Mary Miss sues Des Moines Art Center over demolition of Greenwood Pond installation

Land artist Mary Miss filed a lawsuit against the Des Moines Art Center (DMAC) to halt the planned demolition of her outdoor installation Greenwood Pond: Double Site (1996). The artwork, commissioned by DMAC and considered the first urban wetland project in the United States, requires $2.7 million in repairs and $8 million in continued upkeep, which the museum claims it cannot afford. Miss asserts her rights under the Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990 and calls on DMAC to honor their 1994 contract. Over 40 letters from the arts community, including from former DMAC deputy director Jessica Row and art historian Lucy Lippard, supported Miss. Repairs completed in 2014 extended the work's lifespan by only ten years. An Iowa court issued a temporary restraining order halting demolition, with Judge Stephen H. Locher stating the artwork faces 'irreparable harm.' A hearing was set for 18 April. In a 3 May ruling, Judge Locher decided DMAC cannot demolish the work without Miss's consent due to the contract, but also ruled Miss cannot force DMAC to repair it, as the contract gives DMAC unilateral discretion over repairs. DMAC blocked access to parts of the installation citing public safety hazards. Miss expressed relief, emphasizing the ruling reaffirms artists' rights.