The Navy Yard Garden & Art, in partnership with the Boston Planning & Development Agency, is offering the public the unique experience, Of Many Minds, featuring 20 large scale sculptures by Michael Alfano, to be displayed at the Charlestown Navy Yard along the Boston Harborwalk. Alfano’s monumental, figurative bronze and mixed media sculptures will be organized into groups of six along a one-mile section of the Harborwalk, stretching from the USS Constitution National Park to Mayor Menino Park at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, “where more than a million people per year, of all walks of life, will be able to access art and culture free of charge,” notes the exhibition press release.
Questioning Mind, bronze, 72 x 48 x 30"
In addition, the artworks will be paired with open ended quotes to encourage other interpretations, while also furthering Alfano’s philosophical themes. “There are so many layers and meanings to Michael’s sculptures,” remark collectors of his work, Bonnie and Scott Dittrich. “Spending the time to contemplate one of his pieces of art can arouse many different emotions or, if just casually observing for pure enjoyment his art, can convey emotions on an entirely other realm.”
Liquid Sunshine, painted cast aluminum and steel can, 80 x 30 x 30"
Alfano is primarily a figurative sculptor, with all his pieces portraying a deeper message and telling significant stories. “For me, the human figure is so important to my work,” says the artist. “[It] speaks to our sensibility and our life condition, and the overall inspiration is creating pieces that speak to humanity. I also found that the human face [in particular] is so recognizable and poignant. We’re brought up to have faces as the center of our lives. [Creating sculptural faces has been] a wonderful way to capture attention and speak to people individually.
For example, Alfano’s Liquid Sunshine, an eight-foot-tall aluminum piece depicting a partial face forming from a can of pouring yellow paint, speaks to “pouring creativity out into the world,” he says. The piece is paired with the quote, “Turn towards the sun and all shadows will fall behind you,” adapted from Charles Swain. Alfano notes that while this is very logistically true, it also hits on an emotional level. “As you’re facing the sun with its goodness and warmth, it’s a good way to live your life,” he says. Several of Alfano’s sculptures are about being an artist and being creative.
Unraveling, bronze, 26 x 16 x 7"
Another highlight in the show featuring a human face is the piece Questioning Mind, depicting the face in the form of a question mark. Paired with the quote, “The important thing is to not stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing,” by Albert Einstein, the piece is “pretty self-explanatory,” says Alfano. “One of the hallmarks of humanity is that we’re always questioning. We’re always looking for new ways to do things: a faster computer, faster car or how to get to Mars. That has driven humanity in the past, but it’s also about looking into the future: What are the new developments? How do we live a life that’s sustainable? The question is the answer in life sometimes.”
Turning Heads, painted resin, 56 x 24 x 12"Alfano tackles other important topics in his work like acceptance of diversity and learning to live in harmony, represented in show pieces Gates of Transcendence and Turning Heads. In Unraveling, featuring two figures in a battle of tug of war, he addresses our universal need for balance, working together and equitable solutions.
For both the Navy Yard Garden & Art and Alfano, the goal is to “force curiosity and wonder as you walk through the show.” Alfano continues, “We really hope that we’re able to encourage a mindset that hears multiple points of view and feel a common unity…We can make humanity better.”
There will be QR Codes throughout the exhibit where people can visit the show’s website, see the full exhibit and access the map. —
Navy Yard Garden & Art
Charlestown, MA 02129
(781) 248-3922 • www.navyyardgarden.org
Powered by Froala Editor
