Get ready for a major shakeup in the art world, folks! The Des Moines Art Center is gearing up to demolish a groundbreaking installation that’s been turning heads since 1996. The artwork, known as Greenwood Pond: Double Site, is a masterpiece by New York artist Mary Miss, but apparently, it’s too much of a hassle to keep around.
The art center claims that the installation is a safety hazard and would cost a whopping $2.6 million to repair. They’ve got the city’s blessing to start ripping it out as early as Monday, and the whole process could take months. Talk about a major undertaking!
But not everyone’s on board with this plan. Mary Miss herself is absolutely livid, saying that tearing out her artwork would violate the contract she signed back in 1994. She expected the museum to maintain the piece, not toss it in the trash. “It doesn’t deserve it. People don’t deserve to have that happen,” Miss said in an interview.
So, what makes this artwork so special? Well, it’s a prime example of land art, where artists use natural features like rocks, plants, and water to create their masterpieces. Greenwood Pond: Double Site offers unique perspectives of a small wetlands area, with wooden decks, gravel paths, and metal walkways that let you get up close and personal with the water.
The Cultural Landscape Foundation, a Washington-based group, is rallying the troops to save the artwork. They point out that it’s a rare example of a prominent land artwork created by a woman in a male-dominated field. But the art center isn’t budging, saying that the installation’s design and materials just can’t handle Iowa’s crazy weather.
To remove the artwork, the art center will have to bring in the big guns – we’re talking heavy equipment, draining the pond, and building new paths. It’s going to be a massive undertaking, but they’re footing the bill from their own budget.
So, will the piece survive this battle, or will it be reduced to rubble? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure – this controversy is sure to make waves!
The Associated Press contributed to this article.