LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring the Storm King Art Center upon the occa-
sion of its 50th Anniversary

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize mile-
stones in the history of institutions which reflect the strength, vigor,
excellence, and cultural diversity of the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor the
Storm King Art Center, Mountainville, New York, upon the occasion of its
50th Anniversary; and
WHEREAS, The Storm King Art Center is an open air museum which has
extended the concept of a sculpture garden into that of a sculpture
landscape; founded in 1960 by Ralph E. Ogden as a museum for Hudson
Valley painters, with the acquisition of works from the estate of Ameri-
can abstract expressionist sculptor David Smith, it soon expanded into a
major sculpture venue; and
WHEREAS, Widely known as one of the world's outstanding sculpture
parks, the Storm King Art Center is located approximately one hour north
of New York City, in New York's Hudson Valley; and
WHEREAS, The Art Center's permanent collection of monumental works,
dating from 1945 to the present, has been sited in grand outdoor rooms
integrated into a pristine, 500-acre landscape of rolling hills, fields,
and woodlands and includes works by many of the twentieth century's most
influential artists; and
WHEREAS, Its core collection of pieces by modern masters such as Alex-
ander Calder, David Smith, Mark di Suvero, Henry Moore, Richard Serra
and Louise Nevelson is joined with more recent large-scale sculptures by
contemporary sculptors including Magdalena Abakanowicz, Alice Aycock,
Andy Goldsworthy, Alexander Liberman, Maya Lin, Sol LeWitt and Roy
Lichtenstein; and
WHEREAS, Just last year, on May 9, 2009, the Art Center's launch of
"Storm King Wavefield," the largest site-specific earthwork created to
date by acclaimed artist and environmentalist Maya Lin, and its accompa-
nying "Bodies of Water" exhibition, opened to critical acclaim and
attracted more than 75,000 national and international visitors; and
WHEREAS, "Storm King Wavefield" occupies an eleven-acre site which was
a gravel pit until Ms. Lin reclaimed it for the work; the ambitious
"Storm King Wavefield" is comprised of seven rows, each over 300 feet
long, of carefully scaled, undulating hills which give the appearance of
ocean waves; the four-acre work culminates a series of three wavefields
by Ms. Lin and is the newest addition to the sculpture park's distin-
guished permanent collection; and
WHEREAS, Today, Orange County's Storm King Art Center is the leading
outdoor art experience in the world; visitors are encouraged to enjoy
nature as well as art, meander on trails and discover sculptures, trav-
erse the fields to walk among monumental works, or enjoy a picnic relax-
ing in the company of great works of art; and
WHEREAS, The Storm King Art Center has evolved into an art experience
unlike any other; as it proudly celebrates its 50th Anniversary, it
rededicates itself to preserving Storm King as a place where each visit
offers a different personal encounter with art sited in nature; and
WHEREAS, The arts are the building blocks of civilization; they are
central to human expression, enrich our lives, and inspire the imagina-
tion; individuals, organizations and events which further such worthy
purposes richly merit the recognition and appreciation of this Legisla-
tive Body; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
recognize and commend the Storm King Art Center and to commemorate the
celebration of its 50th Anniversary in 2010; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Storm King Art Center, Mountainville, New York.