Art Everywhere US, the sticking-beloved-artworks-on-billboards-all-over-America project, launched yesterday. Fifty-eight works were chosen by popular vote from five US museums: the Art Institute of Chicago; the Dallas Museum of Art; the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA); the National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC; and the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York.

The month-long gallery on some 50,000 static and digital billboards across the country began yesterday in Times Square. Here’s the full release:

WORLD’S LARGEST OUTDOOR ART SHOW, ART EVERYWHERE US, GOES LIVE IN TIMES SQUARE AND THROUGHOUT ALL 50 STATES

58 Works of American Art from Five Major Museums Pop Up on
Billboards and Signs across the Country, August 4–31

NEW YORK, NY, August 4, 2014 — With the push of a button this morning, digital billboards across New York’s Times Square began to display images of 58 classic and contemporary works of American art, officially marking the start of Art Everywhere US. From now through August 31, as many as 50,000 digital and static displays in all 50 states and the District of Columbia—billboards on city streets and rural highways, displays on bus shelters and subway platforms, dioramas in airports, videos in health clubs, trailers in movie theaters and more—will present the largest outdoor art show ever conceived, as a nationwide celebration of America’s artistic heritage.

The 58 images, which span 230 years of American art, are drawn from the collections of five major museums across the country—the Art Institute of Chicago; the Dallas Museum of Art; the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA); the National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC; and the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York. The museums have collaborated with the Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA) and its members to present Art Everywhere US with the co-operation of artists, estates, foundations, and rights agencies.

The choice of artworks was informed by a public vote on www.ArtEverywhereUS.org, which now functions as an interactive art gallery. Visitors to the site may retrieve information about the selected works, read about the story of art in the United States, see which works are on advertising displays in their vicinity, and find the locations of specific works around the United States.

Museum Leaders Celebrate the Launch

As the displays went live in Times Square, museum leaders gathered with representatives of OAAA and its members in the Regal E-Walk movie theater on New York’s 42nd Street for an event to mark the start of Art Everywhere US. Nancy Fletcher, President and CEO of the Outdoor Advertising Association of America, was joined by Maxwell L. Anderson, the Eugene McDermott Director, Dallas Museum of Art; Donna De Salvo, Chief Curator and Deputy Director for Programs, Whitney Museum of American Art; Douglas Druick, President and Eloise W. Martin Director, Art Institute of Chicago; Michael Govan, CEO and Wallis Annenberg Director, LACMA; Deborah Ziska, Chief of Press and Public Information, National Gallery of Art; and Richard Reed, co-founder of Innocent Drinks, who originated Art Everywhere in 2013 in the UK.

Nancy Fletcher stated, “Art Everywhere US is the latest and most spectacular chapter in our industry’s long history of contributing its resources to the public service. We are deeply grateful to the five museums for enabling us to bring this astonishing survey of America’s artistic heritage directly to the people.”

Maxwell L. Anderson said, “Thanks to OAAA and its members, a vast new audience is now starting to encounter masterpieces of American art, free of charge, as part of their everyday landscape. In many ways, American art tells the story of our country. On behalf of the Dallas Museum of Art and the four other participating museums, it’s wonderful to be able to bring that story out into the public square.”

Donna De Salvo said, “The Whitney Museum of American Art is proud to be part of Art Everywhere US, and especially to see it launch in our home city of New York. It is a project that situates extraordinary images by great American artists in the unique cultural landscape that is the United States. It’s always exciting to think about encountering art in the course of everyday life, whether inside or outside.”

Douglas Druick stated, “Art Everywhere US mingles some of American art’s best-known images, such as the Art Institute of Chicago’s Nighthawks and American Gothic, with equally great works that will be eye-opening surprises to many people. This is a wonderful opportunity to expand awareness of the riches in all our museums.”

Michael Govan stated, “As a Los Angeles institution, LACMA is particularly aware of the iconic significance of the open road in American art and of the role that signs have played in the work of artists such as James Rosenquist and Ed Ruscha. To us, American art history and Art Everywhere US are an ideal combination.”

Deborah Ziska said, “As the home of a collection that belongs to the people of the United States, located in the heart of our nation’s capital, the National Gallery of Art is delighted to participate in Art Everywhere US, an initiative that helps us and our fellow museums advance our mission of making great art accessible to the public.”

Richard Reed stated, “We launched our second season of Art Everywhere in the UK just weeks ago and are thrilled that the US is now joining us in showcasing artworks simultaneously through the end of August. Thanks to the US for taking the Art Everywhere message, building a great campaign, and helping to spread it globally.”

A complete list of the 58 works in Art Everywhere US is given below. A complete list of the 58 works in Art Everywhere US is given below. For full list of locations visit ArtEverywhereUS.org. Click here to download a DMA self guide to the ten American artworks in the Museum’s collection.

Digital and Social Media Bring Art Everywhere US to Life

Art Everywhere US is live on social media channels including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Launching today, an Instagram contest will encourage viewers to post selfies with Art Everywhere US displays using the hashtag #ArtEverywhereUS, and the top ten most creative photos will win a prize from Art Everywhere US.

Adding to the excitement, selected pedestrian-level displays, such as bus shelters and kiosks, will feature Blippar interactive image recognition technology. Using the free Blippar app on any smart phone or mobile device, users can view the artwork through their devices to instantly unlock a wealth of information, including augmented reality experiences, audio guides, artist and museum content, and more.
National Partners Help Bring Art Everywhere US to the People

The following partners have contributed resources to help bring Art Everywhere US to the American public:
• Acme Poster Advertising
• Allison Outdoor Advertising
• Around AV
• ArtFund
• ATA
• ARS
• Ayuda
• Barrett Outdoor Communications
• Blippar
• Boardworks
• Branded Cities
• Bulletin Displays
• Burkhart Advertising
• CBS Outdoor
• CEMUSA
• Circle Graphics
• City Outdoor
• Clear Channel Outdoor
• Cleveland Outdoor Advertising
• Dakota Outdoor Advertising
• DDI Media
• Do It Outdoors
• Durden Outdoor Displays
• Eagle Display Services
• Elevate Digital
• Extra Credit Projects
• Eye Media Corp.
• Fairway Outdoor
• Finn Partners
• Greensigns
• Hughes Outdoor Media
• Independent’s Service Company
• Interstate Outdoor
• JCDecaux
• Joyce Outdoor Company
• Kubin Nicholson
• Lamar Outdoor Advertising
• Meadow Outdoor Advertising
• MMT
• National Cinema Network
• NMB
• Norton Outdoor
• On-Site Insight
• Outdoor Imaging
• Outdoor Media Group
• Porter Advertising
• Reagan Outdoor Advertising
• Signal Outdoor
• Simon Malls
• Standard Vision
• Steen Outdoor
• Stott Outdoor Advertising
• Streetblimps
• Titan
• Total Outdoor
• Tyler Outdoor Advertising
• UpStares Media
• VAGA
• Van Wagner
• Vector Media
• Vital Outdoor Advertising
• YESCO
• ZOOM Media