Sculpture #3

Title: Unity

Year: 1970

Artist: George Kratina

Location: In the courtyard by Building 8, State Campus, Albany NY

Material: Welded Aluminium

This is a circular abstract sculpture of what appears to be four individuals intermingled. They may possibly by helping or holding each other. Their body, legs and arms are hard to distinguish from each other. This sculpture is elevated about eight feet from the ground on a pedestal due to the location of the sculpture in a seasonal fountain. The sculpture itself is about five feet tall and about seven feet in diameter.

The texture of the sculpture is coarse. You are able to walk all around the sculpture and view it from different angles. From different views, it appears that what you thought was one persons hand is another persons leg and vice versa. This theme goes along well with the title of "Unity" by showing that we are all connected. Also, the location is an important aspect that it is in a courtyard that is visited by several different State Agencies.

Since the sculpture is freestanding outside and made of aluminium, the outside elements have changed the color of the sculpture over time. Much of his sculpture now has a rust color on it due to environmental factors. This is an open form sculpture. I think that this is an important effect , since it is outside and the sun can shine against it and through it. How the sun shines through it also changes your interpretation of it. In viewing the sculpture, one individual is decidedly higher then the others at one angle. However, if you change your positioning, they all appear to be even.

After researching about the sculpture, apparently he is known as a Catholic sculptor. When I was viewing the sculpture, I did not have that information. However, in my notes during my observation I wrote "sculpture seems religious"- not sure if this is the intent with this sculpture since it is placed on State property, but the posture and feel of the sculpture seemed like something I have seen in church.