BUILT is Historic Albany Foundation’s charitable auction and fundraiser. The art show, which features everything from sculpture to paintings, from photography to mixed media, encompasses the breadth and depth of Capital District artists who put their own personal spin on historic Capital District architecture and history.
I’ve entered BUILT for the past fifteen years or so, and I’m pleased that the proceeds from the pieces that were claimed at auction have helped preserve Capital District historic structures and constructs.
So let’s see what I’ve got for BUILT this year. Remember, all the submissions have to encompass the team of Capital District history and/or architecture.
So let’s start with this piece …
WHAT TIME ARE THE FIREWORKS AT THE EMPIRE STATE PLAZA?
This was from my Fourth of July fireworks shot – the one I took back in July from East Greenbush. You know, the one where I shot from the overhang at the Holiday Inn rather than deal with the thousands of people in the Plaza itself.
I took my original photo capture, and printed it so that it could be incorporated into this old bar clock. The hope is that this will end up in some patriotic art lover’s man-cave or rumpus room.
And here’s the original blog post that chronicles how I created this art piece.
And then for a classic oldie but goodie … I dusted this print off.
INSTAMATIC L-KEN’S
I forgot that I took this picture – it was during a time when I experimented with vintage Kodak Instamatic film. You know, the stuff that came in those little plastic cartridges and you popped the cartridge into a camera, took twelve shots, then took the cartridge out and shipped it to the local Fotomat? Yeah, that stuff.
This shot layers two Instamatic rolls in a parallel line, and you can see the frame marks and guidelines as the barrier between that classic Googie architecture sign with the waving chef on top that looked like a cartoon version of Mario Cuomo.
Thankfully, my memory can use an enhancement – and after searching my blog archives, I discovered that I captured this little image way back in 2015. ELEVEN YEARS AGO.
Yeah, that sign was in rough shape. One year later, it was disassembled and taken away; the land where the eatery once stood is now a Verizon call center. Ugh.
Well, if nothing else, I’ll have this L-Ken’s image to submit. And off it goes to the BUILT committee.
I won’t know if either (or both) of these artworks will be part of the auction and sale, but if they are, I’m sure that their future homes will be in places of acceptance – and that HAF can make a few dollars for building preservation. And I’m totally on point with that.
Chuck The Writer 