Public art seems to invoke deep feelings in, well, the public. Whether museumgoer, art-lover or not, everyone generally has something to say about public art — they either love it or hate it. Beginning May 22, there will be even more to talk about when a yearlong exhibition of sculpture by Mark di Suvero will be on display at Crissy Field.
If you’ve seen di Suvero’s piece in South Beach near AT&T Park, Sea Change, you’ll have an idea of what to expect. The eight large-scale steel sculptures comprising “Mark di Suvero at Crissy Field” represent five decades of the artist’s work and includes one piece never before on view. It is his largest exhibition on the West Coast.
Di Suvero credits the Golden Gate Bridge as his inspiration, which he passed under while immigrating to the United States from China as a child over 70 years ago. His abstract, massive steel structures, spanning up to 50 feet high and 40 feet wide, complement the bridge in color and form, which will be the backdrop from the viewing at Crissy Field. One piece, Dreamcatcher, will interact with the environment by spinning when catching the prevailing winds at the installation site. Educational programming and interpretive content for visitors are also planned.
The exhibition is part of SFMOMA’s off-site programming as it prepares for its two-and-a-half-year expansion project closure, and is presented in partnership with the National Park Service and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy.
