Susan Meyer, MFA, specialist professor in the Department of Art and Design, recently installed an 8-foot diameter sculptural installation, “Blue Portal,” at Albany International Airport in Albany, NY. Located in Concourse B of the terminal, the piece is suspended within a 12-foot overhead round aperture. Commissioned by the Airport, the piece will remain on view for three to five years. “Blue Portal” is constructed from 1-inch by 1-inch wood lengths clad in sheathing lasercut from acrylic and collage on wood. Inserts of vinyl create a colorful visual effect, especially when interacting with the natural light at the site.
Meyer’s artwork is influenced by utopian communities and their histories in this country. Her pieces suggest the forms and palettes of ’60s era experimental communities and of Modernist architecture and design. “Blue Portal” emulates the visual dynamic of Drop City, an early commune in Trinidad, CO. For homes, Droppers created variations on the geodesic dome using multi-colored car hoods reclaimed from a nearby junkyard. In addition to channeling Drop City, the palette and collage work on the structure’s cladding loosely reference imagery from the night skies.
