Ground Level
Organised by the International Program of the Museum of Modern Art, New York, under the auspices of the International Council and exhibited in Australia with the assistance of the Visual Arts Board, this exhibition is the largest collection of contemporary American art to be seen in Australia since Two Decades of American Painting, which so sensationally opened our eyes to the contemporary art of the United States in 1967. During the intervening period, great changes have taken place in art and the work shown in that exhibition which to some looked so extreme, today may seem by comparison familiar and accessible. This show brings us some features of present-day art in America and it seems likely that it will produce an impact no less powerful and critical reactions no less diverse than Two Decades did six years ago.
The showing in Melbourne inaugurates an extended tour. Over the next twelve months, the exhibition will be shown in Perth, Sydney and Adelaide, passing then to New Zealand before returning to New York. The exhibition was selected by Ms Jennifer Licht, Associate Curator at the Museum of Modern Art, New York. Our special thanks are due to her for this and for preparation of the catalogue material. We are deeply indebted to the many artists, collectors and dealers who graciously permitted their works to be away for a year.
We are grateful to The International Council of the Museum of Modern Art for enabling the International Program to carry out this project, and we are indebted to the staff of the Program (particularly to its Director, Mr. Waldo Rasmussen and his two assistants Mr. John Stringer and Ms Barbara London for their handling of the protracted and difficult negotiations which always attend the putting together of such large and important collections and which in this case had quite unusual obstacles to surmount. Recognising the value to Australian art of first-hand contact with the work of the foremost American artists, the Visual Arts Board has generously provided financial assistance to the galleries for this exhibition.
Graeme Sturgeon, Peter Cripps and David Sampietro of the National Gallery of Victoria deserve special commendation for their indefatigable work on the organisation of the exhibition at this end and the production of the catalogue.
Gordon Thomson
Director, National Gallery of Victoria
Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane
Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide
31 May – 30 Jun 74
Auckland City Art Gallery, Auckland