In response to Jerzy Kędziora’s firm belief that art must be accessible, the panel discussion will examine contemporary figurative sculpture and its role in connection to public space within the art historical narrative, specifically centering around the current exhibit of the artist’s works at Old Westbury Gardens. The artist will elaborate on the intricacies and challenges of the process from concept to creation of his sculptures. Art historical discursive insight will be addressed by the Sculpture Center curator, Sohrab Mohebbi, the recipient of the 2012 Creative Capital | Warhol Foundation Arts Writers Program for the blog presencedocuments. The role and meaning of public art in NYC Parks and public spaces will be discussed by the Deputy Director of Art & Antiquities at NYC Parks, Jennifer Lantzas. The panel will be moderated by an independent curator of modern and contemporary art, Marie-Ève Lafontaine, Managing Director of Arsenal Contemporary NY. Before and after the picnic luncheon and panel, visitors are invited to join for exhibition tours led by the docents of the Old Westbury Gardens Programs.

Perched high above the ground and between trees, Kędziora’s fantastical life-sized sculptures are unique for their ability to remain balanced in mid-air despite being attached at only one or two points. These captivating objects playfully mask the technique’s serious origins. The show features works from a dozen or so years, including Kędziora’s world-acclaimed series of gravity-defying sculptures.

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Panelists:

* Shorab Mohebbi - Writer and Curator at the Sculpture Center NY

* Jennifer Lantzas - Deputy Director of Art & Antiquities at NYC Parks

* Marie-Ève Lafontaine - Managing Director of Arsenal Contemporary NY

* Paul Hunchak - Director of Exhibits and Programs at Old Westbury Gardens

* Izabela Gola - Curator of Visual Art and Design Programming at the Polish Cultural Institute NY

* and Jerzy Kędziora

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PROGRAM

1:00pm — Picnic luncheon begins

1:30pm— I Docent-led tour of the exhibit Balance in Nature! Sculptures by Jerzy Jotka Kędziora at the Old Westbury Gardens Programs and Exhibits Director. Approximately 1-hour. 

2:00pm— II Docent-led tour of the exhibit 

3:00pm- 4:00—Panel Discussion “Art must get out of museums and reach the people” followed by Q&A, moderated by Marie-Ève Lafontaine

4:30 pm—III docent-led tour of the exhibit

Registration includes admission to Old Westbury Gardens and meal.

 

Organizators:

Old Westbury Gardens and the Polish Cultural Institute NY in associacion with the Art&Balance Foundation

 

More information on www.oldwestburygardens.org and www.polishculture-nyc.org