Many artists who work on two-dimensional surfaces try to give the illusion of depth by incorporating overlapping, size, placement, color, value and perspective. But most sculptors and craftspersons don't have to worry about resolving that problem. Their work is three-dimensional.
However, they can't ignore the other elements of visual art and principles of design. Whether used consciously or unconsciously, these are essential ingredients of successful works of art.- Recently, designers of contemporary furniture participated in the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York City. Most of their entries were fabricated in wood and were characterized by inventive designs, simple lines and sleek curves. They all reflected impeccable craftsmanship.
Utahns don't have to travel to New York City to admire this kind of furniture. They can see it right here in Salt Lake City at the Utah Designer Crafts Gallery in the exhibit "Furniture That Works."
This major show focuses on custom-designed furniture by eight local artisans. With the exception of furniture by the show's curator, Kaethe Radomski, and Geoffrey Fitzwilliam, artisans are represented by one piece of furniture each. However, one each is all that's needed to show the amazing talents of Robert Bliss, Rhees Ririe, Janet and Clinton Call, Tom Tessman and Andrew Glantz.
Highly innovative is Radomski's design for her S-shaped highboy made of alder and wenge wood. But there's more than innovation here. Radomski says that fine furniture demands both good craft and good art. "It must be functional, well-constructed and beautiful."
Fitzwilliams' occasional desk and a Frank Lloyd Wright barrel chair are handsome additions to the show.
Over the years, Fitzwilliams has done extensive study in furniture design and construction. As a result, he says he is "well-trained in virtually all aspects of furniture construction." Interested in pursuing an "American style," he has built many Frank Lloyd Wright reproduction pieces.
Bliss, a professor emeritus of architecture at the University of Utah, has designed lightweight pieces that fold or disassemble easily for storage. His entry is a deep-cradle rocker priced at $1492 in honor of Columbus.
Other pieces include a "Demi-Lune" table by Ririe; a mahogany and bronze executive desk by Glantz and a "placebo" cabinet by Tom Tessman.
And, apparently, the Calls thrive on challenges. They designed and fabricated a brightly colored chest of drawers without using any 45 degree angles. If the perspective looks a bit disturbing, that's why.
The show remains through Sept. 4 at the UDC Gallery, 38 W. 200 South, 359-2770. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The gallery is also open evenings during performances at the Capitol Theatre.
- Carol Edison, director of the Folk Arts Program of the Utah Arts Council, has put together a fascinating exhibition featuring three-dimensional arts and crafts by talented Hispanics living in Utah. Appropriately titled "Hecho en Utah," the show is on display at the Chase Home Museum of Utah Folk Art in Liberty Park.
A number of the estimated 100,000 Hispanics living in Utah continue to express their culture in traditional foods, music, dance and crafts. This exhibit focuses on works by 10 artisans whose creations are both distinctive and well-crafted.
Catalina Reyes' pinatas are not only colorful, but have their own distinctive expressions and personalities; Jacinta Zumaeta's wool landscapes are the result of a variety of stitching techniques and a great deal of patience; and Robert Martinez' hand-carved plywood crucifixes and designs are strong reminders of his homeland.
Sam Vigil purchases molds and makes statuary; Angelita Alba combines paper, cornmeal and food coloring to create her artificial flowers; Elias Perez carves flutes, pan pipes and other Andean instruments; and Jose Polo, who grew up on an island just off the coast of Columbia, builds large model boats from memory.
Weavings from palm fronds are popular in some Mexican towns. When Fortunado Marrufo obtains fronds, he makes decorative and religious items, some of which are in the exhibit.
Perhaps the most spectacular craft on display is the Yvonne Miera Lindsay's folkloric dance costume. The satin, sequined-covered skirt is called a "china poblana." It contains the four essential designs that decorate this type of costume - an eagle on a cactus (Mexico's national symbol), an Aztec sun stone, a woman in her national dress and a man in a "charro" (his national costume).
Lindsay has not only mastered sewing. She's also a dancer and teacher. On special occasions, she performs in her prized costume.
This Hispanic Folk Art exhibit remains at the Chase Home at Liberty Park through Oct. 13. Viewing hours are noon to 5 p.m. daily to Labor Day (Sept. 7), and then from noon to 5 p.m. on weekends (Saturday and Sunday) through Oct. 13.
Throughout the summer, free Monday night concerts featuring Hispanic music and dance have accompanied the exhibit. Two concerts remain. For information about the concerts, call 533-5760.
- An art installation by Helene Fischer Elbein is the only piece of art in the Alvin Gittins Gallery. But it's all that's needed for the artist to interact with the viewer.
Elbein has carefully stacked and arranged approximately 900 numbered bricks. Each brick symbolizes an individual. The artist gets the viewer involved by asking the question, "What do you think or feel when you see and interact with the elements?" The viewer can then write or draw his response on papers hanging on the gallery wall, thus becoming part of the dialogue - a "conversation" between two or more individuals.
But the installation I saw might not be the one you have seen - or will see. Every few days Elbein rearranges the bricks - adding or deleting them.
Elbein says she designed the show to make people think about modern society that continues to quantify individuals and groups into discardable commodities. "Who are we? What makes us tick? Where are we going?," are some of the questions Elbein wants us to ask ourselves.
If you would like to take part in this dialogue, you'll have to do so on or before Friday, Aug. 21. Gallery hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday in the Gittins Gallery, Art and Architecture Building, University of Utah.