Storm King Art Center
The Storm King Art Center in Mountainville, New York[1] is an open air museum which has extended the concept of a "sculpture garden" to become a "sculpture landscape." Founded in 1960 by Ralph E. Ogden as a museum for Hudson Valley painters it soon expanded into a major sculpture venue with the acquisition of works from the estate of David Smith [2].
Collection
A permanent collection of monumental works has been sited in grand outdoor "rooms". There is a core collection of pieces by modern masters such as Alexander Calder [3], David Smith [4], Mark di Suvero [5], Henry Moore [6], Richard Serra [7], and Louise Nevelson [8].
These are joined with more recent large-scale sculptures by contemporary sculptors including Magdalena Abakanowicz [9], Alice Aycock [10], Andy Goldsworthy [11], Alexander Liberman [12], Maya Lin,Sol Lewitt, and Roy Lichtenstein [13].
The grounds
The development of the Storm King landscape [14] has been the work of more than 40 years. Vistas of distant mountains contrast with fields of waving native grasses and woodlands. The sculptures are selected and sited to contribute to the overall impact.
A 1935 residence [15] designed after a Norman chateau has been converted to use as the Museum Building. In addition to nine galleries it houses a museum shop and offices.
A picnic area encourages visitors to spend time relaxing in the company of great works of art.