Last Thursday, MAS proudly presented the 22nd Brendan Gill Prize to artists Mike and Doug Starn for See it split, see it change, their site-specific permanent art installation at the South Ferry subway terminal in Lower Manhattan. Commissioned by the MTA Arts for Transit Program, See it split, see it change was completed in December 2008 to wide praise.

The Brendan Gill Prize is named for the long-time MAS trustee, renowned New Yorker theater critic, author, and architectural preservationist. The cash prize, funded by a permanent endowment, is awarded annually to the creator of a work of art, book, sculpture, film, musical composition, or architectural design, accomplished the previous year, that best captures the spirit and energy of New York City. It was established in 1986 by MAS board members Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Helen S. Tucker and Margot Wellington.

Doug and Mike Starn’s art has been the object of numerous solo and group exhibitions in museums and galleries worldwide. Identical twins, they work collaboratively with photography, effectively combining traditionally separate disciplines such as sculpture, photography, painting, video, and installation.

The Starn brothers were on hand to celebrate at MAS, as were members of the Gill family, MTA Chairman Jay Walder, Sandra Bloodworth, director of MTA Arts for Transit, and MAS Board Members Susan Freedman, Liz Berger, Ronay Menschel, Fred Papert and Helen S. Tucker and with Margot Wellington. Randy Bourscheidt, chairman of the Brendan Gill Prize jury, presented the Starns with the awarded.

Past Brendan Gill Prize recipients include: musician Sufjan Stevens for his musical The BQE, actress Sarah Jones for her play Bridge & Tunnel, and artists Jeanne-Claude and Christo for their temporary Central Park art installation The Gates. For more information about the Brendan Gill Prize, visit MAS.org/brendan-gill