Flying over the Hudson River en route to Massachusetts in 1997, Michael Govan, director of Dia:Beacon, spied a neglected Nabisco box factory in Beacon and envisioned a modern art museum in the old industrial site. Seizing this opportunity, he coordinated resources and partners to open Dia:Beacon to rave reviews in May 2003. Communications Associate Chris Davis Cina spoke with Mr. Govan at the new facility this spring.
SO, WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO LOCATE IN BEACON?
If you think about great qualities that are desirable in any community, other than having great people, they are things like natural environment, landscape, cultural amenities and educational opportunities - a lot of that is happening in Beacon and in the Hudson Valley. When we first came here it took time to understand the lay of the land, not only of the valley but also of those who worked so hard, like Scenic Hudson, to realize its potential. Scenic Hudson's presence in Beacon has enhanced our potential here.
ARE THERE SYNERGIES BETWEEN DIA:BEACON AND SCENIC HUDSON'S NEIGHBORING BEACON LANDING PROJECT?
Scenic Hudson and Dia:Beacon jointly commissioned George Trakas, with the city's help, to design a master plan for the waterfront, to incorporate the city park, train station, Scenic Hudson property, Dia:Beacon and Dennings Point State Park. We got the feeling from our first moment in Beacon that we could work together and make this waterfront one of THE destinations along the Hudson - a combination of nature, culture, maybe some food and a little recreation, all easily accessible by train.
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DO YOU PLAN TO COLLABORATE IN THE FUTURE?
The future is to realize the Trakas project jointly, bringing the public to the water, to look back at the landscape from that vantage point. Many artists that Dia works with are interested in this location as well. Some of them are focused on environmental issues. Diane Shamash's Hudson Valley project (Watershed: The Hudson Valley Art Project) is a collaboration of all of our efforts because it involves art and artists in the Hudson Valley. |
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| Director Michael Govan speaks surrounded by local officials at the opening of Dia:Beacon in May 2003. |
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HAS BEACON'S INDUSTRIAL PAST INFLUENCED DIA:BEACON COLLECTIONS?
The image that comes to mind is the beauty of the mountains and river, but we should not forget our heritage of work, of the industry of this valley, in which the industrial aesthetic is not unimportant. This Nabisco factory, for example, was an incredibly ambitious design that was intended, I believe, to be one of the best factories in the United States - the most hospitable to the worker. The maple floors are soft on the feet and it has perfect north light for the box printers to see what they were printing. Along with open and airy spaces, these features provided an idyllic environment for work. It is in tune with the landscape, the light. |
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BEACON WAS ATTRACTIVE TO DIA. WHAT WOULD INTEREST BEACON RESIDENTS ABOUT THE MUSEUM?
Dia:Beacon is a fantastic cultural asset. It's a place of contemplation, like the landscape - a different kind of contemplation.
CAN YOU DESCRIBE AN INSTALLATION THAT WOULD RESONATE WITH SCENIC HUDSON SUPPORTERS?
Robert Irwin's beautiful landscape and the very cultured, structured grid of the factory are interesting. The way this museum is designed around natural light. The installations change over the course of the day slightly, particularly John Chamberlain's installation on the west of the river, which is one of the best places to be at sunset. The morning light rakes perfectly across Michael Heizer's "Negative Megalith," a large 18-foot stone. On a cool, rainy day, Robert Ryman's paintings are even more discernible with a kind of crystal-clear, even light. |
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| Photo Credits: Above Center: Jay
Burgess. Above Left: Michael Govan. ©Dia Art Foundation. |
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| Dia:Beacon Arial Photo |
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Dia:Beacon |
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Dia Art Foundation |
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DESCRIPTION: 300,000-square-foot facility housing Dia Art Foundation's renowned collection of modern art from the 1960s to present.
LOCATION: 3 Beekman St., Beacon.
TICKETS: (845) 440-0100 |
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