Artist Mary Miss: Bringing attention to land through art
From Staff Reports
Following the recent restoration of her land art piece at Governors State University’s (GovState) Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park (theNate), Mary Miss will be the artist of the hour at the next Curatorial Conversation.
At the May 15 conversation, Jeff Stevenson, Director and Curator of theNate and Visual Arts Gallery, will be in conversation with Miss, the artist of “Field Rotation,” the large land sculpture located just off GovState’s East Lot 1 that can be fully appreciated only by viewing from the air.
Miss’ “Field Rotation” draws from diverse art historical references while remaining original. At its center, there’s a mound surrounded by a sunken gravel garden, tiered platforms, and moats that can temporarily fill with rainwater.
“There are several pieces in theNate collection that maintain their message over time and ‘Field Rotation’ is one of them,” said Stevenson. “Because Mary Miss is calling our attention to the land and our place in it, the land art masterwork has become more relevant.”
The piece features contrasting elements as seen through the steel ladders providing access and two steel towers that offset the wooden structure. Outside, 125 wooden poles radiate in pinwheel fashion, their uniform elevation emphasizing the Midwestern landscape’s gentle slope.
“In 2024, theNate proudly completed the extensive conservation and restoration of ‘Field Rotation,’ ensuring it is presented as the artist originally intended,” said Stevenson. “That same year, the announced destruction of Miss’ ‘Greenwood Pond Double Site’ in Des Moines due to lack of funding marked the unfortunate loss of a significant land art masterwork by this pioneering woman artist.”
Stevenson emphasized the importance of fundraising.
“Our fundraising goals this coming year will help ensure that all the treasures at theNate are maintained properly, while we also provide our educational programs and a free public resource for outdoor adventures.”
Miss’ Field Rotation will be a focal point at “Sculpture Wine & Dine: The Prairie Party” on Saturday, September 13 where guests will see the piece in all its glory - and meet the artist!
Known for redefining public art since the 1970s, Miss makes environmental and social sustainability tangible, often through collaborative projects. Her site-specific work spans landscape architecture, urban design, and graphic communication, emphasizing history, ecology, and overlooked environmental aspects.
Some of Miss' other notable projects include a Ground Zero memorial, flood markers in Boulder, and revealing Union Square's subway history. In 2009, she founded “City as Living Laboratory” to engage the public in sustainability.
Miss is a Guggenheim Fellow and Rome Prize recipient and has received multiple honors, including the 2023 Arts and Letters Award and grants from NEA and NSF.
The Curatorial Conversation will be held on Thursday, May 15 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. at 21c Museum Hotel, 55 E. Ontario St., Chicago, Illinois 60611. At the free event, guests can expect a wine reception and talk, with remarks at 6:30 p.m. For more details and to RSVP, click here.