Atlanta wood turner Matt Moulthrop and book sculptor Brian Dettmer are among the 40 American artists whose works comprise "40 under 40: Craft Futures," an exhibit opening Friday at the Smithsonian's Renwick Gallery in Washington.
The exhibit showcases works by 40 makers born since 1972, the year that the Renwick was established as the contemporary craft and decorative arts branch of the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
But there is more than round numbers that link the pieces: Renwick curator Nicholas R. Bell selected only works created since 9/11 in an attempt to reflect "the changed world that exists today," as an exhibit release terms it.
"We are seeing the beginning of a new cycle in contemporary craft, one in which the urgency of the idea is paramount," said Bell, who reviewed work by more than 2,000 artists to reach the final 40. "The blurring of disciplinary lines within craft is a trademark of 21st century artists; these 40 were selected to show the most engaging work of their generation and to highlight newly prevalent trends in the field."
Moulthrop is a third-generation wood turner who has taken the classic vessel shapes of his father Philip and late grandfather Ed and turned them in new directions, with new materials and design approaches. He is represented locally by the Signature Shop & Gallery. (More on the artist at www.moulthropstudios.com/matt.html.)
The widely exhibited Dettmer — whose works can be seen this year in group shows from Chattanooga to Paris — carves and transforms books and other old media into works of fine art sculpture.
He was selected last year by the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia for its Working Artists Project, an honor that will conclude in a MOCA GA solo exhibit opening Oct. 20. He's represented in Atlanta by Saltworks. (More on Dettmer at www.briandettmer.com.)
"40 under 40" will continue through Feb. 3, 2013. The Renwick hopes to purchase a work by each artist to add to its permanent collection.
More on "40 under 40″: www.americanart.si.edu (click Exhibitions, then Upcoming).
PERFORMING ARTS
When movement becomes operatic
Four Atlanta Opera vocalists with one accompanist and 17 gloATL dancers will join forces Friday and Saturdaynights for a "Liquid Culture" performance.
Atlantans and Atlanta architecture are integral ingredients in these performance art happenings, and these two will have a dramatic setting: Sol LeWitt's "54 Columns" sculptural installation, at Highland Avenue and Glen Iris Drive in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood.
The free 8:30 p.m. performances, concluding Liquid Culture's second year, will tap Atlanta Opera vocalists Elizabeth Claxton, Megan Mashburn, Tim Miller and Heather Witt along with accompanist Catherine Giel. It's a first-time collaboration between the opera and gloATL, set to some of opera's masterpieces, including La Boheme and the Barcarolle duet from "Tales of Hoffman."
Earlier installments of Liquid Culture this year took place at Colony Square, MARTA's Lindberg Station and storefronts in Little Five Points
More information: www.gloatl.com.
ARTS
Sixth annual drive to fund the 'risky'
Idea Capital, an Atlanta independent arts funding group with the mission of supporting "Atlanta artists who make risky and challenging work that might not otherwise receive funding," is seeking support for its 2012 cycle.
The group, which has bestowed 16 grants totalling more than $13,000 over five years of giving, will host a kickoff party for its sixth round of funding at 4 p.m. July 29 at an arts advocate's private home. There will be food, drink, entertainment and the chance to meet artists and other arts supporters. RSVP required (with address to be forwarded later) at ideacapital.eventbrite.com.
More on Idea Capital: www.ideacapitalatlanta.org.
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