ALBANY, NY (05/07/2008)(readMedia)-- The Downtown Albany Business Improvement District’s (BID) highly successful public art exhibition, Sculpture in the Streets, returns this summer to enliven the downtown District with 18 new sculptures. Sculpture in the Streets brings renewed visual interest to downtown Albany’s sidewalks and parks by positioning large works of figural and abstract art throughout the district’s business and entertainment corridors.

Last year’s exhibition was inspired by presenting sponsor Rob Kivort of Kivort Steel in Waterford, NY and received wide acclaim and interest from downtown employees, visitors and residents. This year, the 10-month installation will feature works from 14 sculptors from the greater Capital Region, Massachusetts and New York City. The exhibition will kick off on Friday, June 13, with a gala Garden Party and silent auction fundraiser at downtown Albany’s Tricentennial Park and will run through April 2009.

“The event raised more than $33,000 for Sculpture in the Streets, through the sponsorships and Garden Party and silent auction donations, to help fund this year’s exhibition and future arts-related programs in downtown Albany. The response to last year’s Sculpture in the Streets exhibition was tremendous,” said Pamela Tobin, executive director of the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District. “The exhibition of these works by extremely talented regional artists, coupled with downtown’s many galleries, museums, attractions and entertainment venues, underscores our creative and culturally rich community while giving patrons another reason to visit Albany’s revitalized downtown district. With a great new line-up we look forward to an even more spectacular celebration of the arts in downtown Albany.”

This year’s exhibition is curated by Sarah Martinez, executive director of Albany Center Gallery, Benji Fox of Omni Development Company, Inc., and Kathleen Triem and Peter Franck of F:T Architecture in Ghent. The exhibition features an eclectic variety of large-scale works constructed from steel, plywood, iron, stainless steel, fiber optic lights and wood by the following artists:

- Peter Barton, Hudson, NY

- Peter Dellert, Holyoke, MA (two pieces)

- Maria Hall, Slingerlands, NY

- Matthew & Kevin Hart (aka Harts of Steel), Schodack Landing, NY

- Jack Howard-Potter, New York, NY (two pieces)

- Joseph Joslyn, Greenfield Center, NY (two pieces)

- Steven Rolf Kroeger, Albany, NY

- Jim Lewis, Troy, NY

- Terry L.H. Slade, Schenevus, NY

- Bob Turan, Earlton, NY

- mi Chelle Vara, Wilton, NY (two pieces)

- Mary Pat Wager, East Greenbush, NY

- Leigh Wen, Loudonville, NY

- Chad L. Wilson, Wilton, NY

Presenting sponsor Kivort Steel is a full-service warehouse and distributor of steel, stainless steel and aluminum products and also supports many local arts organizations. “Kivort Steel has been an active part of the Capital Region for decades, and we’re celebrating our 70th anniversary this year,” said Robert Kivort, president of Kivort Steel. “We are very proud to again present Sculpture in the Streets, especially given the resounding success of last year’s exhibit.”

Additional funding for Sculpture in the Streets has been provided by Omni Development Company, Inc., CSArch Architecture and Construction Management and Boies Schiller & Flexner LLP. Individual sculpture installations are sponsored by the Beltrone Group, NBT Bank, Palace Theatre and Tri-City Rentals/Massry Rental Partners. The Sculpture in the Streets tour map is underwritten by Albany Medical Center Foundation, Capital Bank, Clough Harbour & Associates, LLP, KPMG, LLP, National Grid and Premiere Transportation Group.

The honorary chairman of the Sculpture in the Streets Garden Party is Edward P. Swyer, and the event is sponsored by life@home, a Times Union Publication. The fundraiser will take place on Friday, June 13, from 6:00-9:00pm at Tricentennial Park, located at Broadway and Columbia Street in downtown Albany. The event will be catered by Angelo’s 677 Prime, with wines from Joseph Carr Wines and music by Cathy Blanch and the Murres. The highlight of the event will be a silent auction featuring scale models of several sculptures in the exhibition. The rain location, historic Peter Kiernan Plaza, (Bank of America) across the street from the park, is provided by US Trust, a division Bank of America. Tickets to the event are $75 ($50 for young professionals under 35). For additional information and to RSVP, call the Downtown Albany BID at 518-465-2143.

For complete information about Sculpture in the Streets, including sculpture information, artist biographies, Garden Party details and more, visit www.downtownalbany.org or email bmcewing@downtownalbany.org.

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About the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District

The Downtown Albany BID, incorporated in 1996, is a private, not-for profit 501© (3) organization that works to restore, promote and maintain the character and viability of downtown Albany and to improve the quality of life and overall image of downtown for all those who work in, live in and visit the Capital City. Ample public parking is available at downtown’s public garages, lots and on-street metered spaces. Metered parking is free after 6 p.m. on weekdays and all weekends. For information about the Downtown Albany BID, call (518) 465-2143 or visit www.downtownalbany.org.

About Kivort Steel

Headquartered in Waterford, N.Y., and founded in 1938, Kivort Steel provides customers with cost-effective solutions for their metal needs. Fabricators, construction companies, industrial companies and the individual customer all rely on Kivort Steel’s expertise to facilitate their projects. The company delivers its products within a 150-mile radius of Waterford and offers same-day delivery. Kivort Steel is celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2008. For information about Kivort Steel visit www.kivortsteel.com.

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Posted Wednesday May 07, 2008 at 04:54 pm by Downtown Albany BID