Material Mythologies brings together 19 works in textile, beading, metal, ceramic, and glass by five artists from around the country, all of whom are working at the edge of contemporary craft and sculpture. The artists in Material Mythologies (Sonya Clark, Mary Giles, Teri Greeves, Helen Lee, Jae Won Lee) build upon the traditions of craft techniques and materials while imbuing their work with poignant personal histories and cultural mythologies. With their innovative use of functional and non-functional forms, some of which included thousands of intricately assembled pieces, these artists and their works decode some of the entrenched assumptions about craft as they relate to gender, labor, history, and what is considered fine art. Together, they each find fascinating ways to tell stories, putting special emphasis on the power of language, mythology, and embedded narratives. It is these narratives, specifically those that address bicultural and bilingual identity, that are a significant focus of this exhibition.
Material Mythologies. Minnesota Museum of American Art. January 21 - April 13, 2016.
