How do you properly celebrate 10 years of dynamic, inventive and awe-inspiring sculpture? More sculptures! That's the logic behind Nasher Xchange, an exhibition marking a decade of beauty courtesy of the iconic Texas museum, the Nasher Sculpture Center.
Ruben Ochoa’s Nasher XChange commission, Flock in Space (detail), at the Trinity River Audubon Center.
Photo by Allison V. Smith for the Nasher Sculpture Center.
In honor of the big birthday, the Nasher has commissioned 10 contemporary artists including Alfredo Jaar, Charles Long, and Liz Larner to create site-specific sculptures inside and around Dallas. This groundbreaking exhibition is the first citywide, museum-organized public art exhibition in the United States, expanding on the institution's original goal to increase art's accessibility for all.
"Nasher XChange is a show about public art," said director Jeremy Strick, "surveying the radically different approaches artists art taking to public work, but it’s also a show about Dallas. Each site chosen is important and distinctive, and each says something different about the past, present –- and future –- of this city."
From metallic tumbleweeds to neon rainbow bridges, the following sculptures show the magic that's possible when art of such massive scale is introduced into the landscape it was intended for.
Ruben Ochoa’s Nasher XChange commission, Flock in Space (detail), at the Trinity River Audubon Center. Photo by Allison V. Smith for the Nasher Sculpture Center.
Ugo Rondinone’s Nasher XChange commission, dear sunset (detail), at Fish Trap Lake. Photo by Allison V. Smith for the Nasher Sculpture Center
Lara Almarcegui’s Nasher XChange commission, Buried House, in the Oak Cliff Gardens neighborhood. Photo by Allison V. Smith for the Nasher Sculpture Center
Detail of Good/Bad Art Collective’s Nasher XChange commission, CURTAINS, in progress at Bryan Tower. Photo by Allison V. Smith for the Nasher Sculpture Center
Rachel Harrison’s Nasher XChange commission, Moore to the point, City Hall Plaza. Photo by Allison V. Smith for the Nasher Sculpture Center
Alfredo Jaar’s Nasher XChange commission, Music (Everything I know I learned the day my son was born), on view at Nasher Sculpture Center. Photo by Allison V. Smith for the Nasher Sculpture Center
Alfredo Jaar’s Nasher XChange commission, Music (Everything I know I learned the day my son was born), on view at Nasher Sculpture Center. Photo by Allison V. Smith for the Nasher Sculpture Center
Liz Larner’s Nasher XChange commission, X, at the Edith O’Donnell Arts and Technology Building, University of Texas at Dallas. Photo by Allison V. Smith for the Nasher Sculpture Center
Vicki Meek’s Nasher XChange commission, Black & Blue: Cultural Oasis in the Hills (detail), at Paul Quinn College. Photo by Allison V. Smith for the Nasher Sculpture Center
The exhibiiton runs until February 16, 2014. Download the Nasher XChange app to help locate all the stunning sites.