April 2 – July 17, 2010


(Wood Turning Center, Philadelphia, PA) The Wood Turning Center is pleased to announce the April 2, 2010 opening of Magic Realism: Material Illusions which runs at the Center through July 17th. Guest curator Robin Rice, Philadelphia, PA, brings together 18 artists who create three-dimensional illusions characterized by ambiguity, and, often, playfulness.

Eighteen artists display their individual technical mastery of wood, ceramic, clay, metal or glass as they combine a multitude of small truthful details into realities that are simultaneously believable and strange — impossible and valid. The eye dazzling magic is explored in representations of the artifacts of daily life, objects simultaneously mundane and filled with explicit and hidden meanings.

One inspiration for the exhibition concept was the work of Lincoln Seitzman, celebrated for his complex pieced wood vessels inspired by Native American baskets. Seitzman’s “basket illusions” are visually almost indistinguishable from the originals. The respect that skilled artists typically have for the skills of other artists is central to the work in Magic Realism. Much in the show explores the broadly interpreted vessel tradition, from Ani Kasten’s pseudo-birch bark ceramic vase to Susan Glasgow’s glass bustier (a “vessel” for the body) or Randall Rosenthal’s carved three-ring notebook devoted to van Gogh (a vessel for postcards and Post-its as well as knowledge).

Join us for a Panel Discussion moderated by Susan Hagen before the opening reception on April 2, from 3-5pm. NCECA Conference Preview Party will be held on March 31, 2010 from 5 – 8pm. Magic Realism: Material Illusions is in support of the 44th National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts conference, coordinated by The Clay Studio, Philadelphia with support from the William Penn Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.

The artists in the exhibition include: Ruth Borgenicht, John Cederquist, Tom Eckert, Susan Glasgow, Michelle Holzapfel, Ron Isaacs, Janel Jacobson, Ani Kasten, Greg Nangle, Randall Rosenthal, Dan Saal, Lincoln Seitzman, Eric Serritella, Richard Shaw, Brent Skidmore, Paul Stankard, David Wiseman, and Xuti.

Robin Rice’s participation in this project was supported in part by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

THE WOOD TURNING CENTER:

At its Old City, Philadelphia location, the Center features international contemporary wood art in changing exhibits, a museum collection showing the breadth of the wood art field, a research library, and an eclectic mix of unique merchandise in the Museum Store. The Center is open Tuesday – Friday, 10am – 5pm and Saturday 12pm – 5pm. Admission is free. Donations support the Center’s educational mission. For more information, please call 215-923-8000, email or visit www.woodturningcenter.org.

Programming at the Center is supported in part by generous donations by the Members and Friends of the Wood Turning Center. Included are the Artists' Cambium Circle: David M. Bender; Jerome Blanc; Michael Brolly; Philip Brown; Christian Burchard; Gorst du Plessis; David Ellsworth; Peter Exton; Harvey Fein; Satoshi Fujinuma; Dewey Garrett; Dick Gerard; Stephan Goetschius; David Gould; Matthew Harding; Peter Harrison; Doug Haslam; Michelle Holzapfel; Robyn Horn; William Hunter; Stoney Lamar; Hans Lie; Art Liestman; Mark and Kathy Lindquist; Robert Lyon; Thierry Martenon; Rudiger Marquarding; Connie Mississippi; Michael Mocho; Philip Moulthrop; Mark Nantz; Ambrose O’Halloran; George Peterson; Binh Pho; Harry Pollitt; Richard Rand; Frank Salas; Merryll Saylan; Betty Scarpino; Siegfried Schreiber; Lincoln Seitzman; Daniel Silver; Randy and Lisa Stromsoe; David Summers; Marcus Tatton; Holly Tornheim; Leah Woods; Malcolm Zander. Cambium Circle: Lee Bender and Carol Schilling; Fleur Bresler; Harvey and Fiona Fein; Richard R.and Rita Goldberg; S. Bruce and Eleanor Heister; John and Robyn Horn; Henry Jordan; Stephen Keeble and Karen Depew; Bruce Kaiser; Jerome and Deena Kaplan; Alan Keiser; Leonard and Norma Klorfine; Tim and Sheryl Kochman; Herbert and Mae Kurtz; Alan LeCoff; Albert and Tina LeCoff; H.F. (Gerry) and Marquerite Lenfest; Ed Levy; Ellen Miller; Judson Randall; Greg and Regina Rhoa; Norty Rockler: Ronald and Anita Wornick. Public and Private Foundations: anonymous foundations; National Endowment for the Arts; Pennsylvania Council on the Arts; Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission; The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage through the Philadelphia Cultural Management Initiative; and Philadelphia Cultural Fund. Corporate Sponsors: Craft Supplies USA; Klingspor Woodworking Supply; Oneway Manufacturing; Packard Woodworks, Inc; Penn State Industries; Rockler Woodworking & Hardware; and Stubby Lathe.

The Wood Turning Center participates in First Friday Openings in conjunction with the Old City Arts Association

The Wood Turning Center is a nonprofit art and educational organization whose goal is to further the growth of artists and exhibition of contemporary wood art, and promoting public appreciation of such art.



Contact: Ron Humbertson
Email:
Images available upon request

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