David Smith

Stargazing

By wilso952 October 8, 2011
Processing

As I walked along the wood floors of the recently re-opened Weisman Art Museum, my pace quickened (though still within an appropriate pace for an art gallery) as I directed my strides towards the new Woodhouse Family Gallery. This gallery features WAM’s collection of contemporary American artwork and includes works of the artists Marsden Hartley, B.J.O. Nordfeldt, Alfred Maurer and Georgia O’Keeffe, to name a few.

While each of these artists deserves an appreciation (and a blog post), my sense of eagerness and hurried pace to this gallery was for one reason, and one reason only: Star Cage.

In processing the WAM archival collection over the past 8 months, we have uncovered many records detailing the exhibition of David Smith’s sculpture, “Star Cage.” Though the records have served to build intrigue amongst the processors, “Star Cage” itself has remained illusive and distant (as represented in this undated photo of the gallery spaces in Northrop Auditorium):

As the piece has become a popular representation of Smith’s work, it is frequently loaned to other museums, and not until recently, for the occasion of the re-opening of WAM, was it returned to Minneapolis to be displayed in the museum. The sculpture was the first piece to be acquired for the University Gallery’s John Rood Sculpture Collection, (established by the long-time University art department faculty member and sculptor for which it is named).

See what we have uncovered about “Star Cage” over the past several months, and hurry over to WAM’s new galleries to join me in some stargazing…

A previous blog post details the folder titled, “Minneapolis Sculpture,” which includes a newspaper clipping with a photograph of the sculpture next to Joan Mondale at the Vice President’s Residence in Washington D.C., where the work was exhibited in 1977.

Yet another post details a photo contact sheet found of the work in a 1959 exhibition of Japanese prints.

Box 3 contains a contact sheet, likely of promotional photos taken of the gallery, with “Star Cage” prominently featured alongside gallery curator, Betty Maurstad.

The Gallery Goes to Washington

By wilso952 May 4, 2011
University Gallery

When not in the sub-basement of Andersen Library processing the WAM files, my whereabouts on campus are often confined to an area just to the south of the library, to encompass Heller Hall, Wilson Library, and the Hubert H. Humphrey Center.

The Humphrey Center is often host to many events and activities that include the attendance of political leaders, and my proximity to this building is the reason for my one and only brush with political “celebrity.” As I leaned back from taking a refreshing sip of water from a Humphrey drinking fountain, my eyes focused upon a tall gray-haired man, in a smartly tailored suit, that was walking towards me down the hallway: Former U.S. Vice President, Walter Mondale.

I thought of that moment recently when I came across the folder titled, “Minneapolis Sculpture” in the Archives. The folder contained a photocopy of an article from the Los Angeles Times, profiling Mondale’s wife, Joan Mondale, and her transformation of Number One Observatory Circle, the official residence of the Vice President, into a setting for the display of American art.

According to the article, through her MN art connections (she previously worked at the MIA), it was arranged for the loan of prominent American artworks from museums across the country to be “exhibited” at the residence throughout the time that Mondale served as Vice President. The accompanying photograph with the article contained a familiar object – a piece from the University Gallery’s collection, David Smith’s, “Star Cage.”

Behind the article copy was found a loose-leaf sheet of paper containing handwritten instructions (with diagram) on how the sculpture was to be mounted to a stand for display. The constructed mount appears slightly more secure compared to how it was once displayed alongside its creator David Smith, as well as to how it was mounted while Smith was creating it.

In recalling “star” sightings and learning more about the Mondale’s and the history of the official residence of the Vice President, I can’t help but think that the sculpture, “Star Cage” was an apt fit for temporary display at Number One Observatory Circle.

The residence, once the home to the Chief of Naval Operations, is located on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Observatory – where astronomers were measuring the location of the stars in 1977, and continue to do so to this day.

David Smith

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