Jenny Dixon, Director Emeritus, The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum, Writes in Support of "Greenwood Pond: Double Site"
On January 31, 2024, Jenny Dixon wrote the following letter to the Des Moines Art Center (DMAC) Director Kelly Baum concerning plans to demolish Greenwood Pond: Double Site, a site-specific installation by the internationally acclaimed leader of the land art movement, Mary Miss, commissioned for the Art Center’s permanent collection. The work, which opened in 1996, is in a diminished condition with some sections fenced off, suggesting the DMAC has not fulfilled its contractual obligation to “reasonably protect and maintain” the work. The Cultural Landscape Foundation (TCLF) is calling for the DMAC to reverse it demolition decision and, instead, to engage in meaningful consultations with the artist and others to find a solution that restores the artwork and develops a long-term, ongoing maintenance plan.
Dear Ms. Baum;
Please add my name to the clarion call of those who are prevailing upon you to not destroy but to restore Mary Miss's inspired, expansive, environmental artwork, Greenwood Pond: Double Site, commissioned in 1986 for the Des Moines Art Center's permanent collection. An important public artwork by one of the most preeminent public artists of our times, expanding the scope of your collection beyond what is housed in your building. The work is extremely important as a precursor to much that Mary has focused on since. Most recently, her project in Milwaukee, a great emblem of local civic pride affirms such. Work that a new generation of artists, planners, environmentalists and architects are looking to more and more as they consider varied built environments, engaging local communities and where nature must remain a vital focus at the fore. Des Moines should take pride much as Milwaukee has in its great good fortune of having a Mary Miss work. Mary should be seen as a resource to you in your own restoration efforts. There are too few works of Mary Miss's similar in nature to your Greenwood Pond: Double Site. Once restored and in time the work will be sought out increasing visitorship to your Museum and the City of Des Moines. Restoration of the work makes sense economically.
Having served as Director of two museums, as well as NYC's Public Art Fund, I am experienced in the fiscal realities of non-profits and well versed in the realm of challenges. From my perspective, you should work with the Des Moines community and beyond to raise the requisite funds to restore, preserve and maintain Greenwood Pond: Double Site (1989 - 96); turning the restoration of Mary's work into a wonderful opportunity for your museum and City.
Basic to the missions where I served as Director, was first and foremost the staff and board's responsibility 'to serve as stewards of the collection;' as such to conserve, protect and maintain the collection. Destroying Mary Miss's sculpture is antithetical to the foundation on which Museum's around the world have been built. Accordingly, it is your responsibility and that of your board to restore and maintain Greenwood Pond: Double Site. I urge you to do so, to honor your contract with Mary and to involve her in the restoration process.
Sincerely,
Jenny Dixon
Director Emeritus
The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum
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