From murals to found art, Palaia’s palette has broad sweep
Editor’s note: What Inspires Me is a regular feature in Enjoy! that asks visual and performing artists and writers about the passions that motivate them to create or perform. If you would like to write about your passion for this feature, email bfarrell@poughkeepsiejournal.com
My artwork encompasses several media: photography, frescoes, sculpture, light boxes, murals, public art, artist books, graphic design, as well as curating, gallerist and music.
Since 1990 my work has been addressing environmental issues, specifically in the form of illuminated photo-sculpture. The early works were made of found and recycled domestic and industrial objects, such as crates, suitcases, appliances, lamps, auto parts, furniture and even an entire car. I incorporate fluorescent and LED lights into these objects to illuminate photo transparencies that I make from my photography from various parts of the world. The imagery ranges from pollution, murals and street art, architectural structures and antiquity, war scenes and natural phenomena, to name a few.
Found objects inspire me by making me think about the objects’ former life and how I can re-purpose it into something new and useful, both visually and functionally, in essence giving the object a second life, perhaps, and hopefully, a better life. Many times the found object is a catalyst for creative inventiveness. The incorporated illuminated photo, or photos, makes the viewer focus on the image, which brings extra attention to it. People are naturally attracted to light in any form.
My murals and public art are almost always inspired by history of the area where the mural is located. For example, three major murals I have painted in Poughkeepsie since 2002 all reflect the history of their neighborhoods, and include the “Olde Main Street Mural” on Main and Markets streets, the “Italian Heritage Mural” at Dongan Park, Little Italy, and the “Ice House Mural” on the riverfront, in Waryas Park’s Ice House restaurant. Poughkeepsie is a very rich historical city, so there is always an abundance of imagery to work with. I am always excited by murals because they are the best medium for an artist. They are an important medium because they bring art out into the real world, where people from all walks of life can interact and engage with them no matter what their education or what language they speak, or their age. Murals activate the environment and allow artists to make a major public statement as compared to exhibiting in a gallery, where very few people actually see the work.
Images from other countries also inspire me. I have been photographing murals from dozens of countries since 1976. A recent photo series from 2013 are murals of Cuba. I was there for two weeks in 2013 before President Obama’s loosening of diplomatic ties. I compiled 100 murals and street art, and have written, lectured and presented samples of the series in local publications and galleries. I plan to make a book of this work later this year.
Artist Franc Palaia has presented more than 40 solo shows and 350 group shows regionally, nationally and internationally. He is the recipient of 20 grants, fellowships and residencies, including the Rome Prize, Tiffany Grant and Polaroid Sponsorships. His exhibitions include the Metropolitan Museum of Art, L.A. MoCA, P.S. 1, Whitney Museum Annex, Salvador Dali Museum, Spain, High Museum and OK Harris. He will participate in this weekend’s Art Studio Views self-guided tours in northern Dutchess County and the Saunder’s Farm Outdoor Sculpture Show in Garrison, Putnam County. Visithttp://francpalaia.com/; contact him at francpalaia1@gmail.com