for marian

on view: March 1 – March 31 
Opening reception: Saturday, March 1, 5–8pm

Marian Griffith (1923-2008) was an important and much loved figure in the New York art scene during the years from 1980-1999 when she directed the Sculpture Center in New York at its old site on east 69 Street. She would sit at the front desk of the gallery and greet and chat with all her visitors: artists, tourists, neighborhood characters, the distinguished veteran sculptor and the newcomer alike.  She was an old school curator who created her exhibitions by drawing on the vast and ever growing collection of artists she carried around in her head.  She was intuitive, wise, generous and unpredictable.  She has been sorely missed  

Two simultaneous for Marian exhibitions will be organized this March in her honor. Sculpture Center alumni Mia Westerlund will stage an exhibition of her work at the Humanities Gallery at Long Island University. For the exhibition at FiveMyles six artists who worked with Marian at the Sculpture Center in the beginning of their careers have been asked to nominate six younger artists whose work and spirit they felt would have appealed to Marian. 

Robert Chambers selected Aaron Gilbert
Matt Freedman selected Ceaphas Stubbs  
Donna Dennis selected Hannah Haworth  
Beverly Semmes selected Mira Friedlaender  
Mia Westerlund selected Alex White  
Fred Wilson selected Andrew Wilson   

This exhibition is in part supported by the New York State Council for the Arts, Public Funds from the New York City Dept. of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, the Foundation for Contemporary Arts and the Greenwich Collection. 

DIRECTIONS:

Take 2, 3, or 4 trains to Franklin Avenue. Walk two blocks against the traffic on Franklin. Walk ¾ block to 558 St. Johns Place. FiveMyles is within easy walking distance from the Brooklyn Museum.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

FiveMyles is in part supported by the New York State Council for the Arts, Public Funds from the New York City Dept. of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, Council Member Laurie Cumbo, the Greenwich Collection, The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation, the Lily Auchincloss Foundation, the Shelley and Donald Rubin Foundation, and Humanities NY.