-
ABOUT
-
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
In Empire, her first public art commission in the United States, Irish artist Eva Rothschild (b. Dublin, 1971) has created a monumental, multidirectional archway. Responding to the site, a point of transition between city and park, Rothschild has taken inspiration from the naturally arching canopy formed by Central Park’s mature trees. The linear structure takes root at ten points on the plaza, touching down lightly as its branching form rises above us.
Empire creates a physical tension between its imposing volume and its spidery, intersecting elements, which are further broken up by irregular bands of color. With its pulsing visual energy, the sculpture suggests multiple images — perhaps the tail of a broomstick or a bolt of lightning. We are free to make our own associations. Rothschild’s chosen title, Empire, resonates with the location of her new work: the heart of the “Empire State.” At the same time, we might consider the sculpture as a playful counterpoint to the architectural tradition of the monumental arch, a structure often used historically to represent the triumph of an imperial power.
Nicholas Baume Director & Chief Curator -
INSTALLATION IMAGES
-
VIDEO
- PRESS RELEASE
-
SPONSORS
Major support provided by Tod Williams & Billie Tsien and an anonymous donor.
Additional funding provided by Stuart Shave/Modern Art, London; The Modern Institute, Glasgow;
303 Gallery, New York; Galerie Eva Presenhuber, Zurich; and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Supported by the British Council.
Made possible through the partnership of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg; First Deputy Mayor Patricia E. Harris; Parks and Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe; Cultural Affairs Commissioner Kate D. Levin; and the Central Park Conservancy. -
ABOUT PUBLIC ART FUND
Public Art Fund is New York's leading presenter of artists' projects, new commissions, and exhibitions in public spaces. For over 30 years the Public Art Fund has been committed to working with emerging and established artists to produce innovative exhibitions of contemporary art throughout New York City. By bringing artworks outside the traditional context of museums and galleries, the Public Art Fund provides a unique platform for an unparalleled public encounter with the art of our time.
For more information about Public Art Fund, please visit www.publicartfund.org.
-
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
-
THE ARTIST
Eva Rothschild (b. Dublin, 1971), has earned a reputation as one of Great Britain’s leading sculptors. Her compelling geometric and irregular constructions employ a diverse range of materials such as metal, glass, leather, Perspex, and mosaic. Highlights of her extensive exhibition history include Cold Corners, Tate Britain Duveens Commission, Tate Britain, London (solo show, 2009); South London Gallery, London (solo show, 2007); Kunsthalle Zurich, Zurich (solo show, 2004), and Un-Monumental: Falling to Pieces in the 21st Century, The New Museum, New York (group show, 2007). In spring 2011, Eva Rothschild’s solo exhibition will inaugurate the United Kingdom’s newly opened museum The Hepworth Wakefield. Her work is included in the collections of Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh; Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin; and Tate, London. Rothschild lives and works in London.
Download the artist’s CV
- GUIDE BY CELL
-
SMARTPHONE APP
Download the FREE Public Art Fund app from iTunes today and access exclusive information about Eva Rothschild’s Empire and other Public Art Fund projects.
-
DIRECTIONS AND INFORMATION
March 1 – September 10, 2011 at Doris C. Freedman Plaza, Central Park, New York City
Doris C. Freedman Plaza is located at the southeast entrance to Central Park
at the corner of 5th Avenue and 60th Street.
Subways: N, R, Q to Fifth Avenue; 4, 5, 6 to 59th Street/Lexington Avenue
View Larger Map Eva Rothschild’s Empire is free and open to the public.
-
NEARBY POINTS OF INTEREST
Doris C. Freedman Plaza is conveniently located near other points of interest, including:
• Central Park Zoo: 5th Avenue and East 64th Street
• Wollman Ice Skating Rink: 830 5th Avenue
• Central Park Carousel: 65th Street Transverse
• Rumsey Playfield: 5th Ave East 69th Street
• The Frick Collection: 1 East 70th Street
• The Plaza Hotel: 5th Avenue at Central Park South
• Museum of Arts & Design: 2 Columbus Circle
• Carnegie Hall: 881 7th Avenue
• St Patrick’s Cathedral: 14 East 51st Street
• Rockefeller Center: 50th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues
View Larger Map Eva Rothschild’s Empire is free and open to the public.
