Untitled [Maquette for the Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY]

Nivola realized this design for his last largescale sandcast commission: the lobby of the Legislative Office Building in Albany, New York. The Legislative Office Building, part of the Empire State Plaza complex in downtown Albany is home to the Legislative Branch of the New York State Senate, responsible for drafting and approving revisions to the laws of New York. Nivola’s relief is negatively cast, and he relied on these to execute his projects. The design consists of a series of abstracted figures contained within pronounced geometric forms, a detail that registers the artist’s unique sandcasting process. The maquette’s grid-like pattern is reflected in the full-scale version of the work, although the divisions have been reconfigured. In the model, the four horizontal sections are split into five. The work in situ, on the other hand, emphasizes the vertical axis; the number of separate panels is reduced to four.