East Hampton - Ross School is pleased to welcome renowned international artist Mark di Suvero and his 30,000 lb. steel sculpture, currently unnamed. On July 9 and July 10, di Suvero directed a team of artists to install his 32-foot high sculpture in front of Ross School's brand new Tennis Center in East Hampton. Using two cranes and a lot of manpower, this monumental outdoor sculpture was assembled in a day and a half. On July 10, Ross students gathered around and sketched the piece, followed by a brief talk with di Suvero. They will each submit a name for the sculpture, and di Suvero will select one.

First created about 10 years ago, using found elements, the sculpture is a celebration of structure in its natural form. "I shape my pieces into what the steel wants, as I feel it," said di Suvero, whose work is often interactive. "You can walk through my pieces." Attracted to the aesthetic response of industrialism, he has been doing this type of work for more than 50 years. And it seems to be catching on. "I find that beauty in pure structure has become more visible in design," he said.

di Suvero and Courtney Sale Ross collaborate on installation.

di Suvero was born in Shanghai, China in 1933 to Italian expatriates and came to San Francisco, California in 1941 with his father. He studied fine arts and later moved to New York City, where he first discovered his love for Abstract Expressionism. His work is collected by cities, museums, sculpture parks, corporations, and, of course, individual art enthusiasts. He currently has pieces at the Storm King Art Center in Moutainville, New York and a show at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables, Florida.

Specializing in abstract expressionist sculpture, di Suvero decided to loan one of his works of art to Ross School, in part due to his close friendship with Mrs. Courtney Sale Ross, founder of the School, and also to support her mission for a globally based, multi-cultural education. The two first met in 1977 when Ross was directing a large art show in Albany to celebrate the bicentennial in New York State. She selected one of his pieces to exhibit. They have remained close friends ever since.

His sculpture at Ross School will remain on view in front of the Tennis Center indefinitely.