CHRISTINE AEBI-OCHSNER-Only Red

The small format artworks by Swiss artist Christine Aebi-Ochsner have been characterized as deceptively large and her newest show “Only Red” is no exception.  Working in assemblage, her format is mostly standardized in this show and each 13 by 13 centimeter piece not only stands alone but has a largeness of presence as each element has been carefully placed in a harmonious construction that tells a story about the inner working of the artist herself.  Christine has a near scientific approach to her work without it being formulaic or feeling forced.  She is a self professed collector of objects, experiences, moments, and stories and is very talented at combining it all into her unique works. 

The dichotomous near bi-polarity of her two professions (Christine is also an M.D.) perhaps explains the drastic difference of her small and large format works seen in the show.   The large works allow for more chaos as her small works speak of control.  The large formats have a confident nakedness to them and the smaller works are fully clothed.  The intense chromatic emphasis on the color red sets the stage for a strong voice in her smaller works and yet a different, almost more soft-spoken voice in the larger format pieces.  It could be said that her small pieces sing while her larger ones hum a familiar, yet unique tune. 

For some reason, I am drawn mostly to the smaller formats.  They have spoken up, grabbed for my attention and then taken me on a journey of texture and technique.  The artist uses everything from the organic feathers of a bird to tin cans and plastic labels.   Signs of the everyday to some are unique color swatches to the artist, a vehicle for transformation of perspective.  Most of the objects were found here in Mexico where she spends a good amount of time every year away from her patients and working on her art in a country that inspires her with its colorful people, cities and way of life. 

DAVID SOMMERS

For the third season in a row, glass artist, David Sommers is back with another beautiful show of his mouth-blown glass ornaments.  “Even though they aren’t specific to the holidays, they really do intensify the colors of the season”, exclaimed a gallery patron at his 2008 show. Mr. Sommers has studied with classic German glass blowers and uses German soft and borosilicate glasses.  David uses special reflective and refractive glass as well as glasses that react to hot air conditions often used with ceramic Raku. His use of these classic techniques and his experimental use of color and textures produce truly unique glass sculptures. Perhaps even more so this year, this is the first year for Sommers to achieve in his work the fiery red tones or the golden yellows so eye-catchingly prevalent in his new body of work.  Glass art is as much scientific as it is artistic and technical, so the achievement of the new colors is something to celebrate which Sommers does in his new body of work.  Best of all is the affordability of these unique pieces, prices range from $30-$60 USD.

BERLEND COMPEAN 

Ms. Compean is a glass artist from Monterrey, Mexico. In contrast to Mr. Sommers, Berlend creates pieces of crafted glass and combines it with other materials such as silver, steel, wood, textile fibers and found objects.  Berlend like Mr. Sommers can also always be found in her atelier experimenting with textures and the combination of elements to achieve new heights in her glass making.  She explicitly confronts her viewer to decide whether her piece is truly glass or if it has metamorphosed into a wholly new entity.  Most of her creations are utilitarian and thus are original objects of everyday use that are created to transform a given space. 

This show opens on Friday, December 4^th at 5 PM at Galeria/Atelier at Fabrica La Aurora as part of the Friday Art Walk.  All artists will be present for a cocktail reception and the show will remain up through January 15, 2010.