First Avenue Sculpture Exhibit

Curator Statement

Upon entering the First Avenue Corridor, one has the impression of standing before a welcoming outstretched carpet of concrete. The 35' by 335' area, consisting of light colored concrete slabs provide you with a view that is at once peaceful and industrial.   To your right a 22' wall gives way to a coolly designed screened-in area, with coarse gravel hiding behind it as it floor base.   To your left the glass walls of the parking garage border the space and an electric escalator whisks travelers down to the street level. Further south, the belly of the parking garage exposes itself through a thin metal wire fence.   Large concrete planters sit every 30' on one side, and stainless steel arched benches and tables serve as a dressing, or a type of accessory to it all.

There are transportation and industrial themes all around you.   On one side is the subway "T"; the other side extends out onto the Eliza Furnace bike trail. The Monongahela River is parallel to all.   The Golden Triangle Bike and Blade building is the home if you will, at the end of the frontage, tucked under the bridge.

Yet with the industrial components stating their presence, peacefulness exists.   It may be the effect of the smooth but slightly flowing nature of the concrete slabs, or that you simply feel small amidst the high walls and long open corridor.   People come here at lunch and after work to relax and read. It is an escape. Places like this, which all at once offer peacefulness, a feeling of freedom, and a largeness that may dwarf you, sometime need no art or sculpture to help them along.   The space as it exists does not need art to complete it.   The sculptural artwork would be a guest.

My approach towards selecting works for this exhibit has been to select work that is large in scale, industrial and/or peaceful, and respectful for its patrons who find an escape here.   No large piece will dominate this corridor.   So the relationship of the sculpture exhibit to the corridor is synonymous with having company over for a visit.   Live-in friends are not desired, but a visit every once in a while is, so that you may be hospitable, share your space, then wish them off well to their transportation method for their journey.

Welcome to the First Avenue Sculpture Exhibit.

John Eastman

Curator

First Avenue Sculpture Exhibit: October 19 - December 14

Opening reception: Friday October 19 6-10 pm