New York, NY ―The Museum of Arts and Design
will unveil two specially commissioned black
diabase benches by Swedish artists Ulla and
Gustav Kraitz. Entitled
Close
Contact, the two benches, a gift
of the Samuel J. and Ethel LeFrak Charitable
Trust, will be unveiled on Tuesday, August 4th
at 3:00pm at the Museum’s front entrance at
2 Columbus Circle. The installation of
these new benches continues the Museum’s
efforts to introduce innovative art
commissions at its recently opened facility.
“With the summer upon us, Ulla and Gustav
Kraitz’s artwork will provide a comfortable
outdoor resting place after our visitors
have enjoyed the Museum,” states Holly
Hotchner, the
Nanette L.
Laitman Museum Director. “The
Museum focuses on contemporary creativity
and craftsmanship and the ways in which
artists and designers from around the world
transform materials. Ulla and Gustav Kraitz
are artists of international acclaim and we
are honored to commission such masters in
their field. Thanks to the generous gift of
Samuel J. and Ethel LeFrak Charitable Trust,
the benches will be a magnificent addition
to the Museum’s outstanding collection.”
"The Museum occupies an important place in
the cultural world as it continues to expand
its collection, “ says Ethel LeFrak. “We
are proud to support the Museum's newest
commission by artists Ulla and Gustav Kraitz.
The Kraitz are true pioneers in their field
and a perfect match with the Museum's
mission which highlights creativity and
craftsmanship, and celebrates the limitless
potential of materials and techniques used
by innovative artists. We trust that for
years to come, visitors to Columbus Circle
and the Museum of Arts and Design will be
able to sit and contemplate the beauty and
excitement of the city we love so much."
Each bench is four feet in length and 17 ¾”
wide and 17 ¾” high. Swedish diabase is a
dense high-quality black stone. Ulla and
Gustav Kraitz created their signature blue
ceramic “eye” design inlaid on the front
side of each bench. A second pair of
benches, a gift by the Marcus Storch family,
will be installed in the fall of 2009.
Other recent Museum’s installations include
a painted trompe l'œil installation by Mary
Temple,
First Week, a special commission
by Benjamin Moore & Co; Ruth Duckworth’s
Untitled,
1991, an abstract ceramic wall
relief installed at the lobby adjacent to
the Museum’s theater; El Anatsui’s
Soleme, a shimmering tapestry
made entirely of foil from cast-off aluminum
bottle tops and Olga de Amaral’s wall
hanging,
Tierra y
Oro #11. Installed
in the Store and the Museum’s foyer are two
crystal chandeliers, Yves Behar’s
Mini Voyage
and Tord Boontje’s
Blossoms,
both originally designed for the Swarovski
Crystal Palace. In the windows of the 3rd
floor stairwells, the Museum showcases its
splendid collection of goblets by makers
including Dale Chihuly, Lino Tagliapietra,
Beth Lipman and others, and on the 2nd
floor stairwell Judith Schaechter’s
Seeing is
Believing, a site-specific
stained-glass installation, is permanently
installed.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Ulla and Gustav Kraitz are one of Sweden's
foremost artists sharing a prolific career
of four decades. Their work has been
exhibited widely throughout the world and
can be seen in museums, parks, and public
settings in Europe and the U.S. Most
notable is their
Hope
Monument to famed humanitarian
Raoul Wallenberg, which is installed in
front of the United Nations Building in New
York City.
ABOUT THE MUSEUM OF ARTS AND DESIGN
The Museum of Arts and Design explores how
craftsmanship, art, and design intersect in
the visual arts today. The Museum focuses on
contemporary creativity and the ways in
which artists and designers from around the
world transform materials through processes
ranging from the handmade to cutting edge
technologies.
The Museum’s exhibition program explores and
illuminates issues and ideas, highlights
creativity and craftsmanship,
and celebrates the limitless potential of
materials and techniques when used by
creative and innovative artists. MAD’s
permanent collection is global in scope and
focuses on art, craft, and design from 1950
to the present day.
At the center of the Museum’s mission is
education. The Museum’s dynamic new facility
features classrooms and studios for master
classes, seminars, and workshops for
students, families and adults. Three open
artist studios engage visitors in the
creative processes of artists at work and
enhance the exhibition programs. Lectures,
films, performances and symposia related to
the Museum’s collection and topical subjects
affecting the world of contemporary art,
craft and design are held in a renovated
150-seat auditorium.