Before Tending, (Blue) and Walking to the Sky moved into 2001 Flora Street, the city block now occupied by the Nasher Sculpture Center was covered by an untended surface lot. Fast forward five years, and what the New York Times predicted in 2003—that the Nasher would become “a premier destination for the viewing of modern and contemporary sculpture”—has come true. To mark the occasion, the Nasher presents “In Pursuit of the Masters: Stories from the Raymond and Patsy Nasher Collection,” an exhibit characterized as much by its sentimental value as its artistic significance. “The point of the exhibition was to show the personal side of the collection,” says Jed Morse, the Nasher Sculpture Center’s acting chief curator. “What makes these incredible works of art more impressive is the stories behind them.” The exhibit also marks the first wholesale re-installation of the galleries since the sculpture center opened, and the garden sports a few changes, too, such as the addition of the Mark di Suvero piece For W.B. Yeats. Though much of the Nashers’ personal history was already documented in archival interviews, video footage, and correspondence, Morse and his team spoke with numerous artists and art dealers to complete the portrait of the couple in the years they were amassing their collection. “The thing that struck them about the Nashers,” Morse says, “was how much they clearly loved the art and how warm and inviting they were.”
“In Pursuit of the Masters: Stories from the Raymond and Patsy Nasher Collection” runs through Jan 4. There is a public five-year anniversary celebration on October 18, 11 am–5 pm. Admission is free. Visit nashersculpturecenter.org for more events.
