April 24, 2008
At a time when El Paso’s art scene is losing commercial galleries, the not-for-profit Olo Gallery (part of Creative Kids) presents a welcomed exhibition of contemporary art by Rie Kawakami. Since September, Kawakami has been artist-in-residence at the La Union studio of the Border Art Residency; she hails from Soporro, Japan, where she is known for large-scale works in steel, a material she explores thoroughly in the work shown here.
(Disclosure: The Border Art Residency was begun by my husband Ray Parish, and we serve as hosts to the artist.)
Kawakami’s work is surprisingly broad. I say surprising because I witnessed the shaping of the large-scale sculpture and presumed that was her sole project. In fact, her productivity while “in residence” covers much more than steel fabrication. The Olo Gallery exhibition demonstrates three (or more) approaches to steel: a skeletal construction of welded round-stock which enlarges and captures the essence of the artist’s gestural line drawings; small steel objects that perfectly mimic stones with smooth curves and patinas; and two- dimensional works on steel plate, in series, that evoke high-modernist compositions, Mondrian to Scully. Responding to the magnificent gallery space, Kawakami counterbalances her focus on metal with two interactive compositions made of layered paper. All in all, this is a handsome and impressive show.
Impressive, too, is the whole Creative Kids program run by Steven and Andrea Ingle. Although they are most often overwhelmed by their work with “at risk” kids, from preschoolers to high-school age, they might be able to give you a tour of the space. You will be inspired, I promise.
Rie Kawakami’s exhibition runs through the end of the week. Olo Gallery, 504 San Francisco, is open Tuesday – Friday from 10:oo to 5:oo.