DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1950 |
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| Location | 51 Sandy Pond Road Lincoln, Massachusetts United States |
| Type | Art museum and sculpture park |
| Owner | The Trustees of Reservations |
| Public transit access | Lincoln stop on the Fitchburg MBTA Line and a 1.5 mile walk |
The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum is a special place in Lincoln, Massachusetts. It is a sculpture park and a modern art museum. You can find it on the southern shore of Flint's Pond. This location is about 20 miles northwest of Boston.
The deCordova opened in 1950. It is the largest park of its kind in New England. The park covers 30 acres of land.
The Sculpture Park always has new, large outdoor art. It shows more than 60 sculptures. Most of these artworks are on loan to the museum. Inside, the museum features different art shows that change often. The deCordova's own art collection focuses on photography. It also highlights works by artists who have connections to New England.
Contents
History of deCordova
The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum is on land that used to belong to Julian de Cordova. Experts looked at de Cordova's art collection. They decided it was not very valuable or interesting. So, the collection was sold. The money from the sale helped create a museum for local modern art.
The people in charge, called the Trustees, made this choice. They saw that there were almost no modern art shows in Boston. There were also few places for New England artists to show their work. The museum officially opened in 1950. It was first called the deCordova and Dana Museum. It was the only museum that focused on living New England artists. It also offered art classes.
Early Leadership and Exhibitions
Frederick P. Walkey was the first director. He graduated from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. He quickly set up art shows and classes. He wanted to make sure people learned about art.
DeCordova became known for its exciting shows. These shows introduced New England audiences to important new art styles. This included Pop Art and Boston's post-war expressionist art. Around 1989, the museum changed its name. It became the deCordova Museum and Sculpture Park. Georgia Litwack taught photography classes there.
Recent Changes and Leadership
In 2019, The Trustees of Reservations took over deCordova. This group works to protect land and historic places.
Today, Michael Busack is the Museum Director for the Trustees. Sarah Montross is the Senior Curator. John Ravenal was the director before them, starting in 2015.
In 2023, the museum building closed for upgrades. They are improving the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. This work is expected to take two to three years. However, the outdoor sculpture park is still open for visitors.
Building Design and Upgrades
The New England architect John Quincy Adams designed the museum building. He made big changes to Julian de Cordova's old mansion. This happened before the museum opened in 1950. The lower floors became art galleries. The third floor offered art studio classes.
Many students came to the art school. Soon, the museum space was too small. In 1966, deCordova built four new studio buildings. These buildings had more space and better equipment for art classes. In the early 1980s, two buildings were combined and updated. They became offices for the school and its outreach programs.
Modernization Efforts
In 1998, the museum finished a big project. It was called the New Century Campaign for deCordova. This project cost $8 million. It helped upgrade the museum building. The company Kallmann McKinnell & Wood modernized and expanded the learning areas. They added a new studio, a store, and a gallery. This new gallery showed art by the school's teachers and students.
The museum's main exhibition space also grew. A 20,000 square foot addition was built. A roof terrace was added, offering views of the Sculpture Park. The main galleries were updated. They received a climate control system, a café, and a library.
Art at deCordova
DeCordova focused on modern and contemporary art. This made it very popular in the 1950s and 1960s. But by the 1980s, more museums and galleries opened. They also showed similar types of art.
When Paul Master-Karnik became director in 1982, deCordova started new art programs. These programs helped show its support for New England artists. Master-Karnik started the Annual Exhibition. It was once called Artist/Visions. This show featured new artists from New England. It gave a yearly look at the talent in the region.
Supporting New England Artists
Dennis Kois became director in 2008. He wanted to keep the museum connected to New England artists. He started the PLATFORM series. This series shows special art installations made for specific places. These works are by New England artists.
In 2010, the deCordova Biennial replaced the Annual Exhibition. The Biennial happens every other year. It shows leading new and mid-career artists from New England. It highlights the quality and energy of art made in this area.
Sculpture Park Focus
In 2009, the museum officially changed its name. It went from deCordova Museum and Sculpture Park to deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum. This change showed its main focus.
The Sculpture Park has lawns, forests, fields, and terraces. It shows how modern artists create outdoor art. It also explores how outdoor art connects with its surroundings. This is done through three types of art:
- Collection works: These are sculptures by important artists from the 1900s and 2000s. They include works by Dorothy Dehner, Antony Gormley, Dan Graham, Hugh Hayden, Sol LeWitt, Beverly Pepper, Jaume Plensa, Ursula von Rydingsvard, and John Wilson.
- Loans: These are sculptures borrowed from other artists. They include works by Jim Dine, Paul Matisse, Kathy Ruttenberg, and Arlene Shechet.
- Site-specific projects: These are special artworks made just for the Sculpture Park. Artists like Orly Genger, Maren Hassinger, and Leeza Meksin have created them.
In 2019, deCordova finished a permanent artwork called Watershed. It was created by sculptor Andy Goldsworthy.
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