brotherpinetree

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Hana

Nishiki Sugwara-Beda’s show reminded me a lot of Liz Rundorff Smith. Incidentally she came to the reception. I thought the work in the show was beautiful but listening to the artist talk about the work was very confusing to me. It was an amazing talk but I felt like it didn’t relate to the work at all. She said some beautiful things but I never understood how what she was saying related to the work at all. I loved the discussion of materials and what she was saying about how it connected to her family and her own historical roots but honestly there was no part of the work that made me think of reconciliation. Even though she said this was a huge part of her understanding of her art and herself as an immigrant in America. 

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Elaine Quave

Elaine Quave’s show was spectacular. Anthro-Botanical was a haunting exploration of the interdependence of human systems and natural systems. Particularly that of plant systems. At once both a momento mori and a carpe diem, the skeletal plants were made using a casting system which interested me because of the mechanical nature of casting. Something that seems so industrial was executed in a very organic and natural way. 

By using some plants that were endangered or extinct already, Quave added a sense of urgency and importance to her work. The show would have benefited greatly from being in an actual garden outside however. The artificial nature of the gallery space made them feel disconnected from their surroundings. The whole point of plants is that they are one with their environment. However, the scattering of the pieces throughout the gallery was great because at least it started to fell like a garden. 

I loved this work, something about bringing in the idea of death or life or both elevates a work of art. At least if it is handled as masterfully as Quave did. The scale of her work was also impressive given that this was all ceramics. I was a little lost when she started talking about bacteria. It made sense in words but her work didn’t take me there. 

[brotherpinetree]

Mourning the loss of Joseph Cornell

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