BARRY LE VA: Silent Readings

In our main gallery space, we are excited to present a major new sculpture by American artist Barry Le Va (b. 1941) entitled Silent Readings. Comprised of cast resin, cement, aluminum bars and stainless steel ball bearings, the approximately 22’ x 12’ sculpture has a proportional relationship to the architectural framework of the gallery.

Silent Readings is conceptually rooted in Le Va’s pioneering work of the late 1960s, in which the artist claimed the architecture of the gallery space as his field of operation. In these early works, the resulting arrangements played out across the floor like crime scenes in which the viewer was encouraged to disentangle clues and evidence. The summation of Le Va’s ideas throughout the years, along with his considered use of materials, have made way for greater possibilities of freedom in this new sculpture.

The installation is accompanied by 12 new ink drawings that provide an essential glimpse into the artist’s creative process, uncovering the many permutations that are essential to realizing the arrangement finally chosen for this new work.