CHRYSLER MUSEUM OF ART MAKES A SPLASH WITH THE RUBBER DUCK PROJECT
The 40-Foot Rubber Duck Will Float in the Hague as part of the Chrysler Museum of Art’s Grand Reopening
NORFOLK, Va. – (March 12, 2014) – The Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Va. will host the Rubber Duck Project
by Dutch Artist Florentijn Hofman during the museum’s grand reopening week on May 17. The 40-foot rubber
duck will float in the waters of the Hague alongside the museum through May 26.
“The Rubber Duck heard about all of the excitement surrounding the Chrysler’s reopening and wanted to see
the expanded museum for himself,” said Bill Hennessey, director of the Chrysler Museum of Art. “We hope
residents and visitors will join him and enjoy everything we have to offer.”
The Rubber Duck project has travelled around the world making visits in Sydney, Hong Kong and Tokyo. This will
be the second stop in the United States. The inflatable sculpture spent three weeks in Pittsburgh, Pa. last fall.
The artist believes The Rubber Duck Project has healing properties and can help bring people around the world
together.
The Chrysler Museum of Art will reopen on May 10, following an extensive $24 million renovation and
expansion designed to showcase the Museum’s nationally recognized collection and support new exhibitions
and educational programming.
About the Chrysler Museum of Art
The Chrysler Museum of Art is one of America’s great mid-sized museums. It is home to a remarkable collection
of 30,000 objects ranging ancient Egyptian artifacts to contemporary art. The collection is particularly strong in
European and American painting and sculpture and a museum within the museum is devoted to glass as an art
form. The Museum offers a dynamic program of changing exhibitions and educational programs both in the 50
galleries of its main building and in adjacent Chrysler Glass Studio. The Museum is located at One Memorial
Place in Norfolk, VA. Admission is always free. For additional information visit: www.chrysler.org
About Florentijn Hofman:
Florentijn Hofman’s (Delfzijl, 1977) sculptures are large, very large, and are bound to make an impression.
Rubber Duck (2007) for example: a gigantic 40 foot high yellow rubber duck. It is an inflatable, based on the
standard model that children from all four corners of the world are familiar with. The impressive rubber duck
travels the world and pops up in many different cities: from Auckland and São Paulo to Osaka always making a
very positive artistic statement that immediately connects people to their childhood. Although artists do not
always tend to value reactions of passers-by, for Hofman the audience is an essential part of his work. An
encounter with one of Hofman’s extraordinary sculptures invites us to stand still for a moment and to look; to
really look and to take a picture if you like. Hofman: ‘My sculptures cause an uproar, astonishment and put a
smile on your face. They give people a break from their daily routines. Passers-by stop in front of them, get off
their bicycle and enter into conversation with other spectators. People are making contact with each other
again. That is the effect of my sculptures in the public domain.’
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Media Contacts:
Virginia Hilton
Meridian Group
(757) 340-7425
Virginia@themeridiangroup.com
Cheryl Little
Chrysler Museum of Art
(757) 333-6295
clittle@chrysler.org