mary Gamble, of Procter & Gamble fame. Allen and a group of artists affiliated with Machine Project installed a series of contemporary artworks around the historic home in ways that both highlighted and harmonized with the architecture. This included a secret basement restaurant operated by Bob Dornberger whose menu was inspired by the architecture, and a massive sculpture of a vortex on the front lawn by Patrick Ballard that was also a puppet.^[3]

Machine Project announced its closure in January 2018.^[4][5]