The late Patsy and Ray Nasher were legendary lovers of modern sculpture. They were also the parents of three daughters — Andrea Nasher, Joanie Nasher and Nancy Nasher. It was only right that the daughters were front and center on Tuesday for an announcement that would have made their parents oh-so proud.
For this momentous announcement in the Nasher Sculpture Center’s auditorium, it was an SRO crowd of boldfacers and art lovers like Ruth Altshuler, Gail Thomas, Linda Marcus, Veletta Lill, Brent Christopher, Mary Jalonick, Mary McDermott, Pat Porter and the “sticks” from the local TV stations.
Just before the press conference commenced, Margaret McDermott was wheeled up to the front row. Now the stage was complete.
Leading off with a video, the appearance and voice of Ray on the screen was poignant. Then Nancy eloquently welcomed the crowd, followed by Mayor Mike Rawlings and Nasher Sculpture Center Director Jeremy Strick, who announced the big plans to celebrate the Nasher Sculpture Center’s 10th anniversary — the creation of Nasher XChange.
What is Nasher XChange? It will be “a dynamic art exhibition consisting of 10 newly commissioned public sculptures by contemporary artists at sites throughout the city of Dallas from October 19, 2013, to February 16, 2014. Covering a diverse range of sites and approaches to sculpture, Nash XChange represents the first citywide, museum-organized public art exhibition in the United States.”
Then a video was shown of the 10 artists — Lara Almarcegui, Good/Bad Art Collective, Rachel Harrison, Alfredo Jaar, Liz Larner, Charles Long, Rick Lowe, Vicki Meek, Ruben Ochoa and Ugo Rondinone.
To undertake such a mammoth project will require a hefty amount of funding. That challenge has already begun with Nasher XChange receiving “an historic amount” of gifts and pledges for the project from local foundations — “Communities Foundation of Texas, the Eugene McDermott Foundation and a major leading gift from the Hoblitzelle Foundation, which is the largest single grant the Nasher Sculpture Center has received.” The Nasher Foundation will continue to “provide important guidance and financial support to commemorate this milestone anni
versary for the Center.”
Jeremy also reported that the Nasher Sculpture Center “plans scholarly publications, conferences and educational programs for the public, as well as a free public celebration for the 10th anniversary on October 20 entitled ‘10+’.”
As the guests went upstairs to celebrate and discuss the plans in the Nasher Cafe and Nasher staffers were interviewed by the media, the three daughters were easy to spot. They were the ones with the biggest smiles, knowing that they were not just carrying on their parents’ legacy. They were expanding it to an even larger degree for the good of Dallas.