Magnolia Passage 2006

Anthony Caro, sometime in the 20th or 21st century, made this sculpture out of painted steel. The way the structure is so exposed puts the process right there on display, which I think is pretty cool. It's kind of like seeing the skeleton of a building before the walls go up, you know? The rough edges and industrial feel of the steel give it this raw, almost unfinished quality. But then you've got these pops of color – the grey and that intense purple – that seem to want to soften everything. The purple cylinder is particularly interesting. It acts as a kind of visual anchor, a solid block against the open framework. I think it also gives the piece some unexpected warmth. It reminds me a little of David Smith, who also worked with steel but whose work has a lightness of touch. Art isn’t about answers; it’s more like an ongoing conversation, each piece responding to what came before.