Monday, November 30, 2009

Cervini Haas Gallery Closes

Cervini Haas Gallery announces its shift away from from maintaining a public exhibition space, closing its location in Downtown Scottsdale.

Now Cervini Haas Fine Art, our focus is on private art sales, consulting and curating. Our representation of exceptional artists and range of client services will continue as before, on an appointment basis (in one of our satellite locations or in your home). Contact us at gallery@cervinihaas.com or 480 429 6116.

Our website and email announcements will continue to be a visual resource for your art collection. Artwork can also be seen in several locations around the valley such as Kreiss Collection at Gainey Village and John Brooks Interiors in the 68th Street Design Center.

FW@XXX at Hicks Art Center Gallery til Dec 16




Curated by Mark Sfirri, this exhibition marks the thirtieth anniversary of the Fine Woodworking Program at Bucks County Community College. Alumni have been selected who have traveled in many different directions both geographically and in the focus of their work. An attempt has been made to select individuals from a wide chronological range.

All works included are pieces that have been made after each have graduated from BCCC with the exception of one. Joanne Shima’s Child’s Chair was a work that she conceived of and made while a student here. A combination of large scale “tinker toy” elements and an Oreo cookie (with a bite taken out) is a blend of engineering and humor that earned her high honors early in her career. Two of these chairs have earned recognition by being purchased and part of the permanent collections of museums at Yale University and the Renwick Gallery (Smithsonian Institutions). Doug Finkel, has a stool similar to the one in this exhibit, in the Renwick collection also. To have an artwork selected for any museum’s permanent collection is the ultimate praise, and these institutions are among the most prestigious. Some alumni have gone on to teach- Doug Finkel at Virginia Commonwealth University, Jacob Antonelli at the University of the Arts, and Doug Jones at Sante Fe Community College in New Mexico. Others have made their mark by setting up woodshops and making furniture. The closest example being William Stowe, who is a partner in Worthington Stowe located in Wrightstown. While most businesses are in this general region, the umbrella of businesses run by alumni is quite wide- to the west: Colorado and New Mexico, to the north: Vermont and New York, and to the south: Baltimore and Richmond.

Creative design and high standards for craftsmanship are two important areas of focus that are stressed in the program. What should be evident with this work is that those ideas have been embraced and that these individuals have gone on to create careers in the medium of wood and used their time wisely at BCCC and applied that knowledge in the real world after BCCC.

For more info on location, times etc. see www.bucks.edu/gallery

Mark Sfirri Selected to Receive James Renwick Alliance Distinguished Educator Award

The James Renwick Alliance Announces the 2010 Distinguished Educators Award Honorees


The James Renwick Alliance is pleased to announce Mark K. Sfirri, Randy J. Johnston, and Yoshiko I. Wada have been selected to receive its Distinguished Educator award. The award will be presented to the honorees during Spring Craft Weekend festivities
April 23 - 25, 2010.

The honorees were selected for their reputation for excellence and innovation in education, their influence on students in their field, and for their contributions to American education in the craft field. Each one is recognized, and commended by peers and students in their field for their work, both as educators and as artists.

The short biographies provided below are snapshots of the many accomplishments each honoree has achieved. We hope you will take time to learn more about them in the coming months.

Special thanks goes to the Distinguished Educators nomination committee for its work. The committee was chaired by Diane Grainer, former president of the JRA. Members were: Oscar Fitzgerald, Dr. Jeff Bernstein, Rebecca Stevens, Tamara Laird, Tony Glander, Jan Maddox, and Renita Johnson.

Biographies

Mark K. Sfirri:

Mark K. Sfirri, a well-known turned wood artist, is a Professor at Bucks County Community College, Newtown, PA, and Coordinator of the Fine Woodworking Program. He received his BFA and MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design. Mr. Sfirri is highly regarded for his innovative teaching methods and through his long-term teaching career, has reached many students at many stages of their lives. A cross-section of collectors, current and past students, and peers wrote passionately about Mr. Sfirri's ability to motivate, help, counsel, inspire, and encourage his students. Recognized as a talented maker, Mr. Sfirri has mastered the art of "off-center" turning and has shared his design approach and his methods with many around the U.S. and around the world. His approach has played an important role in public recognition of the evolution of studio wood turning into a contemporary art form. Mr. Sfirri's work is in many private and public collections, including the Renwick Gallery.

Randy J. Johnston:

Randy J. Johnston, endorsed by former students as well as a master in the field, is a well known ceramist and has taught ceramics for over 37 years. He is recognized internationally as an artist who has pursued functional expression and brought a fresh aesthetic vision to contemporary form, and for his many contributions to the development of wood kiln technology in the United States. Mr. Johnston has been at the University of Wisconsin for 16 years and in the time he has been there "...he has changed the ceramics area from a tight academic program into one that gives students a broad education and encourages innovation and experimentation." He studied with Warren MacKenzie, who wrote "...When students get through (his) program, they are fully equipped to be a practicing potter and establish their own studio.." and with Shimaoka Tatsuzo in Japan. Mr. Johnston has work in numerous international public and private collections.

Yoshiko I. Wada:

Yoshiko I. Wada - artist, curator, textile historian - is one of the most important teachers in the American fiber art field, although not on the faculty of an academic institution. She has been an independent scholar and teacher for almost four decades. Ms. Wada is single-handedly responsible for introducing the art of Japanese shibori to the U.S. Many of well-known fiber artists have studied with her, such as Ana Lisa Hedstrom and Lia Cook. Ms. Wada was especially influential in the art-to-wear movement. Her early workshops, lectures, and important books (Shibori: the Inventive Art of Japanese Shaped Resist Dyeing and Memory on Cloth: Shibori Now) brought this age-old technique (tie-dye) from the psychedelic 60s into the contemporary craft art vocabulary. Noted textile designer Jack Lenor Larsen credits Wada with teaching him much of what he knows about Japanese textiles, a subject she has taught to three generations of American fiber art students who have incorporated Japanese textiles techniques into their art making. She established the World Shibori Network which sponsors workshops and conferences world-wide, connecting historical technique and contemporary art practice. And most recently she established the Slow Fiber Studio which promotes sustainable textile practices and a "thoughtful approach to 'the making of things'", according to the studio web site. Her many awards include two Japan Foundation Fellowships, a Renwick Fellowship at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the gratitude of hundreds of fiber artists who have studied with her.


The James Renwick Alliance is an independent national nonprofit organization that celebrates the achievements of America's craft artists and fosters scholarship, education and public appreciation of craft art. The Alliance was founded in 1982 and is the exclusive support group of the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, our nation's showcase of contemporary American craft.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Moulthrop exhibit at Heller Gallery NY Dec 4-24


From Heller Galleries:
As the Holidays approach we look forward to our annual exhibition of turned wood by Philip and Matt Moulthrop. Heller Gallery has represented their family since 1986 when we first began exhibiting Ed Moulthrop’s exquisite modernist vessels. Ed passed away in 2003 at the age of 87, but left a legacy that will endure. It is most eloquently expressed by the outstanding works being created by his son Philip and grandson Matt. The artistry of the Moulthrops has always focused attention on the inherent beauty of wood — their chosen material. Their subtle and understated approach reflects the insights of three generations of extraordinarily talented individuals whose work is a successful synthesis of art and craft.

For more see www.hellergallery.com

Review of Hank Gilpin show at Gallery NAGA in Boston

Rob Hitzig, one of our members, has photos and commentary on his blog that you might find interesting.
http://woodisart.blogspot.com/2009/10/hank-gilpin-celebrating-wood-gallery.html

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

American Style cutting from 6 to 4 issues/year

At the same time AAW going from 4 to 6 issues. Any comments?

American Craft Council moving to Minneapolis

Anybody care to comment on what this might mean other than cheaper rent?

Christian Burchard Wins Raphael Prize from Society for Contemporary Craft

This biennial competition carries a whole bunch of goodies with it. It is a purchase award, there is a prize, a show and a youtube video.
To see a video of Christian talking about his work and the crazy things he pops into this microwave click here
Check out the Society for Contemporary Craft website to see the award winning work.

Christian please feel free to comment on things I've missed.

Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show names Norm Sartorius Best of Show


Our own Norm Sartorius garnered the coveted award at the Craft Show earlier this month. To see the wood artists that were juried in to the show go to www.pmacraftshow.org.
Norm: congratulations. Anything you'd like to tell us about how you found out about the award? How many times have you been to this show?