Rye Arts Center Presents Art On The Lawn

 

The Rye Arts Center is expanding beyond its walls to present Art On The Lawn, an ongoing public art exhibition. Utilizing its prominent and spacious front lawn, The Rye Arts Center will present a series of large-scale sculptures for passersby and visitors.

The first sculpture presented will be a work by Rye’s very own, Bob Clyatt. “I am a big believer in more public art, particularly sculpture, and am involved in multiple initiatives to help bring more public art to Rye. I am honored to be able to share this piece with The Rye Arts Center community as the inaugural artist in this program,” states Clyatt.

Untitled- (Woman with Wild Hair) is an 800-pound cast bronze sculpture that stands more than six feet tall. It was sculpted in 2014 in one of the world’s largest foundries located in Nanchang, China; a region that has been casting bronze for more than 4,000 years. “I have been creating heads as a central part of my figurative sculpture practice,” Clyatt explains. “The heads are a way for me to directly convey strong, conscious presence in a piece of work, reviving an art tradition that was more common a century ago and before.”

Clyatt juxtaposes a carefully modeled face with abstractly modeled hair. “It is fun working both ways and letting them find a way to coexist in the finished piece.”

Installation of the piece was completed on Wednesday, August 13. It will remain on the lawn of 51 Milton Road in Rye, NY through the fall, when a new piece will take its place.

“Traditionally, we fill the gallery with exciting works, now we are moving onto the lawn,” says Meg Rodriguez, Executive Director of The Rye Arts Center. “Our highly-visible lawn gives us a great opportunity to spark a public conversation. The hundreds of cars and pedestrians that pass by each day will have the common experience of interacting with this massive sculpture.”

As part of their Eye On Art series of tours and lectures The Rye Arts Center will continue the conversation next month with a lecture titled “Our Love Affair with Public Art” led by Margot Clark-Junkins. [Wednesday, September 23, 10 A.M., $10] “Public art not only adds character to public spaces, it fosters a sense of community," says Clark-Junkins. “Over time, a work of public art becomes part of the community’s identity.”

For tickets, or for more information on Eye On Art visit ryeartscenter.org or call (914) 967-0700. To view Bob Clyatt’s Untitled- (Woman with Wild Hair) stop by 51 Milton Road in Rye, NY at your convenience.