Albright Knox

A.) Which artworks make an impact or impression on me? Why?

I’ve only been to the Albright Knox twice in my life, including this time, so it was interesting to recall the art works that I’ve seen before.  The art that I feel made the biggest impact on me was the wall drawing by Sol LeWitt.  It was just phenomenal to me to see what kind of work went into this.  I read about it online on the Albright Knox website to read more about it and it said “Built up from thousands of graphite scribbles that cover more than 2,200 square feet of wall surface, the drawing was scribbled into existence over nine weeks. Working according to LeWitt’s instructions—Line, continuous gradation, and feel of steel—a crew of sixteen people scribbled for seven hours a day for fifty-four days between August and October 2010. The scribblers—artists from the LeWitt estate and the Western New York area—worked for a total of 5,026 hours and used 1,717 pencil leads.”  That is incredible to me.  It must have taken so much patience to complete this.

Fred Tomaselli’s painting Echo, Wow and Flutter also stood out to me.  This was created by pinning a chain on a canvas, tracing it and using different materials.  He collects things like leaves, pharmaceuticals, natural elements and photographs.  It left an impression on me because I found it interesting that he used things from nature and worked them into his art.  I feel like this is really unique.

B.) Which artworks do I feel a connection with? Why?

I felt a connection with Jasper Johns’ Numbers in Color.  I feel like I felt a connection with this because when I walk through my work every day, there is a classroom’s rendition of this work that the children created with number stamps and paint.  It’s so big and noticeable and I love the fact that the children created it. 

I also felt a connection with Victor Vasarley’s Vega-Nor.  In grammar school, I remember doing art work like this and the name seems familiar to me, maybe why I felt a connection.  It just seemed to be a memory, in a way.

C.) Which artworks would I like to know more about? Why?

One of the artworks that I would like to know more about is Stephan Balkenhol’s Standing Man.  This is made strictly out of wood and paint.  It amazes me how creative and talented people can be.  I would like to read more into this artist and see if he mainly works with wood.

Andy Warhol is a familiar name to me and I know some of his artwork but I remember last time going to the gallery, I wanted to know more about his 100 Cans.  I just feel like it’s such a silly painting but it has to have some meaning.  Reading about it on the website, I learned that when he was asked why about his painting, he responded with "Because I used to drink it. I used to have the same lunch every day, for 20 years, I guess, the same thing over and over again. Someone said my life has dominated me; I liked that idea."  I felt like this was clever of him and it makes me want to read more about him as an artist.

Victor Vasarley

Vega-Nor

Oil on canvas

78 ¾ X 78 ¾ inches

1969

Stephan Balkenhol

Standing Man

Wood & paint

100 X 29 X 12 inches

2000

Andy Warhol

100 Cans

Oil on canvas

72 X 52 inches

1962

Fred Tomaselli

Echo, Wow and Flutter

Leaves, pills, photo collage, acrylic, and resin on wood panel

84 X 120 inches

2000

Sol LeWitt

Wall Drawing

Scribbles, staircase

Three walls – dimensions variable

2006 - 2010

Jasper John

Numbers in Color

Encaustic and newspaper on canvas

74 ½ X 52 X 3 5/8 inches

1958-1959