Morton Street Partners and Meyers Manx present Winter Surf

Arielle Van-Mballa (left) and Daniel Arsham and Jake Auerbach (right) at the VIP opening reception held at the Morton St. Partners gallery

Photography by Sansho Scott/BFA.com

The show emphasizes the dune buggy's aesthetic appeal and cultural relevance as a representation of counterculture and revolt. Through this show, Morton Street Partners keeps up its support for the preservation of tangible cultural heritage and the scholarly work that illuminates the role of the vehicle in the art world. The rich history and evolution of the dune buggy, as well as the artistry and design that goes into making these distinctive vehicles, will all be covered in the exhibition for visitors to learn about. The show also challenges viewers to ponder on how the automobile has changed in modern culture and how it continues to challenge and inspire our conceptions of art and design.

Photography by Fabrizio D'Aloisio

In 1964, Bruce Meyers developed the Meyers Manx, a mobile dune buggy that was all about fun and adventure. His ground-breaking invention, with its inventive design and outstanding performance, quickly became a national treasure. Manxes did it all: In 1967, the roadster was driven by everyone from Elvis to Steve McQueen after breaking the speed and time records for driving the length of Baja and winning the inaugural Mexican 1000 outright in the same year. This distinctly Californian icon became a pillar of pop culture in the 1960s and 1970s.

Photography by Hagop Kalaidjian

“The Meyers Manx has always been a symbol of joy, simplicity and purity. It’s the solution to the complexity of life. Continuing the legacy of the Meyers Manx connects us with the optimism of the 1960’s California culture, an optimism we all can share.”

– Phillip Sarofim, Chairman, Meyers Manx

Photography by Sansho Scott/BFA.com

“There are few vehicles that have had such a lasting impression on pop culture as the Meyers Manx, so we are incredibly excited to have such rich source material for this exhibition– examining it as both as an object of modern design and of cultural permanence. The irony of a dune buggy exhibition taking place in Manhattan during the coldest season of the year is not lost on us– the idea of surfing the sand dunes during a snowstorm was simply too intriguing to ignore.”

– Jake Auerbach