Curator Unveils MGM National Harbor’s Permanent Art Collection

Through his careful selection process, Myers compiled a resort-wide permanent exhibit that rivals many museums. The MGM National Harbor Heritage Collection encompasses 68 pieces by 33 artists.

Myers, located in Annapolis, has been a staple in the Baltimore/Washington metro area art scene for more than 30 years. As a publisher and distributor of fine art, Myers has collaborated with numerous corporate and hospitality projects including the Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore, Legg Mason International Headquarters, and Corporate Office Properties Inc. Atlantic Arts has also participated in international art exhibitions including those in England, Germany and Dubai.

Myers was instrumental in sourcing one of the most iconic features inside MGM National Harbor, a work of art from legendary musician and popular culture icon Bob Dylan. Through his gallery connections, Myers worked directly with Dylan and his team to create Portal, a welded metal collage sculpted into an iron archway. Made completely of found metal objects, the archway gives a nod to the resorts location on the Potomac River with a Maryland Blue Crab prominently placed as you enter the west side of the casino.

With all his projects, Myers relies on these close relationships with artists and has commissioned many other exclusive works for MGM National Harbor. In meeting the client's goals, Myers' provided works inspired by the region's unique environment including the Potomac River and the D.C. Skyline–seen from many of the windows of MGM National Harbor. Many pieces were inspired by natural elements, including earth, sky and water.

Myers enlisted world-renowned artist Alice Aycock to create the commissioned piece Whirlpools, which lines the casino entry drive. Spanning 80 feet long and 14 feet high in some places, this undulating sculpture made from powder-coated aluminum is meant to represent the raw power and energy created from moving water. Aycock carefully designed the piece to be viewable from all sides as guests enter and exit.

As visitors approach the hotel entrance, they are greeted by John Safer's work titled Unity. Featuring three 60-foot-tall stainless steel figures, this commissioned piece is impressive with its gravity-defying design. Safer, a prominent regional sculptor and former chairman of the board of D.C. National Bank is responsible for structures around the D.C. area including Ascent, located at the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum.

Along with these commissioned works, Myers is responsible for sourcing pieces from artists including Alma Thomas and Sam Gilliam, both of whom have been featured in Corcoran Gallery of Art and Ken Young, who has a painting in the newly renovated National Gallery of Art. Maryland based artists Chul Hyun Ahn, also handpicked by Myers, was a crowd favorite during the opening weekend with his piece, The Wells. Creating an optical illusion of endless tunnels in the floor using lights and mirrors, his work will astound MGM National Harbor visitors for years to come.

For more information, visit www.atlanticarts.com.