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Strong individuals, strong show
You'll note some trends in this exhibit of works by 25 African-American craft artists, but each artist has a unique outlook.
By BRANDY STARK
© St. Petersburg Times, published February 15, 2001
ST. PETERSBURG -- Diversity of techniques and media combine successfully in "Stop Asking/We Exist: 25 Contemporary African-American Craft Artists," now at Florida Craftsmen Gallery.
The show, of 70 works in a variety of media, celebrates another kind of diversity by presenting well-known artists through their work, defining various trends within craft art and still allowing the artists to explore themes of personal, ethnic and social delineation.
200 Women of African Descent by Marita Dingus takes up an entire gallery wall with an array of female forms arranged into an oblong spiral. The figures measure about 6 inches in size and are made from an assortment of media, the most prominent being cloth. Each figure is headless and lacks arms and feet. The image creates the impression of a variety of women who are each different. Yet, they share a commonality: womanhood.
A Small Table of Plenty VI, created by Martha Jackson Jarvis, is a mosaic of clay, glass, coal and cement. The table has been carefully crafted to mimic the appearance of a hearth. It is beautiful in its simplicity, yet intricate in detail as the top of the "table" is piled high with clay leaves, fish, bark and other items representing a bountiful meal.
The works include several wearable pieces. Nick Cave, an artist living in Chicago, draws inspiration from a variety of interests, including dance, movement, texture, surface and design. Helmet, made of wire, metal, beads, leather and wood, skillfully combines elements to create a dynamic merger of color and form.
Florence Baker-Wood's work Ice Cap, inspired by her childhood love of wearing hats, uses polished and brushed aluminum, which, when combined with fish skin, gives her work a sophisticated result.
"There have been a lot of people coming to see the show, some traveling from as far as Lakeland. The artists shown are amazing as individuals, and the show itself is very strong. We think it gives both African-Americans, as well as any craft artists, goals to aspire to," said Lorissa Hallenbeck, the gallery director.
REVIEW
"Stop Asking/We Exist: 25 Contemporary African-American Craft Artists," at Florida Craftsmen Gallery, 501 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Through Feb. 24; 10 am to 5:30 pm. Mon.-Sat., noon-4 p.m. Sun. (727) 821-7391.
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