Triangle 1987

Nancy Graves made this sculpture from slender metal rods, bending and welding them into a playful form that she called 'Triangle.' I can picture her in the studio, the air thick with the smell of welding, coaxing these wiry lines into shape. The structure is like a constellation, with geometric shapes trailing off in different directions. I bet Graves felt like she was building a thought, not just an object. I wonder if she had a clear image in her mind, or if the piece evolved as she worked? The cage-like structure seems to anchor the form, contrasting with the open, airy lines shooting off in every direction. It’s like some kind of strange creature, standing there! Artists are always in conversation with each other, and with the history of art. Graves's piece is an invitation to see the world in new, unexpected ways. It’s like she’s saying, “Here, look at this thing I made, isn’t it strange and wonderful?”