"Art in the Garden"

Albert Paley sculpture show opens March 25 at San Antonio Botanical Garden

The spring Art in the Garden exhibit at the San Antonio Botanical Garden will open during Contemporary Art Month, this year showcasing the work of artist Albert Paley. Known for his integration of art and architecture, Paley will exhibit his contemporary steel sculptures throughout the 33 acres of the Botanical Garden. The exhibit features a diverse set of steel sculptures: some reflect the influence of surrealism while others lean towards abstraction. Ranging in height from 7 ½ to over 15 feet and weighing 2000-9000 pounds, each piece possesses intense movement of its elements and gives off the feel of contained chaos. Paley created his sculptures from CorTen Steel and stainless steel. The show is curated by Bill FitzGibbons, Executive Director of Blue Star Contemporary Art Center.

The San Antonio Botanical Society and Blue Star Contemporary Art Center are co-sponsoring the sculpture exhibition. Generous underwriting from The Russell Hill Rogers Fund for the Arts helped to make Art in the Garden possible. Blue Star Contemporary Art Center would like to thank The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. for its generous support in exhibition funding.

Botanical Garden Director Bob Brackman is always excited to see works of art installed in the Garden. "The composition of Paley's art has a wonderful organic quality that fits seamlessly into the Garden's landscape" he relates. "Each artist brings his own creative style to Art in the Garden exhibits, but always combines the natural beauty of the garden with the excitement of outdoor contemporary structures."

Blue Star Contemporary Art Center and the San Antonio Botanical Garden have partnered for on Art in the Garden exhibits for the past five years. "We are so pleased to have Art in the Garden open during Contemporary Art Month in March," says Bill FitzGibbons. "The colorful spring foliage is a perfect contrast backdrop to Paley's hard-edged steel designs."

An opening reception for the Paley exhibit is scheduled for early evening on March 25 with the artist present. The public is welcome. Art in the Garden will be on display through the fall.

Albert Paley: Albert Paley has been active as an artist for over 30 years at his studio in Rochester, New York. He is the first metal sculptor to receive the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Institute of Architects, the AIA's highest award to a non-architect.

Commissioned by both public institutions and private corporations, Paley has completed more than 50 site-specific works. Some notable examples are the Portal Gates for the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC; Synergy, a ceremonial archway in Philadelphia; the Portal Gates for the New York State Senate Chambers in Albany; and Sentinel, a monumental plaza sculpture for Rochester Institute of Technology

Pieces by Albert Paley can be found in the permanent collections of many major museums including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Broadly published and an international lecturer, Paley received both his BFA and MFA from the Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia. He received honorary doctorates from the University of Rochester in 1989, the State University of New York at Brockport in 1996, and St. Lawrence University, in Canton, New York in 1997. He also holds an endowed chair at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Additional information and photos of Albert Paley can be found on www.albertpaley.com.

The San Antonio Botanical Society: A Botanical Society membership allows visitors to enjoy daytime admission-free visits to the Garden all year, so that they can enjoy Art in the Garden as well as other exhibits. For an annual membership of $60, a family with two adults and up to four guests (including children or grandchildren) can have free daytime admission year-round.

Blue Star Contemporary Art Center: Blue Star Contemporary Art Center is a non-profit, non-collecting contemporary art center in San Antonio, Texas that advances the growth and understanding of contemporary art, artists and the curatorial process. Through exhibitions and a variety of programs, Blue Star is an active participant in the development of regional, national and international contemporary art and provides a lively forum for the visual arts dialogue. For more information visit www.bluestarart.org.

The Botanical Garden is located at 555 Funston at North New Braunfels Avenue and is operated under the auspices of the City of San Antonio Department of Parks & Recreation. The Garden is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. year-round except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. For more information, the public can call 210-829-5100 or visit www.sabot.org.

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