COUNCIL BLUFFS — A group of students from Kanesville Alternative Center, along with two from Abraham Lincoln High School, stood in the Shopko parking lot Thursday morning, the towering Albert Paley sculptures visible to the northwest.
They were there to listen as the creator of the controversial artwork explained his inspiration for “Odyssey,” a four-part sculpture installed at the four corners of the 24th Street Bridge over Interstate 80.
Kanesville art teacher Heather Mauer said the chance to meet Paley was something neither she nor her class wanted to miss.
“This is a hot topic around town. The buzz is in the paper and on TV, we’ve been talking about it in art class. The kids felt strongly about coming out here,” Mauer said. “And it’s amazing to meet the artist behind the art.”
The students asked Paley a number of questions:
Any lightning concerns? “It’s no different than a tree.”
Why straight elements as opposed to circular? “Instead of circular extensions that curl inward, curl up, I wanted to give the sculptures outstretched arms, reaching for the vast sky.”
Sean Synacek, a senior at Kanesville, said he likes the sculptures.
“I think it’s very neat. I especially like the one over there,” Synacek said, pointing to the sculpture on the northwest corner, one that has a few pieces of silver stainless steel that reminded many students of a keyboard.
“I think it’s pretty outstanding,” added Kanesville junior Harley Willett, who also identified the northwest sculpture as his favorite. “It stands out the most.”
Abraham Lincoln student Ashley Cavanaugh, a senior, said she came out to hear from the artist and to try to understand the sculptures better.
“I didn’t understand it at first, but reading up and being able to talk with people and the artist has helped,” she said. “I understand it more now.”
Paley, in Council Bluffs from his home near Rochester, N.Y., said he enjoyed meeting with the students.
“It’s important to have a dialogue with the community. The students are part of the community. It so happens they’re younger than others, but they have the same questions,” Paley said. “They’re experiencing something new for the first time. In order to appreciate something, you have to understand it. That’s why we send students to school.”
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