Mines 2009

Peter Alexander made this sculpture, "Mines," from cast resin. It’s like a solid block of light, isn’t it? It makes you wonder, how does something so solid appear so ethereal? The color seems to glow from within. It’s not just blue, it's like a memory of blue – the ocean, the sky, something far away and dreamlike. Notice how the surface isn’t perfectly smooth. There are ripples, waves almost, trapped inside. It's like the piece is breathing, ever so slightly. I’m reminded of Larry Bell's glass cubes; there's a similar focus on light and perception. But where Bell is cool, this is warm. Ultimately, though, Alexander's "Mines" reminds us that art is about seeing and feeling and questioning, and that there is beauty to be found in the unexpected.