On a sunny Saturday in late October, Hae-In took a trip to the Storm King Art Center in Mountainville, New York. Located about an hour north of the city, in the Hudson Valley, Storm King’s permanent collection of sculpture is integrated into beautifully landscaped grounds of fields, hills and woodlands spanning 500 acres.
Storm King Art Center
Storm King’s collection of more than 100 works focuses on American and European modern sculpture, mostly abstract, and selections are on permanent view. Works date from 1945 to the present and their collection includes pieces by Mark Di Suvero, Alexander Calder, Louise Nevelson, Andy Goldsworthy, Isamu Noguchi, Richard Serra, and many others.
Meadows
Storm King also celebrates the relationship between sculpture and nature– instead of white gallery walls, the exhibition space is made up meadows and woodlands. The sculptures are affected by changes in light and weather conditions.
The Arch by Alexander Calder
Ralph E. Ogden and H. Peter Stern founded Storm King Art Center in 1960. Originally envisioned as museum of the Hudson Valley painters and then as sculpture set in a formal garden scheme, Ogden was inspired when he first saw sculptures by David Smith set in open fields. They purchased 13 works from Smith’s estate and started to place the works outdoors to directly respond to the landscape.
Endless Column by Tal Streeter
In 1972 the Art Center began acquiring a permanent collection of large-scale sculptures. Works are chosen carefully, with consideration to the overall Storm King landscape. Visitors are encouraged to enjoy the natural setting as well as the work, cutting across fields and walking up hills. It takes several hours to traverse the grounds– there is a tram as well as bike rental available.
Beethoven's Quartet by Mark di Suvero comes with a rubber mallet
In addition to the permanent collection, the 5+5: New Perspectives exhibit celebrates Storm King’s fiftieth anniversary. Ten artists were asked to create a new work or select a recent one to loan to the Center. Five of the artists are already represented in Storm King’s collection: Alice Aycock, Chakaia Booker, Mark di Suvero, Andy Goldsworthy, and Ursula von Rydingsvard. Five are new to Storm King: John Bisbee, Maria Elena González, Darrell Petit, Alyson Shotz, and Stephen Talasnik. Alyson Shotz and Mark di Suvero each loaned two works and six of the sculptures were created specifically for this exhibit.
Suspended by Menashe Kadishman
A French-style mansion houses more information about the Storm King’s collection and history, with archival documents, exhibition timelines, and a discussion on conservation concerns for some it’s major pieces. 5+5: New Perspectives will remain on view for the 2010 season and, in many cases, through the 2011 season.
Storm King Art Center
Old Pleasant Hill Road
Mountainville, NY 10953
OHNY: open house new york 