Marilyn Krannich and Ted Neal: In Decline, 2005
January 10 to February 5, 2005
Hosted by Mary Elizabeth Dee Shaw Gallery
Ethel Wattis Kimball Visual Arts Ceter
Department of Visual Arts
Weber State University
Ogden Utah
Our thanks to Tom Kass, Associate Instructor of Graphic
Design,
University of Utah
A review of the show by Mr. Kass can be found below the photos of the
award work.
$2100 in prizes were awarded by the Jury to 6 pair of artists
The UDCa organized a juried exhibition entitled "Building Bridges" with the specific requirement and goal of creating work through artistic collaboration.
The intent is to persuade artists to build bridges from their own artistic isolation of ideas or medium and enter into discussions and finally pair with another artist (or artists) in a truly collaborative effort.
As Kathryn Reasoner has stated, "artists tell us that what changes their lives and has transformative impact on their work is the fellowship, the challenge, and the excitement of being with other people engaged in a search that's similar to but different from their own."
Marilyn Krannich and Ted Neal: In Decline, 2005
Kerri Buxton and Brad Taylor : Cups with Saucers; 2004,
(Korea)
Bevan M. Chipman & John W. Hess : Variations on a
Sudanese Woman, 2004
Kathy Stobaugh & Mary Wells : The Golden Rule;
2005
Joe Marotto & David Pendell : Shock and Awe
Susan Harris & J. Steve Hansen : Bowl with Stainless Steel
stand, 2005
An announcement introducing the show's theme asks the question, "What kind of new work can be created through 'building a bridge' with another artist?" The exhibit consists of projects resulting from the collaboration of artists working in diverse media.
Marilyn Krannich and Ted Neal present a powerful commentary on post-agricultural society by assembling the detritus that might be found on an abandoned farm. A remnant of a wooden shed, water-well pump heads, and rusty iron machine parts don't evoke a nostalgic longing for the family farm but create an ambience of loss and haunting emptiness.
The collaborative piece by J. Steven Hansen and Susan Harris proves to be a delightful discovery. Ms. Harris' glazed clay bowl has a spirited directness in its form, and Mr. Hansen's stainless steel tripod has been transformed into a delicate silvery web upon which the bowl rests. Yet the combination of the two opposing materials -- steel and clay -- creates a tension that prevents this piece from becoming predictable in its presentation.
Artists' books occupy a special realm in the universe of the arts and crafts. The modern, handmade, illuminated book has its roots in the monasteries of Medieval Europe, and Mary Wells, calligrapher, along with Kathy Stobaugh, illustrator of their book "Golden Rule," have made a beautiful contribution to this art form. Ms. Wells' formal Roman letters unite into gracefully formed words, artfully scaled and placed on the accordion-fold pages. Ms. Stobough's illustrations sparkle as they hang on suspended fragile threads at the edges of the pages. Her use of colors and scale complement the calligraphy and help create a striking work of art.
David Pendell's and Joe Morotta's ceramic wall-piece "Shock and Awe" makes a forceful statement about America's involvement in the current conflict in Iraq. The fact that the scale of this work is very large adds to its persuasive impact, and the method of construction reinforces its polemic. The vertically hung base layer of ceramic has been photo-processed with a repetition of the phrase "shock and awe." Across the top of the base layer, strips and pieces of glazed ceramic are strewn about, as if resulting from an explosion. Peeking out from this chaos, the phrase insists its message be read.
Anyone who ventures out to Weber State University's art complex to see "Building Bridges" will be rewarded with an experience that enchants the eye and most certainly expands one's knowledge of craft and collaboration.
Thomas B. Kass, Adjunct Instructor of Graphic Design