Photo Credit: Myers Creative Images.
Tyler alum Albert Paley (BFA ’66, MFA ’69) has prepared 13 sculptures that will be displayed at New York City’s Park Avenue.
As an undergrad, Paley studied sculpture and then went on to do his Master’s work in the metal department. After graduating, he taught in the university system for 25 years and is now a well-known metal sculptor based in Rochester.
Paley was invited to do this project by the Fund for Park Avenue Sculpture Committee almost 2 1/2 years ago. Since then, PBS from New York City has been filming a one hour documentary on the Paley on Park Avenue project which will be broadcast this fall.
“You could either apply or be invited,” Paley said. “I was invited because of the work I do with public sculpture. ”
Paley’s 15 person staff have working on massive sculptures for the show. Several of them are more than 20 feet high and one is 50 feet long.
“Public sculpture, especially large scale sculpture, creates a dialogue between architecture and public display,” Paley said. “Most of the work that I do is large scale.”
The sculptures, installed June 14, will stay up through November 8 between 52nd street and 67th street.
After being a practicing artist for 40 years, Paley no longer worries about how his work will be seen by the audience.
“All the artist can do is deal with the integrity of his or her vision,” Paley said. “People will respond with whatever their own background is.”
Coming up, Paley will be featured in many exhibitions. In September, the Gerald Peters Gallery in New York will be showing Paley’s conceptual drawings and will then publish a major book about the work. Then, in 2014, the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, D.C. will be hosting a 50 year retrospective of Paley’s work.
To learn more about Albert Paley and his work, visit http://www.albertpaley.com
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