March Issue 2001
Works From An Obsessive And Highly Personal Private Collection
by Martha Connell, Connell Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia
Building a collection, whether its focus is baseball cards, Barbie dolls or Renaissance paintings, requires energy, passion and determination. Few people who become serious collectors set out to do so: they merely become engulfed in something that interests them. For some, like the owners of the artwork in this exhibition, it is a compulsion - a wonderful, never-ending art-appreciation/acquisition course that lifts their spirits while putting a dent in their wallets. It is artwork as emotional epiphany, visual surround-sound, and appetite appeasement all rolled into one.
I first met these two collectors about fifteen years ago as they were first discovering the fascination of figurative sculpture. Looking at the strength and power of their collection, it is hard to remember that they began this venture with some timidity and trepidation. I have watched as they developed the discerning eye of mature collectors in assembling an impressive array of figurative objects, primarily made of clay. Their collection is a joyous celebration of the beauty and resilience of the human form. The selection criteria is to acquire only those pieces that will enrich their lives and nourish their souls. They have always embraced works by unknown artists with the same gusto as those by the leaders in the field. They have purchased pieces of all shapes and sizes: works that soothe the spirit and pieces that jar the senses; objects that shine with technical virtuosity and others whose intended crudeness exudes raw power; and pieces that address political and social issues head on, or occasionally, in subtle, humorous ways. This highly personal collection has a cohesiveness in its diversity that comes from the strength and vision of the people who have chosen each piece because it relates to them in some idiosyncratic way. Their collection is an active part of their household, with pieces clustered and sometimes cluttered into every available space. They continue to be awed, thrilled and humbled by the creativity of the artists whose works surround them. It is only recently, and with prodding from others, that they have been willing to refer to the artwork they own as a Collection. It is however, a work in progress, an assemblage that is ongoing - for these two people have an insatiable appetite for creativity. The 30 pieces on exhibit in Figuration in Clay represent a mere sampling of their venture into the arena of figurative clay.
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