The International Sculpture Center presented artists Alice Aycock and Betye Saar with the 27th Annual Lifetime Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Award on April 18th, 2018 at Tribeca Rooftop in New York City. It was here that friends, family, and members of the arts community came together to celebrate the lives and exemplary careers of Alice Aycock and Betye Saar at this gala event.
The International Sculpture Center was honored to welcome Robert Hobbs and Lowery Stokes Sims as speakers that provided guests with both an art historical and personal perspective on the guests of honor. Robert Hobbs, art historian and professor, spoke of Alice Aycock’s extraordinary achievements as a sculptor, detailing how her fascination with science and energy has inspired her work. Lowery Stokes Sims, Curator Emerita from the Museum of Arts and Design in New York, contextualized Betye Saar’s work with its historical and societal implications and highlighted Betye’s extensive, seven-decade long career.
Robert Hobbs said in his remarks, “Alice Aycock has been fond of pointing out that she likes to take art out for a walk in the world. I would suggest that she also brings aspects of the world, particularly many of its different forms of energy, into her studio so that they might be seen anew through her art.” Lowery Stokes Sims stated, “Through her skillful combinations, Betye conjures the energy and the spirit of the original owners of these recycled relics and this strategy lends a particularly robust nuance to the proverbial Proustian evocation of the power of objects to activate memory.” Lowery commended Betye on how her provocative work and pioneering career opened up opportunities for many other artists to follow in her footsteps.
Alice Aycock and Betye Saar were met with standing ovations from family, friends, and admirers upon accepting their Lifetime Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Awards. Those in attendance ranged from established artists and past Lifetime Achievement Award recipients to emerging artists, gallerists, and patrons who came to show support for artists whom they admire. The evening included a cocktail reception and art sale overlooking the Hudson River and downtown New York City, seated dinner, and awards ceremony. The evening closed with a round of applause for both Alice Aycock and Betye Saar, as guests gathered around the artists to offer their personal congratulations on their careers and upon receiving their Lifetime Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Awards.