A new art exhibit will be opening at the Albany International Airport, focusing on body language and human interaction featuring 11 different artists.
The exhibit titled “Body Language” — presented by the Albany International Airport Art & Culture Program — will be open for viewing through Sept. 7. The public reception will be held on Friday, April 11, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
A statement from the Airport Art & Culture Program describes the exhibit:
Without saying a word, we speak to one another through gesture, gaze and composure. More than any other subject matter in art, the body invites associations with our own sense of self, as well as our notions of other. In contrast to the tradition of aiming for a faithful likeness, the artist assembled present subjects that are not at once who they seem.
The 2,500 square foot gallery has garnered national attention as one of the best airport art galleries in the country and took seventh place in the USA Today’s 10 Best Airports. Created in 1998, the gallery has attracts roughly 300,000 visitors annually. All of the art is created by artists close to the Capital District.
“Our mission is to work with and showcase artists in the region, artists in the airports service area, which is generally within 80 to 90 miles of the area,” said Kathy Greenwood, curatorial assistant for the Arts & Culture Program.
The airport generally features contemporary art, which is art that has been created in the last 50 years. The art in the current exhibit was created within the last 15 years.
“We provide a lot of written info here for people may not have a lot of experience with contemporary art,” said Greenwood.
In the statement released from the airport, some of the artists and their art describe the different pieces on display. The paintings by Lin Price engage in activities where the objectives are mysterious. Darcie Abatiello, of Albany, created portraits that are based on photographs of missing persons published since the early 20th century.
Sean Hovendick, an Army veteran that currently works at Sage College, created short, provocative videos that look at contradictions in gender politics.
The third floor exhibit is generally on display for six months before another exhibit rotates in.
“The last exhibition was ‘Second Nature.’ It was about the development of humans and non-mechanically engineered things — for a lack of a better term, things from nature,” said Greenwood.
When exhibits are put together, they are often created to have a flow from one artist to the next, but figuring out that progression is a fluid process.
“Every exhibit design comes together differently. Some of the artists we group together by the way their works looks together,” said Greenwood.
With the theme for this exhibit being “Body Language,” Greenwood said she feels that it’s something everyone can enjoy and understand.
“Looking at the human figure is something I think everyone can relate to and find similarities to their self in,” said Greenwood.
For more information on the art and the Albany International Airport Art & Culture Program, go to albanyairport.com.