|
Iron: Forged, Tempered,
Quenched
January 16 – May
16,
2010
|
|
Opening
Reception
Friday, January
15, 5:30 – 8:00 PM
Gallery
Talks
Saturday, January
16
• 11:00 AM Dave
Koenig, Blacksmith and Founder of Houston Area Blacksmiths’
Association (HABA)
• 12:00 PM Kenneth
Schwarz, Blacksmith and Master of Shop at Colonial
Williamsburg Foundation
• 1:00 PM Gabriel
Craig, Metalsmith, Writer, and Craft Activist; Current HCCC
Artist-in-Residence
Iron Driving Tour
Take a driving
tour (or view as a virtual tour) highlighting significant iron
works around Houston. Click here to view the
Google Map with locations and
directions.
Iron: Forged, Tempered,
Quenched
celebrates the rich history of American blacksmithing by
bridging historical and contemporary works to illustrate the
wide variety of techniques and processes currently practiced
in the U.S. The exhibition, which opens January 16 and runs
through May 16, is one of the most significant exhibitions of
blacksmithed objects in decades.
Iron
features more than 40 pieces by 38 artists from across the
U.S., including Elizabeth Brim, Frederic Crist, Carl Jennings,
John Medwedeff, Noellyn Pepos, Lee Tribe and James Wallace.
Local and regional artists in the show include Dave Koenig,
founder of the Houston Area Blacksmiths’ Association (HABA),
and members of the Austin Metal Authority.
Iron:
Forged, Tempered, Quenched
was made possible by generous support from Triple-S Steel and
TS Distributors, Nancy and Rich Kinder, and Michelle and Frank
Hevrdejs.
Click here for pledge
information.
Images,
top row, left to right: Stephen Yusko,
Box Series, 2009. Boxes.
Forged and Fabricated Steel. Photo by Jeff Bruce. Rebekah
Frank, Raphide, 2007. Sculpture.
Forged Steel and Copper. Photo by Brent Bates Onion Creek
Studio.
6
Images, bottom
row, left to right: Zack Noble,
Dr. Suess Bloom (detail), 2005.
Forged steel. Photo by Tom Mills Photography. Lu
Heintz, Mama Turkey, 2009. Sculpture.
Mild Steel, Wool, Turkey Feathers, Thread, Bone. Photo by
Frank Gambino.
6 |
|
eXtreme Tea
January 16 - March 21,
2010
|
|
Opening
Reception
Friday, January
15, 5:30 - 8:00 PM
eXtreme
Tea is a surprising exhibition of tea infusers and
strainers—seemingly mundane household items that hold loose
tea leaves for brewing in a pot or cup. However, because of
the small scale and potential for minute decorative detail,
these items present an exciting challenge for contemporary
artists. The exhibition includes tea infusers made
predominantly from metal, but also includes pieces made from
glass, ceramic, fiber, plastic and combinations of mixed
media. eXtreme
Tea contrasts traditional tea infusers with
inventive contemporary pieces that take these simple objects
to extremes.
The exhibition was curated by Tom Muir,
Distinguished Research Professor and Head of Jewelry and
Metalsmithing in the School of Art at Bowling Green State
University, in Bowling Green, Ohio. Muir earned his MFA from
Indiana University and his BFA from Georgia State University.
His work is in numerous collections, including the Art
Institute of Chicago, Renwick Gallery of the National Museum
of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, The White House
Collection of American Crafts, and the National Museum of
American Art.
Top
row, left to right: Victoria Altepeter,
Steeped in Tradition, 2009. Infuser
made from silver, nickle, hand-forged mokume gane, and a
marriage of metals. Photo by Victoria Altepeter. Olga
Barmina, Bombyx Tea, 2009. Tea
strainer made from sterling and fine silver and 18K gold.
Photo by George Post.
6
Bottom row, left
to right: Victoria Lansford, Darling, lotus have some
tea...(detail), 2009. Tea infuser, strainer, and drip stand.
Sterling silver, fine silver, 22K/sterling bi-metal; Russian
filigree, Eastern repoussé, chasing, chain making, and
fabrication. Photo by Victoria Lansford. Dan Schatz,
vT, 2009.Pierced
silver tea infuser. Photo by Anne
Wolf.
a |
|
TRANSMUTATIONS: Material
Reborn
January 16 – March
21,
2010 |
|
Opening
Reception
Friday, January 15, 5:30 – 8:00
PM
Curated
by celebrated jeweler, Susan Sloan, TRANSMUTATIONS:
Material Reborn showcases 28 international jewelry
artists who transform materials, such as resin, latex, rubber,
vinyl, and thermoplastics, into outrageous jewelry and
wearable art. The exhibition includes pieces meant for
everyday adornment as well as those that make a
larger-than-life statement—some of which are created in
combination with more conventional materials, such as gold,
silver, pearls, and gemstones. Stop by the Artist Hall at HCCC
to see this stunning array of wearables made from plastic Lego
toy parts, precious materials, and found
objects!
From
left to right: Emiko Oye,
Cartier Blanc, 2008. From My
First Royal Jewels. Neckpiece made from repurposed LEGO®,
rubber cording, and sterling silver. Photo by Christine Dhein.
Rebecca Hannon, Bloom, 2008. Brooch
made from plastics, horsehair, and silver. Photo by Rebecca
Hannon. Emiko Oye, The Duchess, 2008. From My
First Royal Jewels. Neckpiece made from repurposed LEGO® and
rubber cording. Photo by Emiko
Oye.
6
|
|
Iron
as Public Art
|
|
|
Iron:
Forged, Tempered, Quenched
is not limited to the large gallery--make sure to see these
unique public art pieces on the HCCC
grounds!
Emergence by Colin
McIntyre
Next time you park in our
back parking lot, chances are you will notice a new,
17-foot-high forged-steel sculpture near the back entrance of
the building. The 2,000-pound sculpture, called Emergence,
is by Austin artist and blacksmith Colin McIntyre, who draws
his inspiration from organic forms such as plants and marine
life. McIntyre transported the massive sculpture to Houston on
a trailer and worked with HCCC staff and volunteers to install
it. Emergence
represents an extraordinary feat of blacksmithing and is the
largest single piece of artwork ever displayed at Houston
Center for Contemporary Craft. The sculpture will remain on
view through May, and possibly longer.
Colin McIntyre
has practiced varied forms of metalworking since the age of
14. From his Austin studio, he offers services in designing,
forging, welding and installing sculpture and custom
architectural metalwork. Of his chosen medium, he says, “The
art of blacksmithing moves me like no other practice that I
have pursued in my life. Forging hot metal integrates an
intense physical discipline with a beautiful moment of
spontaneous artistic creation. The forms and objects that
result are perfect records of the event.”
Steel Flowers by
Barbara Irwin
Stop by the Craft
Garden (and also the rear lobby of the building) to see unique
welded-steel and found-object flowers. Austin artist Barbara
Irwin began welding just over two years ago, at Austin
Community College, and hasn’t looked back since. Each flower
is whimsical, combining welded steel and found metal objects
like old car parts and household items. The flowers will be on
view through May 16, 2010.
Above: Colin
McIntyre installing his sculpture,
Emergence. Photo by Matt
Smith. Steel flowers by Barbara Irwin. Photo courtesy
HCCC.
6 | |
|
| |
|
| Gallery Hours |
Tuesday - Saturday, 10AM - 5PM
Sunday, 12PM -5PM
| |
|
| | |
