Hudson Valley, New York, USA
Architect: Miguel Quismondo
Proinller Activity: Large-format carpentry enclosure by Reynaers. Low Iron Glass
Work Completion Date: 2016
Opening: 2017
Coming soon in this year 2017, the Magazzino Italian Art Museum will be inaugurated in the Hudson Valley, owned by Olnick – Spanu.
Every year, Nancy Olnick and Giorgio Spanu commission a contemporary Italian artist to create a specific artwork for their property in Garrison, New York. 2015 marks the tenth anniversary of the Olnick Spanu Art Program. The OSAP is a way in which the couple honors their commitment to bringing the work of Italian artists to the United States.
Each summer, an artist is invited to the Olnick Spanu country house, the Olnick Spanu House, a glass and concrete house designed by Spanish architect Alberto Campo Baeza. The artist is encouraged to explore the grounds, which consist of rich landscapes, natural forests, expansive gardens, a working farm, and panoramic views overlooking the Hudson River.
In this unique environment, located in the same region that houses the rich tradition initiated by the Hudson River School of Painting in the mid-19th century, a project is conceived. The artist shares their concepts with Nancy and Giorgio and then returns to Italy to create and complete the work. In the following June, the artwork is installed and unveiled to the art community during a celebration in late September.
Inspired by the spirit of each artwork is the influence of Arte Povera, the most radical avant-garde movement that emerged in Europe in the 1960s. Distinctly Italian, Arte Povera, which means “poor art” or “impoverished art,” originally distinguished itself by using common materials such as earth, rocks, clothing, paper, and rope to evoke a pre-industrial era. Therefore, the installations are both sculptural and conceptual, evoking their locality as well as the past and memory.
Looking towards the next ten years, the Olnick Spanu Art Program will continue to cultivate and expand this new Italian art haven nestled in the Hudson Valley.
Vía: Olnick Spanu