Quadriptych
created by
children and adults of four UU Congregations
left to right:
#1 Albany, #2 Saratoga,
#3 Glens Falls, #4 Schenectady.
2009. Mixed Media.

This project was conceived by Sam Trumbore, Albany UU Minister, in 2009 when four Capital Area congregations were forming a new organization:  The Capital Region Unitarian Universalists of New York (CRUUNY). This organization’s purpose was to promote a new period of growth and working together. The members were Albany, Saratoga, Glens Falls and Schenectady.

The project goal was to engage each congregation in a way that would underscore our connections with each other as UU’s. The images of bridges were used to signify this linkage. The project was executed by Dan Sekellick of Albany UU with assistance from another member, Terry Way. Dan sketched the four images in a design including some of the major bridges of the Capital Region as a quadriptych in an expressionist style with recognizable cultural features of the region’s landscape.

The RE directors of the four congregations each took a panel and provided coordination within their respective groups. The project was completed in time for a joint service held by the four congregations in the spring of 2009 at Saratoga. The theme of the service was “Building Bridges.” The four panels were arranged as a quadriptych.

The panels were briefly displayed. Then they remained in temporary storage here at Albany UU for several years until a newly charged committee on Art and Aesthetics decided in 2023 that they should be on display somewhere in this building and arranged for them to be more attractively presented.

An Albany UU member, Brad Workman, was enlisted to create the look that they have now using some maple stock and much patience working with that challenging hardwood. We believe this new treatment now helps them add a welcome and playful element to this area of the church.