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Wovcnth** 23, 1994
With Hints
Words are the major components in hu
man communication, but (as we are re
minded every election year) they are more
often used to conceal than reveal Behind
the words we use is a matrix of experi
ence hardly touched by everyday speech.
Most of the experience falls through the
netting, leaving us with a mere approxi
mation.
Showing at the William J. Thompson
Gallery is The Mind's Eye, a multi-media
sculpture exhibit by Florida native
Deborah La Grasse. La Grasse intertwines
different types of metal in her work, such
as bronze, brass and copper, but the dif-
ror forming a negative space in the shape
of a boat. A crescent shape is mounted
above the mirror and is covered with small
bits of metal which seem to wiggle like
worms, all in the same directional flow of
the boat and mirror. The mirror gives the
feel of a calm reflecting pool while the
words to "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" in
scribed on two oars attached to the alumi
num poles, echo that calm. The pristine
quality of the mirror along with the song
and worm like shapes definitely give the
feeling of an easy glide on a smooth lake.
Here La Grasse sees words as something
added to the experience in a playful and
''-v
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Reserve these 3 weekends for a special local tradition.
As artists and crafts-people open their homes and studios to you.
FIRST WEEKEND
Xovcm6cr 25,26, & 27
Broad Rivor Crafts Coalition
at Bandzunas' Studios ft Qallory
Open Sat. ft Seat. 1C
ference in the metals is as varied as colors
in a painting. What truly makes her sculp
ture multi-media are words. Cast in metal,
words are placed inside the work as La
Grasse attempts to expose more how they
operate Words are the property of the
mind, but in The Mind's Eye they come
outside for full viewing.
Using words in visual arts is not new,
whether for compositional purposes as in
Picasso's collages or to pronounce reli
gious statements as in Howard Finster's
paintings. Yet La Grasse is not interested
in statements, nor does she wish to merely
create composition. La Grasse investigates
the multi-faceted aspects of words, to see
how their react in her metal environment.
For instance, in the piece "Control," a
metal box contains a hole through which
one can look inside through a grid of metal
bars. As you peep inside, you see words
such as "management," "policy" and "or
ganization" inscribed backwards on the
inner walls. A mirror on the back inner
wall allows you to read the words. One
may see this as a way to understand how
words associated with governmental
policy have control over us, but La Grasse
has shown us a far deeper significance to
the power of words "Control" plays on
the idea that words are a reflection of re
ality and not reality itself La Grasse ex
poses that these are merely words and we
allow them to control us. The mirror im
age of your own face behind a grid of metal
bars emphasizes that control.
A more visually oriented work is "Look/
Far," in which La Grasse intertwines or
ganic and hard edge shapes of cast metal
Lying flat on the floor is a mirror shaped
like an ironing board. La Grasse placed
aluminum pules that curve around the mir-
gentle manner.
Each work in the exhibit plays with
words in one fashion or another. The word
'promise" is displayed and tied high on tall
poles. "Sweet dreams' is placed on the
bronze pillow of an old rusted bed. "Work"
is tied by a chain to a pick and shovel. La
Grasse tries to display visually what these
instruments of the mind convey.
In the work "Ambiguity," however, the
visual depiction is actually harmed by the
success it has in conveying the meaning. A
large aluminum piece shaped in the form
of a question mark is mounted on the wall
and holds a scale; one tray reads "yes" and
the other reads "no." The problem with this
piece is not its concise and wonderful con
struction or her blend of metals, but the
fact that there is no question what this work
is about It may simulate ambiguity, but its
real downfall is that it is too clear and does
not add to the idea of ambiguity The spo
ken word "ambiguity" conveys more than
this visual depiction. If the visual aspects
of the work itself were ambiguous, then
"Ambiguity" would be stronger and the
piece itself would be more definite in its
muddled state
It seems that La Grasse understands very
well that words tend to bounce here and
to, dancing in and out of reality. Some show
meaning, others force control and others
just merrily sing along. The Mind's Eye
derives its strength, however, from where
most visual arts get their strength" that world
of experience behind the letters where
words will never reach, the world that can
only be experienced directly.
John Hawkins
Deborah La Grasse's show The Mind's
Eye is on exhibit at the William /. Thomp
son Galleryr through Nov. 26.
05
Broad Rivor Crafts Coalition
Open*f party-Frlday 0 to 9 p.m.
refreshments demonstrations & door prize
Sat -Sun 10am-5pm
rHwa
*We imN be open through the meek"
and Sot* MMftrdi, aoo k*lo«
Barbara Bandzunas blown glass, clay
Paul Bandzunas- blown glass
Rata Braunschwupar- turned wood & jewelry
Ginm Edwards - baskets & candes
Chnsft Moody stoned glass & kaleidoscopes
Oawd Morgan - functional pots
Barbara 0<*i - spirit dolls masks & boxes
Jom PmS • turned vwx»d
at Bandzunas stucko and Gallery, m Comer
our GaMery is now open 0-3. or by appl Follow
signs toward Bberton from the bypass to Comar.
take 1st nght after taffic light, than next right
(hwy 22). then 1st right after the RR tracks
look for the sign 71
Happy Valley
Holiday Open House
Salo and Domonstrations
ly. 10am-6pm
> Baoget,
Be. Rora
Friday through Sunday
Clay artist M*e _ .
Jerry & Kathy Chappele. Flora Eustis.
Kant Follette Usa Koch & Brett Pulliam
Glass Loretta Eby. Bea Hatafa
Jeff Jackson & Gina Montgomery
Metal Del Moody
Lizard I
Clay Art & Artifact
& Willow
Woven Rugs Bonme Mongomery
Also other regional artists
Open Daily 10am-6pm
Location 1210 Carson Graves Road
Watkmsviit#
Directions: take 441 to Col ham Ferry Rd
go 8 miles to Carson Graves Rd go right to
Happy Valley or call 7W-W22
Charles Pinckney
Friday. Saturday. Sunday 9am-5pm
Charles Pinckney, jewelry and sculptor wiU
present many items tor sale at his studio at 105
Angus Lane n Athens Items include carings
bracelets brooches and neckpieces For the first
time limited edition hand and wail mirrors will be
offered Call 543-4502
SECOND WEEKEND
■Deeetntkr 2,3, & 4
Barbara Allan
Second Apple Studio
Christmas Pottery and Jewelry Sale
Saturday and Sunday 10am- 5pm
Macon Highway, Bishop 700-4341
Lhnstma
ft Saturday
1 4001 Macon
Dewitt Pottary
lOaeSpeA San.
Dewitt Pottery showroom is open year round
Please caN for an appomtnent The year-end
sale wiH feature functional stoneware as well as
decorative ware of raku and earthware You can
see some of the largest handmade pots
produced m our region at this show
Located at 71 Jackson St. WatkJnevIMe.
Watch ter the sign on 441. 700 0301
Happy Valley Pottery
24th Annual Holiday Open Heuoe
Sale ft Demonstrations
Friday through Sunday: 10am 0pm
(see above for information)
David Morgan
Holiday Pottery Sale
Saturday, 0~c. 3, 10am Opm
Functional stoneware and porcelain pottery
Coma view this year s new work
at the Strand. 1020 Lumpkin St.
In Five Points, Athena, 540-0074
The Studio Group
13th Annual Salo
Fr*., 0-0 pm. Sat.,
I Oam Opm, Sun. f 2-5pm
Margaret Agrter S«fc Panting
Brooks Burgess Stoneware
Nancy Carter Handmade Paper
Marqy DeGeorge Pme Needle Art
David Dwmefl Photography
Anna Eidsvik Porcelain
Joe Gitvey Wood • Bea Lilv Hataia Glass
Annette Hatton Jewelry • Bill Hug Wood
Enka Lewis Weaving • Pal Staob Stoneware
490 S MilledgeAve and
399 Ponderosa Dr n Snap finger Woods
Wild Rabbit Pottery
Christmas Open House
Sat. 10am • Opm A Sun. 12-5pm
pottery by Pat and Carter McCaffrey
as well as work by other fine artists
425 E. Hancock, Athens 353-3002
THIRD WEEKEND
Decetn6er 10
The Leaf Gallery
* a goMory run for and by local artlata •
Recaption and Open House
Saturday, from 12-Spm
paintings prints photographs glass
Christmas ornaments pottery, cads
and fabric 320 E. Clayton St. In
downtown Athene. 544-75*'