Details from "Cutting Edges"

A friend texted me from Florence this morning. "I am in front of the David" she wrote. "Wish u were here." I was immediately sent back in time to the moment I first saw Michaelangelo's sculpture "in the flesh" -- and how surprised I was to find myself bursting into tears. After all the myriad images I had seen of this work, I thought I knew "David." Boy, was I wrong.

No matter how expensive the printing, no matter how many the angles, no matter how many the pixels -- photographs never capture art. They miss the unique texture of a brush stroke, the reflectivity of polished marble, or the luminosity of a glaze. These are all visceral cues to the artist's intent that contribute as much or more to the impact of a work as the composition and materials. There simple is no substitute for "being there."

While we can't transport you all to Lake Oswego, we thought we'd try to get you just a little bit closer to the mosaics with a couple of detail shots sent by Lynn Adamo this afternoon.

The work above is "Strafe" by Sophie Drouin. A detail shot of the work is below.

The detail shot offers a whole different experience, no? How much more sinister are those bullets now that you can see their dimensionality and reflectivity? How much more fiery the crumpled up copper sheeting? Look closer for discoveries of your own.

Another example. Here's Jo Braun's "Knobs and Tubes" in full view.


My first reaction was that it was a lovely, intricate work reminscent of tapestry or perhaps very detailed lace. Then Lynn sent the detail shot below.


Whoa. My fragile lace is composed of rock stacked on rock with boulders of ceramic sitting atop it. "Knobs and Tubes" is now a whole different experience for me. The juxtaposition of imagery and materials makes me ponder where else in my life what appears fragile is actually strong and true.

Lynn reports that the first reaction that viewers have to the exhibit is wonder. Then there is investigation. Then there is surprise. Then there is appreciation and enjoyment.

I am so jealous of them I could just spit.

A few more works from the show.

"Birds in Hair IV" -- Irina Charney
La Hora" -- Brooks Tower

"Mazeltov Series Green Dream"
Kim Emerson

Enjoy -- Nancie