Shang (sculpture)

Shang is a public art work by artist Mark di Suvero located at the University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA) in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The kinetic sculpture is an abstract form; it was installed on the sidewalk by the Maxine and Stuart Frankel and The Frankel Family Wing^[1] of the museum, at 525 South State Street. In October 2020, it was deinstalled since it was a long-term loan that had been bought by a private collector.^[2]

History

Di Suvero created Shang in 1984–1985, and originally titled it Gateway.^[3]

It was loaned to UMMA as a long-term loan in 2008.^[4] Previously, it has been on display at the Storm King Art Center.^[5] In 2007, it was briefly on display in Millennium Park, alongside Orion and three other di Suvero pieces.^[6]

Description

Shang is 25 feet tall, 19 feet wide, and 7 feet, 8 inches deep, and is made of steel.^[4]^[6] It is a functional swing that guests are permitted to climb on.^[3]^[7]^[8]^[6]^[2]

Grace Glueck, writing for the New York Times in 2005, described Shang as an "unusually solemn, surprisingly symmetrical piece in black, it stands on two sturdy legs with an arch between them that supports a broad vertical beam. It reveals little of the di Suvero exuberance but makes an imposing gateway."^[9]

References

^ "Mark di Suvero's 'Shang' sculpture stands outside the Maxine and..." Getty Images. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
^ ^a ^b "Can You Swing On Shang? An Elegy to an UMMA Icon That Will Be Forever Missed". umma.umich.edu. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
^ ^a ^b "Mark di Suvero's - July 2013 I Spy". Ann Arbor Observer. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
^ ^a ^b "Exchange: Shang". exchange.umma.umich.edu. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
^ "Historical Shows – Mark di Suvero". Retrieved September 25, 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c "2007 Temporary Exhibit Millennium Park : Mark Di Suvero". Retrieved September 25, 2020.
^ "Di Suvero sculpture to be reinstalled ahead of U-M appearance, presentation of honorary degree". University of Michigan News. April 18, 2019. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
^ @ummamuseum (May 14, 2016). "UMMA's giant metal swing sculpture" (Tweet). Archived from the original on June 21, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2023 – via Twitter.
^ Glueck, Grace (June 10, 2005). "Big Sculptures (Nicely Photographed), With Room to Roam". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 25, 2020.

[1] "Mark di Suvero's 'Shang' sculpture stands outside the Maxine and..." Getty Images. Retrieved September 25, 2020.

[:3-2] "Can You Swing On Shang? An Elegy to an UMMA Icon That Will Be Forever Missed". umma.umich.edu. Retrieved November 4, 2020.

[:0-3] "Mark di Suvero's - July 2013 I Spy". Ann Arbor Observer. Retrieved September 25, 2020.

[:1-4] "Exchange: Shang". exchange.umma.umich.edu. Retrieved September 25, 2020.

[5] "Historical Shows – Mark di Suvero". Retrieved September 25, 2020.

[:2-6] "2007 Temporary Exhibit Millennium Park : Mark Di Suvero". Retrieved September 25, 2020.

[7] "Di Suvero sculpture to be reinstalled ahead of U-M appearance, presentation of honorary degree". University of Michigan News. April 18, 2019. Retrieved September 25, 2020.

[8] @ummamuseum (May 14, 2016). "UMMA's giant metal swing sculpture" (Tweet). Archived from the original on June 21, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2023 – via Twitter.

[9] Glueck, Grace (June 10, 2005). "Big Sculptures (Nicely Photographed), With Room to Roam". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 25, 2020.

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v t e Mark di Suvero
Works	Bunyon's Chess (1965) Poland (1966) Are Years What? (for Marianne Moore) (1967) Snowplow (1968) The Lovers (1971-1973) Inner Search (1980) The Calling (1981-1982) Shoshone (1981-1982) Iroquois (1983) Shang (1984-1985) Schubert Sonata (1992) Aurora (1992-1993) Lao Tzu (1996) Joie de Vivre (1998) The Sieve of Eratosthenes (1999) Declaration Aesop's Fables, II (2005) Orion (2006) Clock Knot (2007)
Related	North Star: Mark di Suvero (1977 documentary)