The John Little Society is pleased to announce an
installation of outdoor sculpture by artist William King at the historic Duck
Creek Farm in Springs, East Hampton, opening Sunday June 29, and on view
through August 4, 2014. A reception for the artist will be held on Sunday June
29, from 4-8pm (parking adjacent on Squaw Road).
A major figure in contemporary
American sculpture, Bill King has been a consistent presence in both the New York
and East End arts communities for over six decades. A true vanguard, King
bucked the trend of abstract expressionism, creating figurative works that for
generations have been embraced for their unique humor and energy. In 1973, New
York Times art critic Peter Schjeldahl stated, “King’s sculpture is formally
inventive and sophisticated, and his semi-abstract representations of the human
figure obviously distill a lifetime of exceedingly fine observation. Central to
his comedy is the revelation of human emotions in a social context.” The April
2014 issue of Artforum contained a review of King’s most recent exhibition in
which Barry Schwabsky claims, “Sixty years after William King’s first New York
gallery show, his art looks as fresh as ever.”
William King at
Duck Creek Farm will consist of several large-scale outdoor aluminum sculptures
playfully arranged throughout this pastoral site. Each of King’s works is
elegantly choreographed and engineered, their economical compositions
transforming simple geometry into delicate human gesture. The captivating
scale, good humor, and humanity in King’s open-air sculpture embody the spirit
of public art, engaging our community’s sense of place and rich cultural
history.
About Duck Creek Farm and The John Little Barn
Founded in 1795, the historic
Duck Creek Farm was originally owned and operated by three generations of the
Edwards family, until 1902 when the property was broken up. The core of their
farm holdings consisted of 130 acres along the eastern shoreline of Three Mile
Harbor.
In 1948 artist John Little purchased a 7-½
acre parcel of this property, to which he moved a late 19th century
barn that he had acquired from the Gardiner Family. Little used the barn as a
studio, and converted a section into an apartment where many illustrious
artists of that period spent their summers, including Robert Motherwell and
Franz Kline. Duck Creek Farm is a significant historical landmark that played
an important role for the colony of East Hampton artists from the 1950’s and
1960’s.
In 2006, the Town of East Hampton purchased this splendid historical property
with monies from the Community Preservation Fund.
This
exhibition was organized by art consultant Jess Frost, in collaboration with
The John Little Society.
To support this and future programming at Duck Creek
Farm, please make checks payable to the
“Town of East Hampton” with “Duck Creek Art Exhibit” noted in memo. Mail
to: East Hampton Town, 159 Pantigo Rd, East Hampton, NY 11937.
