‘Another Side’ of Mike Gordon

Phish bassist teams up with artist mom for exhibit at Children’s Museum

Mike Gordon has always been equal parts artist and inventor.

Best known as Phish’s bassist, Sudbury-native Gordon has been dreaming up inventions for decades: an electric bubble maker at age 10 and, more recently, a double-necked electric bass/acoustic banjo hybrid.

But his latest ingenuity may be his greatest.

Photo by David M. Barron/oxygengroup Teamwork: Marjorie Minkin and her son, Phish bassist Mike Gordon, created an interactive exhibit that combines her art and his music.

Along with his mother, artist Marjorie Minkin, and tech guru Jamie Robertson, Gordon has created an interactive instillation that blends his music with his mom’s art. Called “Another Side of In” and on display at the Boston Children’s Museum through March 31, it features painted plastic sculptures linked to sonic loops pulled from Gordon’s solo record “Inside In.”

When visitors approach, the loops are triggered. It’s pretty trippy. But no more so than a Phish concert – or Minkin’s art.

“I often describe my mom as my biggest influence, partly because she’s always been into stretching limits,” Gordon said. “A typical day growing up would be coming across Mom using rollers to spread 10-gallon buckets of acrylic paints across giant canvases.

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