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The Nelson's Kansas City Sculpture Park Renamed For Donald Hall

The Kansas City Sculpture Park, the more than two dozen sculptures outside the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, opened in 1989. In honor of the park’s 25th anniversary in 2014, the museum will change the park’s name to reflect its roots.

In the mid-1980s, Don Hall, through the Hall Family Foundation, purchased more than 50 works by the sculptor Henry Moore. Some of these monumental bronze sculptures dotted the green lawn at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art when the Kansas City Sculpture Park opened.

Iconic works - like the Shuttlecocks and most recently, Roxy Paine’s Ferment, a shimmering silver tree - have been added through the years. CEO and Director Julián Zugazagoitia says it’s only fitting the park be named after Hall, who spearheaded the park’s creation.

"Don Hall has been so attentive, and so generous with making this a destination, a unique destination, a very special place," says Zugazagoitia. "And so we’re really thrilled, and excited and honored that he has accepted that the park be named after him."

Four bronze plaques will be posted with the new name: The Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park.

Kansas City is known for its style of jazz, influenced by the blues, as the home of Walt Disney’s first animation studio and the headquarters of Hallmark Cards. As one of KCUR’s arts reporters, I want people here to know a wide range of arts and culture stories from across the metropolitan area. I take listeners behind the scenes and introduce them to emerging artists and organizations, as well as keep up with established institutions. Send me an email at lauras@kcur.org or follow me on Twitter @lauraspencer.
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