Three Local Artists Exhibit in “Texture/Form/Surface,”at Edgewood Gallery (through November 15)

by Carl Mellor

The current group exhibition at the Edgewood Gallery features three local artists who work in diverse media. The trio includes Lauren Bristol, creator of sculptural coiled basketry; David (Hongo) Robertson whose acrylic paintings are predominantly abstract; Dana Stenson, a metalsmith jeweler who makes rings, earrings, bracelets and other pieces.

There are also variations in the artists’ gallery history. Bristol and Stenson have taken part in many exhibits over the years. For Robertson, this is the first show providing in-depth exposure for his work.

The exhibition presents 18 of Bristol’s sculptures, all of which were created in Egyptian cotton. The artist has made artworks like “The Keeper,” done in purple, and “Sacerda Amrita,” a piece blending red, blue and other colors. Many of the pieces at Edgewood are in white.

Color is just one element of her fiber works. Bristol creates firm forms from flexible fibers. “Vesica Spirituale,” for example, has the shape of a tower. A second piece, “Vesica Piscis,” has a long form and is inscribed with an ancient symbol going back to the roots of geometry. And a third sculpture has heft, several colors and a small piece of wood at its top.

Beyond that, the sculptures reflect Bristol’s focus on exploring the sacred through art. She’s deeply interested in the Earth Mother archetype associated with fertility and care for life, in lunar cycles, in women’s role in mythologies around the globe.

Indeed, viewers will encounter a piece named “Mama Quilla: Moon Mother II,” referring to the Inca goddess of marriage, the moon and the menstrual cycle. Another work, “Mama Ixchel,” references the Maya goddess of medicine and midwifery.

The exhibit, with its display of a large number of Bristol’s sculptures, amply documents her visual strategies. “Head II,” an interesting artwork, uses small stripes to portray the outline of a human figure. It looks almost like a stick figure.

Robertson, meanwhile, works with acrylic and plaster on board, interpreting scenes from nature and other settings. Two of his paintings use Green Lakes State Park as a reference point but do so in an abstract manner, not realistically.

The artist uses a similar approach in creating “Cazenovia Sunset.” The painting depicts a red-and-orange sky above a swatch of green.

And there’s an array of other paintings: “Kota Pond,” which emphasizes greenish color; a winter landscape suggesting snow while not portraying it; “Midnight Mist,” a well done piece incorporating a small moon shape.

Several works demonstrate Robertson’s interest in exploring texture. “Autumn Respite” depicts land seemingly divided into islands, into small territories. Another painting builds on a series of squares.

In addition, a couple of works seem to fall into separate realms. For example, “Grandma’s Basement” details an interior space, not a landscape. It’s sparse, created without earth colors.

Robertson also created a large, ambitious painting whose style evokes ancient cave paintings like those found in France many decades ago. He’s portrayed a clothesline with two sheets on it. Again, the work isn’t steeped in realism. Viewers are encouraged to contemplate the painting, to draw their own conclusions.

In the past, Robertson has had one or two works in group exhibitions. The Edgewood show, which displays a dozen or so of his paintings, makes it much easier to get a sense of his art.

Finally, Stenson has a selection of her jewelry in the exhibition. She works with sterling silver and various stones. She’s often inspired by the natural world. During her career, she created several series, including one devoted to Frida Kahlo. Her jewelry has been displayed in shows at Edgewood and other galleries and in the annual Plowshares Crafts Festival hosted by the Syracuse Peace Council.

“Texture/Form/Surface” is on display through November 15 at the Edgewood Gallery, 216 Tecumseh Rd. The venue is open from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Admission is free.

For more information, access edgewoodartandframe.com.

Carl Mellor covered visual arts for the Syracuse New Times from 1994 through 2019. He continues to write about exhibitions and artists in Central New York.