|
|
March 25, 2005
Artists put passion into work
Gallery exhibit explores space, shape, color, abstraction, realism.
SIMA ELIZABETH SHEFRIN
You can't tell a lot from the title of Form and Abstraction, the
current exhibit at the Sidney and Gertrude Zack Gallery at the Vancouver
Jewish Community Centre (JCC) but don't let that keep you from viewing
the artwork. The exhibit includes abstract paintings and stone sculptures
by Miriam Friedberg and Naomi Pulvers. Both artists have chosen
to focus on formal concerns as they use their art forms to explore
space, shape and color. Like many artists, they share a passion
for the work they do, and a pleasure in offering it to those of
us who come by to look and enjoy.
Pulvers carves sculptures up to 18 inches high, in soapstone, alabaster
and marble.
"I find working in stone fascinating, with its endless range
of beauty in colors and grains," Pulvers says in her artist's
statement.
She began sculpting in a 1984 class at the JCC, under the direction
of Ketty Magil. Much of her training was through the Vancouver School
Board and community centre courses, which makes all the more impressive
her mastery of a time-consuming and technically challenging art
form.
In her home studio, Pulvers works with hammers, chisels, points
and heavy rasps to draw the initial shape out of the stone. After
that, she uses more precise tools to refine the image. She completes
each piece by polishing it with various grades of dry and wet sandpaper
and coats of buffed wax.
According to JCC cultural arts director Reisa Schneider, who spoke
to a packed audience at the exhibit's opening, Pulvers' pieces are
influenced by her love of dance.
"I definitely try to put movement into my pieces," Pulvers
told the Bulletin. "I don't believe sculpture should
be there just to take up space, but rather to be at one with its
surroundings."
Pulvers spent six years in Israel in the late 1960s and early '70s.
The sculpture entitled "Zadik," she explained in an interview,
"resembles that letter of the Hebrew alphabet, but the word
tzaddik describes a person who is upright and generous of
spirit while at the same time being humble. 'Winged Spirit' is a
white marble piece that reminded me of a scene in an Israeli film
depicting the soul departing the body."
When asked what she was hoping visitors to this exhibit would take
away with them, she replied, "I would simply say that I would
like them to have as much pleasure viewing my works as I have had
in creating them."
Friedberg is a skilled painter, working in acrylic and mixed media,
including watercolor, pastel, collage and found materials.
"My process is a pure creative process. Many of my pieces start
with nothing specific in mind," Friedberg said in an interview.
"Having colors on the surface in a total chaos, then trying
to find something in it, then developing it to my satisfaction."
Friedberg was born in Israel, where she studied art, fashion and
design. In recent years, she has shown in numerous locations around
the Lower Mainland and in Seattle. Friedberg's pieces also include
references to Israel. For example "Shrine of the Ancients II"
incorporates photo transfers of Hebrew manuscripts.
Her 33 colorful paintings, ranging in size from six inches to two
feet wide, have very much a European feel about them. "Little
Bird" is an abstract rendering of buildings and streets that
surround a doorway a couple of inches high. Through the doorway,
you can see a sidewalk, a tree and a very small bird. We must visually
wend our way through the suggestion of streets and building in order
to reach the centre of the piece.
"I express myself better in shape, form and color, than in
words," the artist told enthusiastic guests at the opening
reception.
"Even though I have loved art all of my life," she added
later in an interview, "it is only in the last seven years
that I have worked intensively. Within those years, I have learned
more and more to love modern art, especially the abstracted form."
She likes to create abstracted images, in which you can still recognize
the original subject of the painting, as well as pure abstraction.
Sometimes, as in the whimsical Fruitscape series, the first painting
creates itself and she lets the others follow its lead.
"Art and painting is my passion and I put my whole heart in
it," Friedberg tells us in her artist's statement. "I
feel art is a part of me, my inspiration, my creativity, my passion
and my language."
The paintings and sculptures in Form and Abstraction work well together.
This is a good show, skilfully curated and definitely worth a visit.
Once again, the Sidney and Gertrude Zack Gallery has demonstrated
that we have every reason to celebrate the growing body of work
by Jewish artists in our community.
The Zack Gallery is located in the JCC, 950 West 41st Ave. in Vancouver
and the exhibit runs until April 13.
Sima Elizabeth Shefrin is a Vancouver artist and writer
and the artist/co-ordinator of the Middle East Peace Quilt, which
has been touring North America since 1999.
^TOP
|
|
