Mari Andrews’ Like a Language and Rakudo Naito’s Nature Constructed share an opening reception at the Tayloe Piggott Gallery on Friday, February 10, 5-8:00 pm. The white light in the work conveys winter’s soft delicacy, its silence and ability to allow us to see new the shy details of bare branches, spores, and the simple lines of a leaf. Fluid femininity and structural systems wrought from nature are explored. The show remains up through March 27, 2012.
I’m going for it here: Andrews’ constructions of wire, pine needles, delicate branches and what looks, in press materials, like lichen, are certainly–at least in part—meditations on women’s reproductive organs. Nature as feminine. Tubular constructs terminate in mossy, circular portals. Flattened ovary and fallopian-shaped sculptures are heavily textured and the color of shells mixed with seaweed; expanded hearts. White, lacy blossoms float airily. Beaker-shaped pods and vessels intertwine—the fairest of mermaid necklaces. Indeed, Andrews’ work is highly intimate.
In contrast to Andrews’ solubility are Naito’s sculptures of “rational systems.” Here, says the gallery, “Nature is a sublime engineer,” and a “mathematician and inventor.” Her large scale work Untitled, 2011, 50.5 x 26.5 x 2.5,” is bleached white, crimped, confidently rectangular. Ridges imply depth and dimension. Says the gallery: “It is the nuances of her materials that catches the eye: the ever so slightly burnt edge of paper to suggest color, the subtle twist on the end of a ball of cotton to suggest growth…”
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Join plein air painter Scott L. Christensen as he leads a series of painting workshops and demonstrations in February and March. Sounds like a pretty nice way to warm up these gray, snowy days! I mean, have you SEEN Scott’s studio? February dates are the 7th, 11th, 14th, 18th, 21st, 25th and 28th. March’s workshop is March 3rd. Workshops meet 10 am – 4 pm and the cost is $100 per day. There is a maximum attendance of 20 attendees per day.
Christensen notes that attendees are welcome to come for the day; or, he suggests, plan to stay in the valley overnight and take advantage of some great painting practice for an excellent price for two consecutive days. Workshops take place at Christensen’s studio: 9502 S. 2000 W. in Victor, Idaho. Christensen will be teaching three workshops this year. Visit www.christensenworkshops.com for more details.
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If you’re looking for an exceptional photography adventure out in the field, check out David Brookover’s new workshop offerings. Contact Brookover at his gallery to confirm schedules and check prices; I think you’re looking at full or half day outings. Brookover, the Jackson Hole Art Auction, Altamira Fine Art and I were recently featured on Casper, Wyoming’s NBC News affiliate KCWY. Anchor/Reporter/Producer Cory Marshall (you should soon be able to view the segment on Cory’s professional Facebook page) came to town to see about Jackson’s arts now that we’ve got the snow, baby!
Tammy Christel 
