The Mattress Factory

I was lucky to have grown up a short fifteen minute bus ride away from The Mattress Factory in Pittsburgh - it's a great resource for anyone learning about contemporary art and installations.

"The Mattress Factory is a museum of contemporary art
that exhibits room-sized works called installations. Created
on site by artists from across the country and around the
world, the unique exhibitions feature a variety of media that
engage all of the senses!"

See their website for more details, including lots of examples of work... great brainstorming material here.