Sol LeWitt Wall Drawing I

I'm going to start posting my experiences working as an independent contractor at the Albright Knox Art Gallery ... working on a scribble drawing here, the biggest wall drawing that LeWitt designed (and his last), is such an intense and fascinating opportunity.

I heard about it from family who live nearby (and with whom I'm staying while I'm at this job -- about 2 months) and was lucky enough to receive the position after applying and flying here for an interview. My interview with Ilana, the assistant curator who is in charge of this project, flew by and I hoped that I would get to see her again and to work with her / under her direction.

My first day at the Knox was thrilling. I walked into the education doors, into a hallway which I have gotten to know intimately. There is a security guard / doorman at a desk there, and the walls are covered with portraits / faces done by autistic students (children?). On the first day, I sat on a bench against the wall, lined up in a row with the other apprentices. Most of us had never seen each other before, but I was somewhat intimidated by the two young women sitting close to me who knew each other and chatted familiarly.

I was interested in the artistically handsome young man with a mess of hair under a knit beanie, and hoped that I would get to know him better. I also immediately recognized the twin of a fellow who I had met a few days before in the coffee shop with my cousin. We had chatted with him a bit and after I revealed to him what brought me to the area, he told me that his twin brother would be working on the project with me. It was nice to have a reason to connect with someone right away, and in fact, he has been a comforting presence among my coworkers.

Finally Ilana appeared and her presence reassured me. She told us she had breakfast for us and ushered us down the corridors into the main gallery, past the gift shop, and into what would become known as the "break room." We ate bagels and other breakfast pastries, sipped coffee and juice, and got to know each other's faces and voices while Ilana gave an introduction. We spent most of the first day getting oriented with the break room and our work space - 3 walls of various dimensions that wrap around a stairwell. The walls were, and still are, decorated with ornately constructed scaffolding, covered with plastic tarp, with zipper entry / exit ways, and a very elaborate ventilation system involving huge dragon-like clear plastic tubes that carry the "soiled" air from the work area through the museum and outside, keeping our air clear (and also sometimes rather chilly).