I had a serendipitous encounter with the Consumer Research Center at the Harvard Carpenter Center for Visual Arts the other day and turns out that it had just opened prior to my visit. I was one of their first visitors.
As I entered the CRC bookshop I was immediately taken in by the interior design effort they had put into the space. The sleek, stylish and minimal aesthetic is something that weakens my knees and hits a soft spot.
As I sifted through their collection of their carefully curated and nonetheless one of the most stylish book collections I’ve ever encountered, I knew this place was a space I could spend an entire day in given the opportunity. The CRC (Consumer Research Center) is a collaborative effort between the Harvard CCVA (Carpenter Center for Visual Arts) and Mottobooks. They had a transcending effect on me in which it threw me back immediately into the days when I lived in Paris or my nostalgic memories of when I used to sift through rare art books at archives in London. I felt as though I was back in europe- a feeling I’ve been yearning for for some time now.
Although I was only able to spend roughly 45 minutes during my first visit, I will no doubt go back for a longer visit the next time. Only issue is that I would not allow myself to come back lest I knew I had a full day for this next visit since I don’t believe I’ll have the self control to remove myself from this room prematurely.
I would recommend this bookshop to anyone who appreciates art and shares a similar admiration for modern print publication along with an appreciation for Contemporary Art. Hands down my favorite book collection in the Boston area.
