Storm King Art Center today announced the acquisition of The Pietrarubbia Group: il fondamento, l’uso, il rapporto (1975–76), a major large-scale work by Italian sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro. The sculpture is a gift of long- time Storm King supporter Herbert Kayden, M.D., offered in memory of his late wife, Gabrielle Reem, M.D. Installation of the work, including landscaping of the surrounding area, will take place over the next few weeks.
Storm King President John P. Stern states, “In making this generous and meaningful gift, Herb Kayden has not only added a significant outdoor sculpture by Arnaldo Pomodoro to Storm King’s collection, but also enhanced the collection’s representation of international sculpture. The Pietrarubbia Group was exhibited at Storm King shortly after it was created, and we are thrilled that it has returned to be viewed by our visitors for years to come.”
On the occasion of the gift of the imposing sculpture to Storm King, Mr. Pomodoro stated, “The Pietrarubbia Group has a strong emotional significance for me, as it is connected and dedicated to my birthplace and in particular to the small village of Pietrarubbia, in the Montefeltro region.”
The Pietrarubbia Group
Pomodoro has described The Pietrarubbia Group as “a vision of an archaic settlement.” With its visual references to ancient burial traditions and hieroglyphics, the work commemorates the history and crumbling beauty of the nearly abandoned village for which it is named.
The Pietrarubbia Group comprises a patio upon which stand two grand, slab-like bronze doors that visitors can move, providing access to the work’s interior. Expansive areas of the doors and the wall beyond them are incised with patterns that resemble ancient signs or writing, giving symbolic voice to the forgotten society that once occupied Pietrarubbia. A somber line from a poem by Eugenio Montale, Lo sai: debbo riperderti e non passo (“You know: I must lose you again, and I cannot”) is inscribed on the reverse side of one of the doors.
The Pietrarubbia Group is being installed on Storm King’s Museum Hill, where it was exhibited in 1977. Storm King is grateful to Mary and James Ottaway, Jr., for their generous support for the installation.
Storm King Art Center
Located in the Hudson Valley about an hour north of the George Washington Bridge, Storm King—one of the world’s most distinguished and best-loved sculpture parks—encompasses over 500 acres of rolling hills, fields, and woodlands. These provide space for more than 100 large-scale sculptures by some of the preeminent artists of our time, including Alexander Calder, Mark di Suvero, Andy Goldsworthy, Maya Lin, Louise Nevelson, Isamu Noguchi, Richard Serra, David Smith, Ursula von Rydingsvard, and Zhang Huan, among others.
The Storm King collection is regularly complemented by temporary installations and exhibitions, both outdoors and in the Museum Building, and by a rich roster of public programs. These include guided walks through the landscape and art, docent-led tours of the collection, lectures, and concerts, most of which are free with admission. This year, a special exhibition in New York City, Mark di Suvero at Governors Island: Presented by Storm King Art Center, is on view on weekends and holiday Mondays through September 25.
Image: Arnaldo Pomodoro, The Pietrarubbia Group: if fondamento, l’uso, il rapporto (1975–76). Photo: Jerry L. Thompson
Storm King is open for its 2011 season through November 13: Wednesday through Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:30 pm (open until 8:00 pm on Saturdays through September 3; until 5:00 pm daily, November 4–13). Storm King is closed Mondays and Tuesdays, except for the Monday holidays marking Labor Day and Columbus Day. The Storm King Café serves seasonal fare, and picnicking is permitted in designated areas. Bicycles are available for rent on a first-come, first-served basis. Public transportation is provided by Coach USA from Port Authority Bus Terminal. For more information and to plan a visit, the public may log on to www.stormking.org