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| Roy
Lichtenstein Mermaid, 1994 |
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Roy
Lichtenstein,
American, 1923-1997 Mermaid, 1994, Painted carbon fiber & epoxy skin over aluminum & honeycomb core, 8' high x 80' long (approx.) In 1995, America's Cup team was exceptionally lucky to have artist Roy Lichtenstein create the graphics for their racing boat, an 80 ft. long mermaid that covers the sides and bottom of the yacht. This was the first racing sailboat exhibiting a painting by a world-renowned artist. According to John Marshall, President of the Young America Foundation, "Years of work by a high-tech design team gave Young America her shape and speed. Roy Lichtenstein's "Mermaid" made Young America beautiful beyond the flow of her lines." It was one of the artist's largest works and was also one of his last, as he died in 1997. To preserve the yacht and the painting for future generations to enjoy and not have her forgotten in some run down boat yard, lost forever through neglect, generous major gifts from supporters of Young America, the Ralph E. Ogden Foundation, Inc., and a very special grant from the Ford Foundation, provided the funding to enable Storm King to add it to their permanent collection. |