The reason I was at the museum on this beautiful Fall day was to take advantage of an outdoor meditation class. There were two leaders, one to talk about the piece of art and the other to lead us in thoughtful meditation. What a perfect combination of beauty and introspection. Here is a description of the sculpture, a unique piece created especially for this site:
The grounds of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts will undergo a bold transformation with the April 2017 installation of Chloe, a 24-foot tall newly commissioned sculpture, which will be visible from both the Boulevard and Grove Avenue in Richmond.
Chloe continues a long series of sculptural heads by world-renowed Spanish artist Jaume Plensa (born 1955) that feature young girls, with closed eyes, whose dream-like qualities transform their surroundings. VMFA commissioned Chloe—composed of polyester resin, marble dust, and a stainless-steel infrastructure—with endowed funds as part of its five-year strategic plan initiative to add new site-specific pieces to the E. Claiborne and Lora Robins Sculpture Garden. The sculpture will be installed in the garden, adjacent to the James W. and Frances G. McGlothlin Wing, during the week of April 10.
“In today’s increasingly cynical culture, Jaume Plensa operates from a deeply held belief in shared human values,” said Alex Nyerges, VMFA Director. “When you view Chloe, you will find a sense of calm and contemplation from any angle of this remarkable sculpture. This is an iconic work that defines the level of ambition we will seek in future commissions. We already are in discussions with another acclaimed sculptor for the next site-specific work, and we will continue to seek out leading national and international artists who will draw on their unique skills to create pieces that reflect our strategic vision for our outdoor collection
Although this piece is similar to Plensa’s Echo at the Seattle Art Museum and Laura at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo, N.Y., Chloe is the first of these heads to be cast in one piece on such a large scale. While those previous works feature visible seams where separately cast pieces were stacked on each other, Chloe will arrive with a smooth, unbroken surface.
In creating Chloe specifically for the VMFA grounds, Plensa also distorted her profile by compressing its depth. As a result, viewers will experience unexpected shifts in perspectives as they move around the sculpture, and the marble dust coating the surface will reflect light—adding a glittering, otherworldly dimension.
“Beauty is the big connection with all things and with all people, the vast place which contains all our memories. Something we carry anchored in us, an emotion,” said Plensa, when asked about Chloe and its impact on future visitors to VMFA’s sculpture garden.
“A sculpture of this magnitude in this outdoor venue offers yet another way for our visitors to engage with contemporary art,” said Dr. Michael Taylor, Chief Curator and Deputy Director for Art and Education at VMFA. “We were honored to work with Jaume in commissioning Chloe, which we know will become a popular and iconic addition to our sculpture garden.”
Read more at
https://www.vmfa.museum/pressroom/news/vmfa-install-chloe-robins-sculpture-garden/#WY2M8Kmyu0qYYfBv.99
