10:
J
One of Bill Wilhelmi's not-so-ordinary
pots.
cont. from page 3
concepts and serious regard for the
nature of the materials used elevate the
objects into a realm of spatial and
symbolic consciousness.
Eleanor Merrill' s woven "experi-
ences" are remarkable. Her work has
that quality of making one initially
unaware of"weaving" per se. She uses
unusual materials such as recycled
waste fibers and thick sisal-like
matting used to protect soil from
eroding during the building of
highways--material that is uncomfort-
able and impossible, it seems, to work
with. Two :large companion hangings
are greyish atmospheres thickly tex-
tured with fine tangles of brightly-col-
ored threads; they are like a soft and
merging cosmos--they have affinities
with the paintings of Jackson Pollock.
A potter from Corpus Christi,
William Wilhelmi has had some
reknown with his amazing, funky tour-
de-forces in elegant decadence and
purple-passioned reverie. His ceramic
sculptures are traditionally the right
size, substance and scale were they
ordinary pots, but these are not
ordinary pots. The work looks like well-
preserved rejects from Gloria Swan-
son's furnishings in Sunset Boulevard
or maybe relics from a Chinese restaur-
ant, circa 1930. The colors are quietly
lurid, and the objects embellished
sometimes with beads, tassles, and on
one, tiny monkey-like figures.
Anathema to purists, a little on the
tacky side, but nevertheless interest-
ing, they sit there in spotlights of mini-
Hollywood grandeur.
Steve Reynolds and Danville
Chadbourne are potters closer to tradi-
tional forms, but each has a distinctly
personal approach to his work.
Jewelers B////)odd and Tom Nichols
are from Austin, and work closely
together on jewelry pieces that are
symbolic in nature and intent. Combin-
ations of elements such as bone,
feathers, stone and metals are intended
to imbue the wearer with a kind of
magical power.
Nichols and Dedd call themselves
"symbolists" and are making "ritual
objects as acts of devotion."
Austin is a town where younger,
more adventurous artists and crafts-
men have little chance to indepen-
dently show their work. Things are
hopefully changing. A seemingly
ambitious enterprise is a new gallery
called ine apers. Located at 212 W.
4th St. next to the Gaslight Theatre,
it opened this week to rave reviews--
The kiln at ine apers--hand-built from
an old boiler.
about the space itself, since no work
was yet on view during the reception:
Ceramists Steve Humphrey and
Wlllem Kaars-Sijepesteijn acquired
the old paper warehouse (the name
ine apers evolved out of what was left
of the sign above the entrance: Fine
Papers) about a year ago to renovate
as a studio/workshop. Seeing its
potential as a gallery also, they dre
the support of Patricia Wilson, who
helping to organize exhibitions of
other artists and craftsmen.
Steve and Willem have adapted the
building to their own needs, including
the construction of an outdoor kiln.
Both are professionals, with intensive
work in ceramics behind them as well
as having exhibited in many galleries
and shows throughout the country.
ine apers could be just what Austin
needs.../]' high standards are estal
lished, along with a sense of artistic
aim and direction. A group showing of
collages, drawings and paintings on
view now are not by any means the
best work that artists in Austin have
to offer. I'm not sure that the plan to
show a continuous selection of the
work of various artists is a good one
the people at ine apers would do
better to adopt a plan supporting the
strengths and purposes inherent in
the one-man-show concept.
In the Seventies, the concern for
natural materials--as a reaction to the
general disenchantment with mass
production--has led, I think, to a
cont. on page 11
the 5th
Invites you to share
concepts of craft.
POTS t PLANTS t
JEWELRY
WOODWORKt THREADSt ETC.
119 East 5t_h Street
between Congress &Brazos
10 - 8 p.m. Daily
Our newest designs will be available
lOa.m.
Barton Springs Pottery J 1900 Barton Springs Rd,
From the people that gave
you gunpowder, paper
money and egg foo yung.
Pretty clever, those Chinese. These hand-woven bamboo
containers are imported from Shanghai, where the art of
bamboo basketry has been practiced for generations. Each
piece is composed of hundreds of closely-plaited splints•
and filaments. When completed, it is lacquered and then
brightly painted. Bambooware ranges from $7 to $20.
Please drop by and inspect them for yourself.
ERY
DOBIE 2nd floor
,Mon-Fri !.O-9/Sat 11- 9 4 77. 0343
