Seeking to promote a deeper understanding and appreciation of sculpture while paying homage to the Hudson Valley’s artistic heritage and inspirational beauty, SUNY Orange and the National Sculpture Society will unveil “Sculpture for a New Century,” a juried outdoor sculpture exhibition at the College’s Newburgh campus, on June 5. The works will be on display through September.
“Sculpture for a New Century,” SUNY Orange’s debut outdoor sculpture exhibition on its expanded Newburgh campus, will feature eight unique works from noted national and international artists who were asked to submit sculptures inspired by the natural landscapes of the Hudson Valley. The sculptures, selected by a four-person jury under the auspices of the National Sculpture Society (NSS), will be located along the promenade on the campus’ upper plaza.
The exhibition will open June 5 in conjunction with a planned 6 p.m. celebration of completion of Phase I of construction at the Newburgh campus. The artists and works selected include: “Precipice” by Fred X. Brownstein, marble; “Daphne” by Chippie Kennedy, bronze; “Clapotis” by Michael Keropian, epoxy resin and fiberglass; “Green Mountain” by Jinx Lindenauer, bronze (patinated); “Jeremiah” by Roger Martin, bronze; “Poco A Poco Se Va Lejos (Little By Little We Go A Long Way)” by Pokey Park, bronze; “4PM” by Christopher Smith, glass fiber reinforced cement; and “Dove Spirit” by David Turner, bronze.
“The College is extremely pleased and honored to be able to bring sculpture of this caliber to our students, faculty, staff and the greater Newburgh community,” says Dr. William Richards, SUNY Orange president. “The Hudson Valley boasts an abundant tradition of innovation in art, design, creative expression and landscape architecture.
“Generations of artists have captured the Valley’s grandeur in all forms of media,” Richards adds. “We are hopeful this exhibit will unite the Hudson Valley’s artistic heritage and inspirational beauty with the College’s educational mission.”
“It has been a great pleasure to work with SUNY Orange in planning an inaugural sculpture exhibition for the College’s splendid new campus in Newburgh,” says Gwen Pier, executive director of the National Sculpture Society. “The campus grounds provide an ideal setting for an outdoor sculpture exhibition, with sweeping views of the Hudson River. The exhibition is open to students and the community at large, and furthers a tradition of encouraging the arts in an area that has a rich history of inspiring and nurturing great artists.”
The four-person jury included Robin Salmon, vice president for collections and curator of sculpture at Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet, S.C.; along with sculptors Sandy Scott of Lander, Wyo.; John Sisko, Seattle, Wash.; and Greg Wyatt, New York City. All four jurors are members of the NSS Exhibitions Committee. Brookgreen Gardens is a national historic landmark
and a display garden with the most extensive collection of figurative sculpture in an outdoor setting by American artists in the world.
In conjunction with the “Sculpture for a New Century” outdoor exhibition, Wyatt will arrange a “From Model to Monument” exhibition that will be located in the CenterArts Gallery inside Kaplan Hall on the College’s Newburgh campus. “From Model to Monument” will include a portion of Wyatt’s “The Price of Freedom … Angel and the Dying Unknown” exhibition that is currently on display at the Arlington National Cemetery and that was recently featured in the Rayburn House Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. The indoor exhibition will showcase the process by which sculptors turn their visions into small-scale models, which in turn become sculptures.
“Sculpture for a New Century” has been generously supported by the Kaplan Family Charitable Foundations and the Ralph E. Ogden Foundation. Staff members from the Storm King Art Center have provided consulting and other assistance as the College has prepared for this inaugural exhibit. The Storm King Art Center will oversee the judging and awards portion of the exhibition. Once the works have been sited on the plaza, three awards will be presented: The Downing Excellence in Design Award (first prize), the Washington Award of Merit (second prize) and the Hudson Discovery Award (third prize). The names of all three awards recognize the historical and artistic relevance of Newburgh and the surrounding Hudson Valley.
