2. feature
American
Pastoral
W
hen we think of museums, we think of buildings
that house collections of cultural materials, but this
interpretation is a modern one. The word museum
originated in ancient Greece, deriving from the word mouseion,
or “seat of the Muses,” and described as a place for contempla-
tion. The stark white walls of MOMA elegantly showcase price-
less artworks, but does it inspire lingering and contemplation?
For this reason, open-air museums are an attractive option for
art lovers and historians alike. These natural environments serve
to contextualize sculptures or re-create a living history worth
visiting this summer.
By Alexandra Drosu
Open-air museums provoke a new
appreciation of art and history
Sculptures by
Mark di Suvero
JERRYL.THOMPSON
46 mosaic
4. Sculptures in the Park
Barely one hour north of New York City, in a 500-acre
pastoral setting, sits Storm King Art Center. Here, a
world-class collection of modern sculpture is nestled
among a landscape of rolling hills and woodlands.
“Storm King’s setting is unparalleled and offers visitors
a very different way to experience art…the opportuni-
ty to approach works from every side,” says the muse-
um’s curator, Nora Lawrence.
Some visitors meander through the shaded paths of
the North Woods, viewing sculptures by Alice Aycock
and Barnett Newman’s Broken Obelisk. Others prefer the
expansive South Fields, where works by Roy Lichten-
stein, Zhang Huan, and Mark di Suvero reside. Still
others, says Lawrence, rent bicycles and tour around the
whole site. “I love that there is no one way to experience
Storm King,” she adds.
The vast collection represents more than 150 artists
and often features guest artists, like Luke Stettner, whose
Outlooks exhibit debuts this summer. “I was really ded-
icated to making a piece that referred directly to the ele-
ments that shaped Storm King: wind, lightning, insects,”
says the artist. Stettner worked closely with Lawrence to
arrange biochar (a sustainable charcoal) into sculptural
trenches. “I can’t think of another public institution that
provides support and funding for emerging artists to cre-
ate a work on this scale,” Stettner adds.
Reliving the History of Innovation
An outdoor, living-history museum transports histo-
ry buffs back in time. Parklike grounds offer visitors
a look into the past through historical structures, cul-
tural re-creations, and authentic crafts. Of these, one
of the most impressive is Greenfield Village, a part
of the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.
Ford believed that “what’s unique to America is that
ordinary people can do extraordinary things,” says
Tom Varitek, senior manager of program operations.
He envisioned creating a museum that celebrated this
creative virtue and began collecting both objects and
buildings to tell the story of innovation in America.
Today, the open-air museum boasts more than
80 historical structures on more than 80 developed
acres. You can visit the house where Noah Web-
ster authored the first American dictionary, the
Logan County Courthouse where Abraham Lincoln
practiced law, and Thomas Edison’s Menlo Park
laboratory.
Additionally, a village of artisans authentically re-
produces glass and pottery specific to the historical
era. “I was reproducing some 1820s decanters, and
in my hand was the work that someone was doing
nearly 200 years ago,” says artist Josh Wojick, who
manages the glass shop.
JERRYL.THOMPSON
48 mosaic
.
open-airmuseums
5. JERRYL.THOMPSON
Clockwise, from left:
The Iliad, 1974-76 by
Alexander Liberman;
Luke Stettner’s
biochar installation;
railroad junction
and a carriage ride
near Eagle Tavern at
Greenfield.
July I August 2015 49
6. F
or every painter who
achieves fame, there are
hundredsoftalentedartists
strugglingtopresenttheirworkto
a larger audience. For this reason,
art museums and metropolitan
venues are hosting temporary
outdoorartexhibitionsshowcasing
local talent.
The Virginia Museum of
Contemporary Art hosts a
Boardwalk Art Show showcasing
up-and-coming artists, along
with live entertainment
and great food, every June.
virginiamoca.org
The North Charleston Arts
Festival holds a yearly sculpture
competition for American artists.
Fourteen works are selected and
displayed along the riverfront
park, through March 25, 2016.
northcharlestonartsfest.com
The Washington Square
Outdoor Art Exhibit takes place
over Labor Day weekend and
showcases both fine artists
and craft artisans in the
heart of Greenwich Village.
wsoae.org
iPOP-UP ART
SHOWS
open-airmuseums
IMAGESCOURTESYOFCHIHULYGARDENANDGLASS
KRZYSZTOFDYDYNSKI/GETTYIMAGES
50 mosaic
7. Through the Looking Glass
One of the newest open-air environments is Chihuly
Garden and Glass, located at the Seattle Center and cel-
ebrating its third anniversary. The gallery spans 1.5 acres
and features an exhibition hall, a glasshouse, and a lush
garden centered on the works of acclaimed glass artist
and Washington native Dale Chihuly, whose works are
included in more than 200 museum collections.
“Chihuly’s work evokes a sense of the natural
world, so creating an outdoor experience was a natural
progression,” says Executive Director Michelle Bufa-
no. “Visitors love to see the interaction between the
plants and artwork and watch how it evolves through
the seasons.” The gallery offers several different garden
tours, including guided discussions. Garden art instal-
lations include glass Reeds and Cattails that seemingly
grow out of the earth of their own accord. “A lot of
my work looks like if you ran across it in the forest,
you wouldn’t know if it was man-made or made by
nature,” says Dale Chihuly.
The impressive Glasshouse was inspired by the art-
ist’s appreciation of Sainte-Chapelle in Paris and Lon-
don’s Crystal Palace. Inside, a 100-foot-long sculpture
is composed of 1,340 individual elements. Adds the
artist: “I love to juxtapose the man-made and the nat-
ural to make people wonder.” ■
STORM KING
ART CENTER
New Windsor, NY
stormking.org
GREENFIELD
VILLAGE
Dearborn, MI
thehenryford.org/village
CHIHULY GARDEN
AND GLASS
Seattle, WA
chihulygardenandglass.com
July I August 2015 51
Left: The
Glasshouse’s
suspended
installation.
Above: Pacific
Sun glows above
the garden.
