Savvy Senior: Get Paid for Being a Family Caregiver What Happened to the Media Hype About the Silver Tsunami? FREE Pension Decision: Lump Sum or Lifetime Income? 55 The Creative Energy of Quilting PLUS Issue 24 November / December 2013 For Active Adults in the Rochester Area

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Volunteering Levels are at a 10-year high among 55-plus MAN OF STEEL Magnolia’s owner on hosting World renowned scultptor Albert Paley still President Obama pushing boundaries of metal art for lunch 55+ cover Manof Steel Rochester sculptor Albert Paley has been pushing the boundaries of metal art for 45 years By Amy Cavalier

hances are you’ve passed by techniques, he’s transformed metal into “He is, without a doubt, the top one of world-renowned artist everything from jewelry, candlesticks person in the world,” said his wife Albert Paley’s and tables, to ornate gates, fireplaces Frances Paley, a metal and print artist at Rochester’s National and sculptures up to 100 feet tall and herself. “Nobody can forge and form Museum of Play or at the Rochester 100 tons in weight. the way he can and that’s just a fact. CInstitute of Technology. “When new opportunities or new In the way he has evolved, no one can There’s also a good chance you did experiences would arise, I would touch him.” not even realize what was right under take them on and then inadvertently Children and adults alike are your nose. I created the skills and the disciplines charmed and mystified by Paley’s 130- “There’s a tremendous creative to do other things,” Paley said. “The foot long archway Animals Always force here and I think we don’t have drive was finding out what my abilities for the St. Louis Zoo. His ceremonial many opportunities to see things like are or what my boundaries are or what archways grace major cities including this or people like this,” said R. Roger it is all about.” and Iowa State University Remington, Vignelli distinguished “Paley is one of the primary in Ames, Iowa, and he has permanent professor of design at RIT. “We know American sculptors,” said Bruce collections in major museums including about it because we’ve read about Beasley, a widely recognized and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Picasso and great artists and great accomplished American sculptor , the Museum of Fine Arts in sculptors, but having him here in our based in Oakland, Calif. “His work Boston and Houston, and the Victoria presence and being close to the whole is very vigorous and he’s a master at and Albert Museum in London. process is such a valuable opportunity bending and shaping of the metal. He This year, Paley unveiled one for everyone.” manipulates metal in a way that’s quite of his most ambitious projects yet Since coming to Rochester to teach unusual and pretty exceptional.” —13 sculptures on ’s at RIT in 1969, Paley has assembled a Known for his signature style Park Avenue — and he completed body of work that includes over 60 of forging cold hard metal into soft, “Soliloquy,” the centerpiece of the large-scale, site-specific sculptures in ribbon-like shapes, audiences around of the University the continental United States, Asia the world have been wowed by of Rochester’s Centennial and Europe and hundreds of private Paley’s portal gates at the Renwick Park unveiled in October. At the age and public commission pieces. Using Gallery of the Smithsonian Institute in of 69, there is no punch clock, no 9-to-5 an amalgamation of materials and Washington, D.C. schedule, no retiring for Paley. Art isn’t

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Albert Paley working in his studio in Gates.

November / December 2013 - 55 PLUS 29 55+ cover something he does to make a living. school working as a studio assistant. Frolich. “This is my life,” he said. “Because of that I had the keys Landing a job as a professor From class artist to the to the school so when security would of goldsmithing at the School for Smithsonian kick people out, I would work until American Crafts at RIT in 1969, Paley two, three, four in the morning and said, afforded him the luxury of not Growing up in Philadelphia, Paley use all the facilities, so I just worked having to compromise his aesthetic gravitated toward the arts. Voted class non-stop,” he said. direction in order to make a living as artist, he worked in the art department In his senior year, Paley was an artist. at Gimbels department store in high chosen for a teaching assistanceship “It allowed me to be very idealistic school. Using $600 in war bonds, assisting professors and teaching and very much a purist about what I he enrolled at Tyler School of Art at at night and during summers. He was about,” he said. in 1962. He likens continued teaching through his Remington was a faculty member becoming an artist to a monk taking a graduate studies. when Paley began teaching at the vow of poverty. By the mid-1960s, Paley had begun college. “When I realized, whether it was displaying his work at museums and “I don’t think Albert has changed an epiphany or not, that this was the art colleges and being featured in trade that much in terms of his way of life that I wanted to lead, you were magazines throughout New England. working, his way of being,” he said. dedicating yourself to a lifestyle and In 1968, using earnings from selling “He’s always been a person of integrity. dedicating yourself to a process that his art, Paley took a trip to Europe I feel he’s always been a master at was not economically viable at all,” where he studied the techniques of working with form, shapes and three he said. European metal work and met famed dimensions, whether it’s a tiny piece Majoring in sculpture with a minor jewelers and metalsmiths, including of jewelry or a large architectural in metal, Paley paid his way through the Pomodoro brothers and Max structure.”

Reaching new heights: These four photos show the process from the drawing to the first cardboard model to the second cardboard model to the final installed piece... this is Languorous Repose which is located at 66th Street and Park Avenue in New York City.

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After four years at RIT, Paley lows through the years. He has been he would not have made it,” said went to teach drawings, 3-D design, the subject of multiple books and Frances. goldsmithing and sculpture at SUNY- various films including “Albert Paley: Made in Rochester Brockport. He and his wife met in 1974. Man of Steel” produced by American She was studying metal work at San Public Television. An endowed chair Paley has four large public Diego State University where he was at the College of Imaging Arts and artworks on display in Rochester. In giving a lecture. Sciences at RIT, Paley lectures world- addition to his site-specific sculpture “He was very well known even wide and at universities, museums and at the National Museum of Play, his then,” Frances said. “He was only 30 art forums in the U.S. on a monthly 40-foot-tall “Genesee Passage” has years old but he was the top person basis. been located outside the former Bausch in jewelry art form anywhere. We’re In 1995, Paley was the first non- & Lomb headquarters since 1996. talking United States and Europe.” architect to win the institute honors “Sentinel,” a 73-foot steel and bronze His first public commission was for award from the American Institute of sculpture, has adorned the entrance to the at the Smithsonian Architects. RIT since 2003 and in 2006, he created American Art Museum in 1974 when In 2002, Paley was severely burned “Threshold” for Klein Steel’s services he completed the Portal Gates. He then in a propane explosion. Paley spent headquarters. created the Paley fence at the Hunter one month in the burn unit at Strong That only scratches the surface of Museum of Art in Chattanooga, Tenn. Memorial Hospital. After undergoing Paley’s resume. And it’s all done right in 1976. multiple surgeries and skin grafts, and here in Rochester. The Strong Sculpture in front of working determinedly through rehab, “There’s no other place like it the National Museum of Play was his Paley healed, returning to his work. in the country,” said Frances of her first site-specific sculpture in 1982. “If he hadn’t been as close to husband’s Rochester studio. Paley’s career has seen highs and the hospital as we were, it’s possible Paley’s studio was located on West

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Main Street from the early 1970s until of this business.” Paley’s “Genesee 1985 when he moved to a 15,000-square- At the studio, towering sculptures Passage,” foot studio on South Washington Street. draw visitors inside to where Paley’s 1996, rises on Three years ago, he moved into his lamps are perched on desks, combining the grounds of current 40,000-square-foot workshop art and functionality. Several massive Bausch & Lomb located off Lyell Avenue in Gates. gates grace the large open space and headquarters. There are 13 full-time employees, the sculptures rest seemingly precariously most he’s ever employed. Nearly 350 on stands. Each piece represents a people tour each year in addition to different type of material or technique numerous fundraisers held at the or demonstrates Paley’s visions of studio, according to Jennifer Laemlein, shapes and form. studio director. Inside Paley’s work space, models “He works long days,” said made of cardboard and a variety of Laemlein. “He has no qualms at all other materials are spread across about rolling up his sleeves and getting various stations. Laemlein turns one of in there. He’s also a perfectionist, so the models over to reveal that the base when he has an idea in mind, we have is a repurposed cardboard. to make sure we meet his expectations. “If he’s looking for something He’s very hands-on with every aspect representative of a shape, he’ll use

“Threshold,” 2006, is installed at Klein Steel company.

Albert Paley has four works on display in Rochester. His Memorial Art Gallery piece recently installed plus the piece destined for RIT in November will bring his total sculptures in Rochester to six. (Photos by Bruce Miller.)

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“Sentinel”, 2003, is Gallery at 3450 Winton Place, has on campus of the represented Paley’s work including Rochester Institute of candleholders, coffee tables, lamps, Technology. small to medium size sculptures and maquettes of his larger monumental pieces for about seven years. “He’s not just a passing, everyday artist,” she said. “He has a reputation. He has credentials. He’s in museums and he has monumental pieces all over the world. He’s a treasure to Rochester and it’s a real feather in Rochester’s cap to have been able to have kept him here.” On the studio floor, Paley is involved in every stage of the process. Two techniques are utilized in creating the sculptures. Forging involves traditional blacksmithing techniques, where a bar of steel is heated and shaped with hammers or by pulling it or compressing it. “This is a hot, physical, labor- intensive process,” said Laemlein. Paley also uses fabricated metal techniques in his sculptures. Patterns are sent out to steel suppliers which use various cutting methods including plasma cutting, laser cutting and water jet cutting, depending on the materials’ thickness and the desired aesthetic Paley is designing for. Day-to-day operations work like chopsticks, dental floss, spray cans, or glass or steel or I carve wood or stone, any other business, with organizational even repurposed box materials such as so that varies.” meetings to make sure projects are materials that one would find in their ‘A treasure’ in Rochester staying on budget and schedule. home recycling bin,” said Laemlein. Laemlein communicates with clients Nan Miller, owner of Nan Miller “He doesn’t get a lot of uninterrupted and staff on the floor while studio work time here, so a lot of his design work happens during off hours. We’ve gotten sketches on napkins.” This sculpture, from 1982, is at Paley begins the process with a Strong Museum. series of drawings that then go into cardboard models. Next, a metal model is created to work out the structural engineering and the joining of the steel. That model, or maquette, becomes the basis for fabrication. Some of Paley’s sculptures are made of painted steel while others are made of Corten, an atmospheric corrosion-resistant steel patented by U.S. Steel. “Sometimes it’s stainless steel, sometimes it’s bronze. Sometimes we use patina, sometimes we paint it,” he said, glancing around his studio at the various mediums. “You can see a lot of glass here. I do sculptures with November / December 2013 - 55 PLUS 33 55+ cover foreman Jeff Jubenville, an employee Paley on four projects, including a partnership between The Fund for at the studio for 27 years, conveys several gates for the Virginia Museum Park Avenue’s Temporary Public Art Paley’s vision to the metal workers of Fine Arts, Sewanne: The University Collection and Public Art Program of on the floor. of the South in , and the the City of New York’s Department of “We have understandings with central branch of Howard County Parks and Recreation, artists can apply very few words really spoken,” Library System in Columbia, Md. or be chosen for the opportunity. Close Jubenville said. “I can understand “I think anything that makes to three years ago, Paley was selected what he wants with few words spoken. architecture richer is a good thing,” for the series. When he is at the studio, he has to Holzman said. “I view the things “I have thousands of sculptures switch gears like 12 times a day. If Albert has done for the buildings that that have never been realized so I you can’t keep up with that you’re in I have designed in that vein. He has went into my archives and there were trouble.” added something to them that the pieces that I always wanted to do that The difference between a regular architecture alone could not provide. I never had the opportunity to do so business and an art studio is that Paley’s It enhances the architecture and it also I figure now is the time,” he said. “I sculptures are not mass- produced. makes it a richer environment for the took the various drawings and photo Sculptures can range in price from people who use it.” -montaged them into various sites $250,000 to $3 million. It is important Reaching new heights and that is what I presented to the to stay on budget and schedule, and committee.” to meet clients expectations while “What I’m doing now is different Asked to provide six pieces, Paley planning for a unique design that than what I was doing 30 years ago developed designs for 13 sculptures has not been fabricated prior and and it changes because you develop within 10 days. Traditionally, the Park may have unforeseen challenges, said different skills and abilities,” he said. Avenue Temporary Art Collection Laemlein. “There’s an evolution.” features three artists a year. Due to “Albert never does anything This year, Paley landed one of his the magnitude of Paley’s proposal, the half-way, so everything that’s done most high-profile exhibits yet in New duration of the exhibit was extended to is 150 percent, which means there York City’s Park Avenue district. He six months from June until November are demands on people, financial also unveiled “Soliloquy.” of this year. demands, emotional demands,” said For 16 years, the large-scale works “Paley’s is the 22nd exhibition Frances. “It’s intense.” of world-renowned artists have been we’ve done since the formation of the Malcolm Holzman, a partner of temporarily on display on the medians sculpture committee in 1999 and it’s Holzman, Moss, Bottino Architecture of Park Avenue which run over the certainly one of the most ambitious in New York City, has worked with subway tracks. Made possible through exhibitions we’ve had in terms of the Albert Paley Waxes Poetic

Paley on vulnerability: experienced along the way.” — from Paley on art today: “To challenge yourself, you “Meet the Artist: Museum of Glass “Now if you get a master’s have to go into new realities that on Albert Paley” (www.youtube. degree or bachelor’s degree in art you haven’t experienced. You create com/watch?v=gsgI74niiOo) you’re more likely to be hired in a problem where you paint yourself industry because now the key word into the corner and the problem is Paley on creating: is innovation and creativity and this how do you get out of the corner “The art process is a very dynamic is what allows breakthroughs in Ultimately that creates innovation.” one. It deals with introspection. A companies. The art process is one — from the video series “Paley lot of it is self-realization. I don’t that allows you a different type of on Park Avenue: New York City” know what I am capable of doing perspective to problem solve in a produced by WXXI (interactive. until I do it and the process allows different way that allows things to wxxi.org/paleynyc) for that.” — from Albert Paley happen. So now people with fine arts degrees have an edge over people, Paley on inspiration: on the Memorial Art Gallery’s “Soliloquy” (http://mag.rochester. which is a total transformation that “The inspiration for the work is edu/centennial-sculpture-park/ has happened.” kind of difficult to figure out, because about-artists/albert-paley/) For more on Paley, visit www. obviously it’s based on everything, albertpaley.com/ my own sensibilities plus what I’ve

34 55 PLUS - November / December 2013 55+ cover number of pieces, size and scope,” and open on Oct. 13. With the mission said Jonathan Kuhn, director of art and of the project being “Connecting antiquities for New York City’s Parks People with Art,” Paley said the Department. title “Soliloquy” is reflective of the Ranging from 15 to 21 feet tall and individual transformation which up to 40 feet long, with the heaviest occurs from viewing art, reading weighing over seven tons, Paley’s books, listening to music, attending 13 sculptures were unveiled in June plays or opera, or pursuing education between 52nd and 67th streets on or training, among other experiences Park Avenue. The process from start to which create an individual’s vision of installation is the subject of “Paley on the world. Park Ave: New York City,” a six-part The 25-foot-tall, brightly painted series produced by WXXI. stainless steel sculpture will anchor High-level sponsorships the Memorial Art Gallery’s Goodman Street entrance, joining over 20 other Before Paley’s studio could sculptures on display outside the build the Park Avenue sculptures, he gallery. Paley’s “2000 Millennial Bench” had to find sponsors to fund them, has been reinstalled on the University each of which retails at $300,000 to Avenue side of the campus. $800,000. When the exhibit closes in Paley has helped turn the notion November, eight of the 13 pieces will of art from a private object to a be permanently installed in sponsors’ public celebration, MAG Director collections. Sites include public parks Grant Holcomb said in May when in Lincoln, Neb. and Leawood, Kan., awarding Paley with the 2013 Eastman university art programs and private Medal, presented by the University of collections. The five remaining will be Rochester. sold or potentially go on exhibit at a “Albert Paley has recast our is placed … what it is,” she said. sculpture park. understanding of metal as a medium,” “Everything.” “Cloaked Intention,” a 20-foot-tall, said Holcomb. “A true master artist, In all actuality though, Frances said, 4 ton weathered steel sculpture built for Albert Paley has not only reshaped the man of steel is a real gentleman. the Park Avenue project, was sponsored what it means to forge iron into art but “He’s humble,” she said. “This by RIT and trustee emeritus Ann has also demonstrated a vision that has guy is not about ego stuff. He really Mulligan, a distinguished professorship altered our appreciation of sculpture likes to work.” in contemporary crafts at RIT. Slated and architecture.” Paley said he finds his best to be installed on the campus in a Man behind the steel inspiration being present and living public gathering area surrounded by in the moment. Center for Integrated Manufacturing Often called a perfectionist, Paley “It’s strange, even though a lot of Studies and the Golisano Institute for admits there is competitiveness in his thought goes into this, I really function Sustainability and College of Health nature. in the present tense and I always try Sciences, “Cloaked Intention” is the “That’s one of the reasons I was to,” he said. “I’m doing exactly what second Paley sculpture at RIT. drawn to metal because it’s probably I want to do. After all this time, if I Efforts to bring public artwork the most difficult and most resistant wasn’t doing what I wanted to do I’d by renowned artists like Paley, Henry material as far as physical material be very frustrated.” Moore and Jose de Rivera started and control and to develop that kind Retirement isn’t in Paley’s nearly a decade ago, according to RIT’s of refinement takes a huge amount vocabulary. When pressed, he senior vice president of finance and of discipline, skill and demand,” he responded, “You mean when you administration and treasurer James said. “It’s a challenge so I get extreme die?” Watters. satisfaction out of that.” “Say you had a child. When do “The campus has a very corporate His wife Frances has a degree in you stop being a mother? If you’re feeling,” said Watters. “That came metal working as well as psychotherapy. alive and you think and you feel, when through in the surveys. We wanted to She’s managed art programs at RIT. Her do you stop thinking? When do you make it more of a university feel with fine art prints apply digital techniques stop experiencing things? When do gardens, public art, landscaping and to original photography to give the you stop being emotional? When do public spaces that were very inviting image deep emotional impact. Frances’ you stop being sensitive? When do as well as a lot of other things, as far as office is located at her Paley Studios. you stop engaging?” Paley questioned. new housing, and pretty much a full It’s clear their home is one of two “There’s no such a thing. When you transformation of the campus.” artists, she said. think of a job as a job … but this isn’t Paley’s most recent sculpture “Everything is exactly chosen and a job. It’s who I am. So when do I not “Soliloquy” was installed in September I really mean that … where everything become who I am? When I’m dead.” November / December 2013 - 55 PLUS 35