Bring on the Clowns: ‘Trickster’ Exhibit Opening Tonight

Tricksters cavort in the new show at Fuller Lodge Art Center. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com

‘Madame Belle Reveals All’ by Los Alamos artist Wendy Dunn and her father, Frank Miller of Spring Lake, Mich. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com

 

By BONNIE J. GORDON
Los Alamos Daily Post

Tricksters come in all shapes and sizes and exist in every culture. A trickster is a prankster, a wise fool, a crafty schemer and often the butt of his own joke.

A trickster disrupts the social norms and sets the world spinning in a new direction.

The latest show at Fuller Lodge Art Center explores all these aspects of the Trickster mythos. From cunning cats to Koshares (Hopi/Zuni Clowns) Tricksters appear in a multitude of guises. The opening reception for “Trickster” is 5-7 p.m., tonight at Fuller Lodge Art Center. Expect surprises! Double A and DK from DK and the Affordables, pretty tricky guys themselves, will provide musical entertainment during the “Trickster” show.

Peacock’ by Elena Giorgi

Sometimes in this show, the trick is in the art itself as in Elena Giorgi’s “Forever” and “Peacock,” photography combining natural images with human hands to create something totally surprising.

The Trickster Raven is ubiquitous here in Los Alamos. Raven appears in the work of three Los Alamos artists, the fiber art of Teralene Foxx, the photos of Greg Kendall and the stained glass of Fran Stoval.

Another familiar Southwest Trickster, Coyote makes an appearance as in the show as well. Another Southwestern Trickster, the Koshare, makes an appearance, too. Los Alamos painter Rebecca Schneider presents the Koshare in five brilliantly colored paintings. The Koshare (among others) also appears in the work of Fran Black.

We all know cats are Tricksters. The ceramics of Kathryn Blackmum present whimsical felines with mischief in mind.

Los Alamos artist Wendy Dunn and her father, Frank Miller of Spring Lake, Mich. give us “Madame Belle Reveals All.” Dunn and Miller began making wooden dolls very recently. Madam Belle is a reproduction of the 19th century “peg Wooden” dolls made in Germany.

“Since traveling fortune tellers were popular at that time, some dolls were dressed as ‘Fate Ladies’ with folded paper fortunes making up the doll’s skirt,” Dunn said.

Tricks and treats from three dozen artists make up this truly spectacular show.

In the Portal Gallery, the Art Center is showing the textiles of Los Alamos artist Valentina Devine in an exhibit called “Knitting Without Boundaries,” also opening tonight.

Shawl by Valentina Devine. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/la/dailypost.com

Born in Moscow, Russia and growing up in Berlin, Germany, Devine has always been knitting. Since the mid-80s, she has been creating one-of-a-kind garments and wall hangings and teaching a technique called “Creative Knitting.”

She is a contributor to many knitting books and publications, and shows her art-to-wear garments in different boutiques throughout the US. Devine cannot imagine life without knitting and she hopes to continue inspiring many more knitters here and abroad.

During the opening, Devine also will have models in the gallery space wearing her original works, and 9-11 a.m. Saturday, she will offer a free form knitting demonstration in her studio. Interested participants can sign up at the Art Center today.

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