Not yet completely installed and landscaped outside the Clay Center, the new 64-foot-tall "Hallelujah" sculpture by metalworking New York artist Albert Paley already has Charleston buzzing in reaction.
A monumental 64-foot-tall sculpture thrusting toward the sky as appeared in the Clay Center's front yard. What do you think of it?
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- People who routinely commute into Charleston off the Leon Sullivan Way/Capitol Street Interstate exit were in for a shock earlier this week. All of a sudden Monday morning, there was a 64-foot-tall sculpture thrusting toward the sky in the Clay Center's front yard.
My immediate thought was that it was like a future episode of "Lost," where Sawyer comes across the rusted remains of a mysterious rocket ship that once crashed on the island.
The second reaction? Now, that's really interesting and adds some visual pizzazz to the Clay Center's placid design, whose exterior architecture recalls nothing so much as an endowed Ivy League campus library. (Once inside it's a lot more distinctive).
Then I resisted the urge -- until it's all done, the landscaping completed and we've had time to live with it -- to immediately rate, hate or extol this abstract sculpture, titled "Hallelujah," by esteemed Rochester, N.Y., metalworking artist Albert Paley.
What follows are some first impressions of the sculpture. These excerpts have been culled from comments posted on the Gazette Web site and ones I solicited on Facebook.
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"My kids and I were awed and amazed. Truly. I almost wrecked my car. We were delighted by the surprise. We haven't taken a closer look yet, but we will." -- Amy Hamric Weintraub
nn
"I'm really excited by the scale and look forward to viewing it from different angles when it's complete. Right now, the crane's presence is like visual static. I must say I'm a bit overwhelmed by the variety of materials, and what seems like too much erratic movement -- like maybe its kind of busy? But, you know, I really do look forward to seeing more. A lot more, and that's a really good sign for me. If I taught Art Appreciation or Drawing here in Charleston, I'd love visiting it for a class." -- local artist Mark Tobin Moore
nn
"Months ago, when they announced the purchase of a sculpture, I begged for it not to be another unrecognizable metal blob, but that is what almost all of Charleston's statuary is. Look around. The courthouse annex. The library. The post office. The Civic Center. All the 'intellectuals' say this is art. All the common folk recognize it for what it is. What's wrong with a statue that actually resembles something that occurs in nature? Thank God and the Legislature (I never could have imagined myself saying that) the Capitol grounds are not littered with this flotsam. At least that is one location in Charleston with statues of ... people! Of all things! -- Web comment by 'mtnmedic'
nn
"There are really only three materials: the rust; the gray, stainless steel; and the green patina. I think there is a good balance between them. The upward movement and the size of the thing give some dimension to what was a pretty boring flat space in front of the building." -- local artist Chris Dutch
nn
"Let's see, an ill-fitting assortment of scrap metal in front of a hulking brick pile -- that's culture for you. If this is what passes for culture in Charleston, it's probably a good thing to be 'exposed' to it in the sense of being immunized against it." -- Web comment by 'jadel'
nn
"Add this to the long and ever-growing list of things I don't get." -- Jon Wikstrom
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- People who routinely commute into Charleston off the Leon Sullivan Way/Capitol Street Interstate exit were in for a shock earlier this week. All of a sudden Monday morning, there was a 64-foot-tall sculpture thrusting toward the sky in the Clay Center's front yard.
My immediate thought was that it was like a future episode of "Lost," where Sawyer comes across the rusted remains of a mysterious rocket ship that once crashed on the island.
The second reaction? Now, that's really interesting and adds some visual pizzazz to the Clay Center's placid design, whose exterior architecture recalls nothing so much as an endowed Ivy League campus library. (Once inside it's a lot more distinctive).
Then I resisted the urge -- until it's all done, the landscaping completed and we've had time to live with it -- to immediately rate, hate or extol this abstract sculpture, titled "Hallelujah," by esteemed Rochester, N.Y., metalworking artist Albert Paley.
What follows are some first impressions of the sculpture. These excerpts have been culled from comments posted on the Gazette Web site and ones I solicited on Facebook.
nn"My kids and I were awed and amazed. Truly. I almost wrecked my car. We were delighted by the surprise. We haven't taken a closer look yet, but we will." -- Amy Hamric Weintraub
nn"I'm really excited by the scale and look forward to viewing it from different angles when it's complete. Right now, the crane's presence is like visual static. I must say I'm a bit overwhelmed by the variety of materials, and what seems like too much erratic movement -- like maybe its kind of busy? But, you know, I really do look forward to seeing more. A lot more, and that's a really good sign for me. If I taught Art Appreciation or Drawing here in Charleston, I'd love visiting it for a class." -- local artist Mark Tobin Moore
nn"Months ago, when they announced the purchase of a sculpture, I begged for it not to be another unrecognizable metal blob, but that is what almost all of Charleston's statuary is. Look around. The courthouse annex. The library. The post office. The Civic Center. All the 'intellectuals' say this is art. All the common folk recognize it for what it is. What's wrong with a statue that actually resembles something that occurs in nature? Thank God and the Legislature (I never could have imagined myself saying that) the Capitol grounds are not littered with this flotsam. At least that is one location in Charleston with statues of ... people! Of all things! -- Web comment by 'mtnmedic'
nn"There are really only three materials: the rust; the gray, stainless steel; and the green patina. I think there is a good balance between them. The upward movement and the size of the thing give some dimension to what was a pretty boring flat space in front of the building." -- local artist Chris Dutch
nn"Let's see, an ill-fitting assortment of scrap metal in front of a hulking brick pile -- that's culture for you. If this is what passes for culture in Charleston, it's probably a good thing to be 'exposed' to it in the sense of being immunized against it." -- Web comment by 'jadel'
nn"Add this to the long and ever-growing list of things I don't get." -- Jon Wikstrom
nn"Kudos to the very generous McGees for helping to expose our community to culture! A very sincere thank you from your fellow West Virginians." -- Web comment by "WV Resident"
nn"Even if I supported this colossal waste of money, and just to be extremely clear, I do NOT, you'd think they could have supported a local artist and had WV workers put the thing together! Oh no, all came from NY! Great!" -- Web comment by 'leighanne811'
nn"I'm afraid I think comments are premature. There is still the arm of a crane in the shots, and for an honest reaction, I would think one would need to see it in person, which I am looking forward to. I just went and looked online at some of Albert Paley's abstract public sculptures. He seems to have done several that are in the same vein as this one, which I am starting to see as a sense of lift or soaring, emerging from a sort of jumbled mass below.
After seeing this in person, it may turn out that it doesn't work for me, but I think that the kind of responses to work like this that disappoint me the most are ones like 'looks like lots of unrelated pieces were stuck on just to get to $900,000,' which seems to imply that the artist is somehow involved with trying to scam the public. And really, the choice of oxidation (OK, rust) as a finish is really a valid and often interesting choice of color and texture and does not in my mind diminish the work in any way."" -- local furniture craftsman Jim Probst
nn"From your photos, I am digging the sculpture. I much prefer it over 'realistic' or 'subjective' sculpture. I'm also one of the few people that likes the Post Office sculpture, except it's not big and bold enough. This looks pretty cool and should cause a few OMG's from people coming off the Interstate exit. And that's a Good Thing for Art to do. Guess I better swing by there this evening." -- photographer Michael Keller
nn"Saturday, at the WVSO concert, I stood on the balcony above the atrium lobby and looked out at the sun setting. I wondered if, maybe, this might be my favorite vantage point for the new sculpture, looking through the window with 'Hallelujah' mediating my view of Charleston's skyline. I wonder what it will be like at night with the lights on this massive creation, when all the city lights sparkle behind it. It's changing the façade of the building, and the plaza will never again have the wide-open, raw look I'd gotten used to." -- Kathie Giltinan
nn"Saw it yesterday as it was being installed. My grandson thought it awesome; I thought it a rusty, weird-looking thing. I shall try again. I like the Wizard of Oz sculpture, but this does not appeal to me at all. Perhaps if the rust weren't all over it, I would find it more appealing. I will take another look when they are finished. I'll keep an open mind." -- Pam Hawley Grady
nn"I actually saw the sculpture before reading about it and at first glance I figured it was an old rusty piece of mountaintop removal equipment that had been fished out from under the landfill of some coal quarry.
It is fitting that McGee, the former publisher of The Charleston Daily Mail (aka The Coal Magnate Megaphone aka the Southern Strategy Star) gets to publicly flaunt his glorious wealth on the same day and in the same newspaper that reports that 25 percent of West Virginia residents have sunk below poverty level.
Considering that coal patch kids suffer at a far higher poverty rate than the rest of the state, it is even more fitting that McGee's broken down dragline tower practically looms over a nearby sculpture of kids frolicking innocently around a bronzed tree. 'Haallelujah' indeed." -- Web comment by 'One Citizen'
Reach Douglas Imbrogno at doug...@cnpapers.com or 304-348-3017.
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I praise the McGee Foundation for choosing the Clay Center to receive this wonderful piece of art. I am also pleased that Mr. Paley will be able to come to Charleston to dedicate his Hallelujah sculpture.
Albert Paley is a skilled and dedicated artist, he was the first metal sculptor to recieve the Lifetime Achievement Award from American Institute of Architects.
His sculptures, gateways and structural pieces grace many universities, museums and large successful businesses including the St. Louis Zoo, Adobe Systems, and Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Educate yourself before offering small-minded reviews about internationally recognized artists.
If you don't want to see it then drive a different route. I plan to see it often as it is beautiful addition to the Clay Center, Charleston and West Virginia.