Found object artists at times fall victim to a lack of consistent language in their work due to the arbitrary nature of their craft. Their works become mediated upon chance discovery, external inspirations and risk lacking a developed style of continuously expounded/explored forms. Paige Wideman's mature sculptures represent the opposite case of this approach. Her work has a personal language, part formalist/part narrative. The qualities of her recovered materials are conserved, sometimes re-worked and always successfully collaged into her compositions. Graceful curves appear in works such as Kindred, 2009 and Solitude, 2009 while others, such as Op-red, 2007 and Edifice, 2009 jut upwards in monolithic fashion. The works have an atmosphere of antiquity in part due to the weathered materials. The tones are rustic throughout (wood, steel, etc.) and warm the eye with rusted reds and textures.
In Mazda, 2009 and Parlato, 2009, the found nature of the components completely disappear in these intimate compositions. Particularly in the latter, I was reminded of the art of Joseph Cornell.
Also of note is budding artist Elizabeth Laskey (in particular in such works as Numen). Her art constitutes the other half of this exhibition curated by David Knight, gallery director of Northern Kentucky University.
-A.C. Frabetti
'Recycled Finds: Work by Paige Wideman and Elizabeth Laskey', The Covington Artisans Enterprise Center, 25 West 7th Street, Covington. Curated by David Knight. June 5th thru July 10th.
Photo: Wideman, Paige. Past Absolved, date: n.d. Wood, rust, found metal, 4"wx12"hx6"d. AEQAI staff photo.
