Creative Gambit – a risky show!
I’m working alongside Liz Kettle (textiles) and Jennifer Hanson (pottery) to present a show of new work in Manitou’s Commonwheel Gallery in July. Although most of fine craft is just plain hard work, sometimes it needs a playful start to find new directions.
Creative Gambit will have risk-taking moves by each of us individually, as well as three assemblies combining our work. For three artists who work in primarily functional mode, these collaborations are a distinct departure.
‘Tea for 3’ will be a still life vignette inspired by Alice in Wonderland. The stack of cups is turned off-center in two sections; the handles are bent spoons. Liz is making a fabric vase, and Jennifer has crafted a whimsical teapot. We realized early on that in a gallery, we should do gallery things. The still life painting is a popular genre, but we can go behind the scenes to make our own subject matter. That is one of the powers of fine craftwork!