Just when stocks and bonds are skittering ever so slightly, contemporary craft — that sometimes sly specialty made up of glass, ceramics, metal, fiber and wood — is hitting a high. Simply consider the ninth annual International Exposition of Sculpture Objects & Functional Art in New York, June 1-4, 2006, otherwise known as SOFA, the brainchild of former potter Mark Lyman. When the 59 dealers at the fair closed up shop this past Sunday evening at the Seventh Regiment Armory at Park Avenue and 67th Street, they left in their wake banner sales, new price benchmarks and some startling new taste trends.
Now, it’s not like the notion of “craft from the dark side” makes a lot of sense. But spotted at SOFA were all manner of craft works edging into downright creepy shadows. It seems to be a time, at least as far as the craft artists are concerned, to dress everything from bugs and slugs to guns and drugs in, shall we say, domestic garb for the upscale shopper. (more…)
The Aurora Public Art Commission presents Interior Journey, Furniture Renaissance, an exploration of the materials and methods of furniture construction and design, from 1760 through the present.
Curated by the Aurora Public Art Commission and Albert and Mary Ann Signorelli, Interior Journey features the work of three artists: furniture designer and craftsman Tonino Stalteri, and photographers Tony Berardi and Sally Good. In addition the exhibit includes numerous pieces of period furniture from the collection of the Aurora Historical Society. (more…)
