'Best of 2022' shows off top-rated works in Ohio Designer Craftsmen's juried exhibition
From a superbly crafted stoneware rabbit to a trio of pins shaped like bikinis to an elegant glass boulder, the works in Ohio Designer Craftsmen’s “Best of 2022” exhibit at the Ohio Craft Museum are stunning and surprising.
The annual juried exhibition, which has been going on for 39 years, continues through June 26 at the museum on West Fifth Avenue. From nearly 300 entries, Betty Talbott, director emeritus of Ohio Designer Craftsmen, selected works by 83 artists mostly from Ohio but all with Ohio connections.
The 83 works represent astonishing variety – not just in the look of the creations but in their materials and themes.
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Christopher St. John of The Plains, Ohio, took the director’s award for excellence with his “Moon Rabbit,” a stoneware sculpture whose simple shape and design manages to convey the creature’s strength and confidence.
In her “Women on the Move Series,” Cincinnati artist Christina Brandewie presents three bikini-shaped pins in different shades of gold, winning the exhibition’s award for excellence.
The director emeritus award for excellence went to Cleveland Heights artist Brent Kee Young for “Matrix Series: Windfall…Boulder II.” Sophisticated and curious at the same time, the large sculpture is a glass boulder punctuated by two glass branches – all created by clear glass tubing.
Many of the artists had fun with their creations. Kristina Bogdanov of Delaware produced “Dirty Dishes,” a big platter decorated with a scene of the dirty dishes piled in a sink. Kristin Morris took the award for humor with “Ricardo,” a big chicken with oversized shoes and a sardonic look in his eye, made of clay and found objects.
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And many of the artists made use of unexpected materials. Sharon Richwine of Columbus used pencil, dyed tissue and tree limbs to create an Italian Village scene. Ann Silverman produced a gentle tree from handmade paper, bark and thread. And Rachel Smith of Strongsville used aluminum, silver, steel and vinyl and an entire wall to produce her “Wearable Wallpaper,” with purple and rose pop-out flowers against a backdrop of silver flocking. She won the challenge award for excellence.
Among the truly sumptuous works are Cleveland artist Benjamin Johnson’s gold and green glass vase “Wheat Field,” winning the award for excellence in glass, and “What Grows From Sorrow” by Jessica Mohl of Crawfordsville, Indiana. Her small sculpture presents a single pearl nestled in a tangle of brass and silver branches, a beautiful use of materials to signify both misfortune and hope.
As has become customary with the Craft Museum’s “Best of…” exhibits, there is much to see and consider. Throughout its years, the Ohio Designer Craftsmen have encouraged and produced consistent excellence in craft.
At a glance
“Best of 2022” continues through June 26 at the Ohio Craft Museum, 1665 W. Fifth Ave. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Call 614-486-4402 or visit www.ohiocraft.org. From Aug. 25 to Sept. 29, “Best of 2022” will be on view at Kent State University’s CVA Gallery in Kent, Ohio.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Visual arts: Check out Ohio Designer Craftsmen's 'Best of 2022'
