Tony Marsh: Perforated Vessels
How does an artist take a dense, opaque material and make it light and airy? And what happens when our vision shifts across overlays of pattern? Tony Marsh’s current show answers both questions eloquently. This isn’t the first time he has worked on this series of Perforated Vessels, but it is a summation of his skill and his message.
Although many visitors, from veteran artists to casual passers-by, are fascinated by the technique, I find myself more interested in the content. As vessels, these pieces are containers of a kind of personal archaeology. The elements have some primal relationship to growth, and seem to come from both the microscopic and macroscopic worlds. On the purely visual and subjective level, one has a sense of shifting radiance of light, a bone-white bare essence.
Yesterday, Tony’s show was reviewed by Joyce Lovelace for American Craft. It’s a superb and satisfying review, with a thorough and understanding of Tony’s work. Joyce has composed an excellent description of the show, and in the process has captured its spirit.
