The Neuberger Museum of Art's 1999 Biennial Exhibition of Public Art

Neuberger Museum of Art

Purchase, New York

(914) 251-6100

The Neuberger Museum of Art's 1999 Biennial Exhibition of Public Art opened on June 27 and remains on display through October 24, 1999. Judy Collischan, Ph.D., the Museum's Associate Director for Curatorial Affairs who organized the exhibition announced that fifteen artists are participating in the 1999 Biennial.

1999 Biennial Exhibition participants include: Siah Armajani, Minneapolis, MN; Lynda Benglis, New York, NY; Lee Boroson, Brooklyn, NY; Michael Bramwell, Jersey City, NJ; Bill and Mary Buchen, New York, NY; Jackie Chang, Brooklyn, NY; Susan Crowder, Charlottesville, VA; Timothy Curtis, Coconut Grove, FL; Kenta Furusho, Rego Park, NY; Jun Kaneko, Omaha, NE; John Monti, Brooklyn, NY; Dennis Oppenheim, New York, NY; Jim Roche, Tallahassee, FL; Mara Adamitz Scrupe, Bremo Bluff, VA; and Buster Simpson, Seattle, WA.

Inaugurated in 1997, the Neuberger's Public Art Biennial was conceived as a major national showcase for contemporary artists who work in the area of outdoor sculpture. The work in the exhibition is displayed in artist selected sites dispersed across the Purchase College, SUNY grounds and public spaces.

The 1999 Biennial intensifies the focus on site-specific installations representing variety in forms, media and point of view. It offers a dynamic and energetic selection of permanent and perishable materials; political, social and artistic intentions; geometric, organic and figurative forms. The Neuberger Museum of Art Biennial does not suggest decisive or restrictive statements regarding the characterization, categorization, classification or definition of public art forms. Individual participating Biennial artists define their art on their own terms. The Biennial is simply a forum demonstrating that "Public Art" is a transient and on-going dialectic.

"Public art disturbs people because generally they think of public property as their own," says Dr. Collischan. "In this country, we have cordoned off art into museums and gallery boxes. When it 'escapes' from these confines, some portion of the public is startled and becomes upset...at first. After a period of time, most art in this context is not only accepted but forms the identity - sometimes even the logo - for the place."

Biennial artists are selected to present their work at the Neuberger Biennials by an outside panel of experts. In addition to these artists, Museum selected two artists to honor in 1999 based upon their continuing contributions to public art over many years, and to pay tribute to them in a public forum. Sculptors Mary Miss and Kenneth Snelson are the 1999 honorees.

The exhibition is sponsored by the Friends of the Neuberger Museum of Art, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Klein Family Foundation, the Corrine H. Buck Charitable Trust, David Durst, the Westchester Arts Council, Neuberger/Berman, and other private donations.

From top to bottom: Kenta Furusho, Snake Charmer, 1999, fiberglass, paint, wood, Photo: Bob Capazzo; Lynda Benglis, Migrating Pedmarks, 1998, bronze with black and white patina, 87 x 135 x 96 inches, Courtesy of Cheim & Read; Dennis Oppenheim, Tea Roses, 1999, cast fiberglass, cement (9 elements), Photo: Bob Capazzo; Mary Miss, Ladder for a Beach Tree, 1999, wood paint, copper, tree, Photo: Bob Capazzo; John Monti, Lemon Float, 1999, fiberglass, pigmented urethane rubber, (two elements), Photo: Bob Capazzo

Read more about the Neuberger Museum of Art in Resource Library Magazine

Search for more articles and essays on American art in Resource Library. See America's Distinguished Artists for biographical information on historic artists.

This page was originally published in1999 in Resource Library Magazine. Please see Resource Library's Overview section for more information.