For Immediate Release
Contact: Amy Day
Tel: 515.271.0344 (o)
515.612.0775 (m)
aday@desmoinesartcenter.org

DES MOINES, IA (January 2024) – Public art commissions are partnerships, and their success requires constant review and dialogue between each stakeholder—in the case of “Greenwood Pond: Double Site,” an outdoor environment erected in Greenwood Park, Des Moines, Iowa, between 1989 and 1996, these stakeholders include, primarily, the Art Center, the artist Mary Miss, and the City and citizens of Des Moines. The Art Center takes its responsibilities to its partners very seriously, and in the last several months, it has been engaged in frequent conversations with Mary Miss and the City – building on many years of dialogue.

Regrettably, for a variety of well-researched and long-documented reasons—principally those concerning structural integrity and public safety, all related to the original choice of materials, their proximity to and/or immersion in water, and their exposure to the harsh Iowa weather—the Art Center finds it necessary to deinstall “Greenwood Pond: Double Site” from Greenwood Park.

The Art Center has devoted considerable resources to “Greenwood Pond: Double Site” over many years, from the original commission to the present day, and it regrets very much that this outdoor environment has deteriorated to the point where multiple elements are unsafe to remain open to the public and are no longer salvageable. We appreciate that this is very difficult for Mary Miss, and we are committed to doing all that we can to honor both her legacy and the legacy of the remarkable “Greenwood Pond: Double Site.”

For more information, contact Director of External Affairs Amy Day at 515-271-0344 or aday@desmoinesartcenter.org.

About the Des Moines Art Center
The Des Moines Art Center is a vibrant, AAM-accredited institution located in the capital city of Iowa that welcomes over 270,000 visitors annually from across the country and around the globe. Its historic campus consists of three buildings designed by major architects of the 20th century—Eliel Saarinen, I. M. Pei, and Richard Meier—incorporated into the natural landscape of Greenwood Park. The Art Center is home to one of the strongest collections of 20th and 21st century art in the region, and it hosts a series of ground-breaking exhibitions and lectures each year featuring artists known regionally, nationally, and internationally. The experimental spirit of the art for which the Art Center cares for is reflected in its creative offerings, including a celebrated education program that prioritizes access and collaboration, an art school with studio classes for all ages, and the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park, situated on 4.4 acres in downtown Des Moines. The Art Center is committed to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion, which are incorporated into every facet of its mission and identity. 

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