By Alexandria Bennett AUBURN, N.Y. (NCC News) – The art scene is no stranger to Central New York. This summer kicks off a busy start.
The Schweinfurth Art Center opened their summer exhibit: “Made and Remade: Re-Imagining Industrial Systems.” The purpose is to highlight industrial systems and the impact they have on our lives.
When you walk into the art center, the first thing you see is a huge, colorful piece of artwork. Abraham Ferraro is an artist who calls his latest installation “Directions.” There are many recycled boxes, tubes and arrows that connect at different levels and angles. Ferraro said this piece speaks to the power of being able to let go.
“I physically give this artwork up to the postal service and it goes behind closed doors and gets traveled all over the place,” Ferraro said. ” I have to let go and if it shows up damaged that’s part of the piece.”
None of the pieces have been damaged so far. Every time Ferraro shows the installation, five to 10 new pieces are created and mailed to the gallery. He brings the older pieces in himself.
The exhibit reflects a colorful playground, but when you look closer, it’s a symbol of appreciation to those who get mail to and from us.
“When I first started working on this piece, there was a lot of talk about branches closing and cutting out Saturdays,” Ferraro said. “I really wanted to thank them for the centuries of hard work that they’ve done going back to the pony express.”
Ferraro leaves tracking information, addresses, postage and mailing stickers for the audience to follow the piece’s lineage.
It’s a chance to see when and where a piece was made.
Donna Lamb is the executive director of the Schweinfurth Art Center and said there are many messages the installation portrays. Lamb is excited to have Ferraro back at the place where he first started the installation and won the Best in Show award at their “Made In NY” exhibition in 2012.
“Recycling and the construction. Building and learning how to make interlocking components,” Lamb said. “We think it’s something that can be really inspiring for kids and adults.”
To date, Ferraro says he’s used 34,686 feet of tape on the installation which equals 6.6 miles. From the looks of it, the artwork’s journey will only keep growing.
The exhibit also features the work of two other artists and will be open through August 18. Visit their website for more information.
