Sculpture of the Americas: building across borders.

• Position: Museum of the Americas sponsors sculpture exhibition

In six short years as Director of the Museum of the Americas, Belgica Rodriguez has had an eye on expansion--of permanent collections of sculpture and photography, as well as of exhibition space. When she arrived at the museum in 1988, "the permanent collection was focused mainly on painting, and sculpture was used mainly to complement the paintings," she says. Believing that "it was time to expand the museum's sculpture collection," Rodriguez has done just that. Increasing the size of the collection twofold, she has forged important artistic connections throughout the hemisphere.

Just four years ago the museum presented its first sculpture exhibition, Sculpture of the Americas into the Nineties, to coincide with an international sculpture conference being held in Washington. Through this exhibition, the museum was able to expand its international audience, as well as its exposure to Latin American sculpture. Asking selected artists to donate their works to the permanent collection, Rodriguez acquired, among other artworks, Enrique Grau's serenely appealing Tango Azul (Blue Tango) and Marta Palau's amate paper sculpture Naualli. Circulo de Sal (Naualli. Circle of Salt).

Now, a new exhibition, Across Borders/Sin Fronteras, organized with the Washington Sculptors Group, is capitalizing on Rodriguez's successful early efforts. On view through July 2, this juried exhibition includes both...