Art Gallery Visit

    My visit to the Albright Know Art Gallery was a calming, enlightening experience.  Every time I’ve gone in that past it has either been with my own children or part of a field trip with students.  It was really enjoyable to really take time to look at and reflect on the artwork as well as read about it.  I was able to take photos of the artwork down stairs.  They did ask not to photograph pieces upstairs.  I’ve included my photos from downstairs followed by the information card.  Some of the pieces from upstairs I was able to find photos online.
    Several pieces of art made an impact and impression on me.  I would have to say the most obvious were the very large acrylic paintings located upstairs.  However, I want to write about some that weren’t as obvious.  When I first passed by Black Friday by The Recycle Group, Andrey Blokhin and Georgiy Kuznetsov, I must admit I didn’t even notice it.  Then when looking at it from across the room I thought it was a marble sculpture of a biblical scene.  I headed over to read the information card.  Only after reading the artist’s name as Recycle Group, did I give the artwork another look.  Then back to the information card, where I discovered the medium was mesh!  I found this to be most impressive first of all that from a distance it appeared to be a marble sculpture and then to see the amazing detailed that was “carved” and shaped with mesh.  The pop bottles looked as though they were actual pop bottles.  Details were visible in every aspect from the flowing clothing to the shopping carts and the items in them.  Another piece that may have slid under the radar was Sol LeWitt’s Wall Drawing #1268.  Since it is not framed or hanging on a wall one may not even realize it is a piece of art.  In fact, I saw the mini model and looked over the flyer but didn’t make the connection that the wall was the same artwork in the model until after heading back down the stairs.  I find this to be impressive, not only for its almost anonymous being but the time and energy involved to create it.  Sixteen artists, 5,026 hours and 1,717 graphite lead pencils scribbling, yes scribbling, on over 2,200 square feet of wall space created a cohesive design with varying value and shape throughout. It’s amazing to think that scribbling with a pencil on a wall could create such dynamic beauty.  It’s every toddlers dream!

Black Friday

Wall Drawing #1268

    I felt my self being most connected to art work consisting of nature scenes.  I feel this is because I love the outdoors, camping, hiking and just viewing what nature has to offer.  Some of these were Emile Branchard’s Winter, John Frederick Kensett’s Coast Scene and Rodney Graham’s Welsh Oaks #1 (edition 1/2).  However, the one that I felt most connected with was Jean-Marc Bustamante’s L.P. 2000. (I was unable to obtain a photo of this piece.)  It is a color print of a gorgeous nature scene, including mountains and trees.  In the foreground there are trees that have obviously been cut with a chainsaw.  I feel connected to this because several years ago my husband and I purchased 56 acres of property.  It was so beautiful to walk this wonderful piece of nature.  However, it wasn’t very accessible so we needed to cut trees and blaze trails.  I hated cutting the trees.  Bustamante’s piece reminds me of how we as humans impact nature around us but the beauty is still there is the background. I was also drawn to a piece outside before ever entering the museum.  Jason Middlebrook’s sculpture Underlife, grabbed my attention as the sun glistened off the glass tiles.  When I stopped to admire it, the glass tiles reminded me of a craft project I made in third grade.  We glued colored glass tiles to a glass cup to make a candle holder. I still have this project.  It’s one I’ve always been proud of.  I also felt like this sculpture reminded me of tree roots which again brought me to my love of nature.

Underlife

    There were a few pieces that I would like to know more about. Cycle by Sopheap Pich was an interesting sculpture of bamboo, wire, and glue.  I’m most curious as to the motivation to this piece.  I also wonder how long it took, whether assistance was needed and how a piece like this is transported.   I would also like to know if the reason for the piece Civil Tapestry 5  by Theaster Gates was motivated by events like 911 in New York City.  I feel this piece of decommissioned fire hoses and wood is a great tribute to those who serve and and risk their lives on a regular basis for others.

Cycle

Civil Tapestry 5