Albany Institute of History and Art May 22, 2014

Katie spelled by the hieroglyphic alphabet



Thomas Cole's painting titled Ruined Tower

Award winning sculptures

Dennis Byng's Untitled Piece

Displayed arrangement of flowers

Whenever I go view paintings and sculptures, I always feel as though I am never fully able to connect with the painter. I do not see myself as an artsy person, and I am almost never able to enjoy a piece in an intellectual way. But today, it was very different. By having a discussion about the paintings before viewing the original piece, I was able to get a sense of what the painter was trying to express. By having this knowledge, I was able to connect more with the painting and come up with more views on the piece. Some of the pieces that immediately caught my attention was the sculpted horse and the cube shown above. Not only are these pieces extremely beautiful, but there are complex. The cube above is a series of sixteen cubes identical in size but different in color. The cube rests on a transparent ring that raises it, and allows light to enter from below to enhance the colors. The sculptor, Dennis Byng, is best known for his innovative use of plastics in sculptures. The bright colors reflect off of one another, and are dramatically enhanced by the light. You are almost unable to see the different cubes put together, because the colors make the cube look hole. The sculpted horse, which is the 2^nd piece on the left, is decorated with eucalyptus and peony flowers. The sculpture of the horse is interrupted by the absence of plant material around the metal. The peony, is the heart of the design. While this piece seems very simple, the vibrant color of the peony brings out the sculpture. This piece was awarded with an honorary mention. But the peony was not the only flower I saw. In the room directly next to these pieces, assorted flowers were presented. Before I was fully inside the room, I smelled the beautiful aroma the flowers gave off. The presented flowers were brightly beautiful, and were each inspired by something the creator once knew or saw. The assorted flowers in the middle was inspired by a painting of the Beaumont Rice Mill, which was founded by the creator’s great grandfather. But these pieces were not the only beautiful thing that caught my eye. The Albany Institute itself expressed beauty. The marble stairs and wood banister set the perfect tone of the area. The white sculptures that were displayed were classical and simple. It is interesting to realize that every inventor is inspired by something whether it be a landscape, a relative, a dream, or a teacher. The pieces that then are created represents something bigger than is shown. A plaque on a wall in the Albany Institute of History and Art says that we view and interpret these things through the lens or our own time. We bring our own ideas, experiences, and biases with us. We imagine what we want to see, and in a way we make it our own.