Des Moines Art Center Settles with Artist Mary Miss

The Des Moines Art Center has reached a $900,000 settlement with artist Mary Miss, allowing the museum to demolish her outdoor installation, Greenwood Pond: Double Site, after a legal dispute over its removal. Miss filed a lawsuit claiming breach of contract when the museum announced plans to dismantle the artwork due to safety concerns and high restoration costs, estimated at $2.6 million. The museum cited public safety hazards and financial constraints, asserting the installation had suffered irreparable damage. Despite expressing discontent over the artwork's destruction, Miss acknowledged the increased visibility the case brought to her work. She intends to donate part of the settlement to the Cultural Landscape Foundation, an organization that supported her cause. This resolution highlights broader discussions about the preservation of public art and the responsibilities of cultural institutions.