Light and Vision

In August 2010 the new U.S. Mission to the United Nations (USUN) in New York
City opened. Designed by the late acclaimed architect Charles Gwathmey of
Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architects, the 26-story tower is located directly
across First Avenue from the United Nations Headquarters.

‍
The Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies (FAPE) contributed the
art collection for USUN. Robert Storr, Chairman of FAPE’s Professional Fine Arts
Committee, and Professor of Painting and former Dean of the Yale School of
Art, was the curator. FAPE and Storr worked closely with the State Department
and Gwathmey Siegel to select locations for art, identifying more than 180
spaces throughout 19 floors.

‍
FAPE’s first site-specific contribution to USUN was Wall Drawing #832: A red
spiral line on blue by Sol LeWitt. The work is featured inside the 70-foot-high
rotunda located on the 22nd floor representational space. On this same floor
stands FAPE’s second site-specific commission, a sculpture by Ron Gorchov
entitled Totem. Lynda Benglis also donated a sculpture entitled D’Arrest.
The third site-specific commission is by Odili Donald Odita, who completed two
murals entitled Light and Vision. These works greet visitors in the lobby and on
the second floor before entering the Press Conference Room.

‍
Given the large international presence at this post, FAPE wanted to provide a
collection that represents our country’s diverse culture, including artists born
abroad but who have since become American citizens. This artistic exchange
gave us an opportunity to honor host countries’ artistic traditions, and in doing
so, find points of commonality that transcend politics. For example, works by
Josef Albers (Germany), Shahla Arbabi (Iran), Christo (Bulgaria), Emilia and Ilya
Kabakov (Russia), André Kertész (Hungary), Julian Lethbridge (Sri Lanka), Odili
Donald Odita (Nigeria), and Kiki Smith (Germany), are part of the Collection.

‍