A Stroll in the Park with Henry Moore

The PepsiCo sculpture garden in Purchase will reopen to the public in March, according to a statement by a PepsiCo spokesperson reported in The Journal News. I say “Bravo”!

The collection is one of the most brilliant displays of 20th century sculpture, juxtaposing the individual works against an encyclopedic background of monumental sculpture of our time. That it will be accessible to the public is extraordinary. The Donald Kendall Sculpture Garden is symbolic of the brand in the same way as the PepsiCola sign that can be seen across the East River. The sign achieved landmark status in 2016, making it the first piece of advertising to be designated as such in the city.

We accept the fact that people learn in different ways. We know too that learning is a lifetime pursuit, and that it takes place in many different settings. What is so special about this setting is precisely that it is not a museum… that the monumental sculptures are in the great outdoors… that people can socialize with the works of art on their own terms… that it is unfettered by walls… that it is a fine example of man-made and nature-made works gracefully coexisting… that the light changes with the time of day… that it is accessible to everyone at no charge. It is a demonstration of the democratic nature of public art.

Art in a museum may seem rarified, or even perhaps objectified, simply because it is in a museum. The freedom of sculpture in the environment is awe-inspiring, memorable and life affirming. The Donald Kendall Sculpture Garden was a gift not just to Westchester, but to all of the loyal Pepsi drinkers whose horizons have been widened by a walk in this park. If the PepsiCola sign is a New York landmark, surely this extraordinary site should be a national one.

(photo credit: Erik Anestad / Flickr)