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Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat:
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Thursday:
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Sunday:
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Against the Grain: Turned and Sculpted Wood
The McAllen International Museum is again pleased to show recent work by artists working in wood. The phenomenal success several years ago of Expressions in Wood demonstrated the enthusiasm of our audience for this kind of work.
It has been a pleasure to work with the del Mano Gallery to put this exhibition together. Artists are showing by invitation. We at the Museum had the difficult but enjoyable task of selecting a limited number of artists, based on catalog images and prior knowledge of their work. The del Mano staff recommended a number of artists as well to round out the show. The result is this outstanding exhibition that will run through March 3, 2002.
The title, “Against the Grain,” was chosen to express several thoughts about this type of work. On the literal level, parts of every piece are actually cut and shaped “against the grain.” Anyone who has worked with wood knows how difficult and delicate this can be. The grain of the wood can be straight and predictable, or it can take surprising turns and twists. Some of the most beautiful effects are found in the every-which-way grain of a burl.
One of the most traditional forms, especially for turned wood, is the vessel. Indeed, many of the pieces in this exhibition are vessel forms. While some of these might be able to serve utilitarian purposes, others have been pierced, broken, cut, or warped. These artists have treated functionality only as a point of departure, and they have taken the forms in new and surprising directions.
– Vernon G. Weckbacher, Curator of Collections, McAllen International Museum |
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