Shapes and Shrubberies
Thru August 1, 2004

Shapes and Shrubberies, an exhibit featuring seven sculptors, opened at the Ice House on Friday, June 4, with a special reception from 7:30 to 9pm. Produced by the Morgan Arts Council, the sculpture show opening was the centerpiece of the First Friday of the Month Art Walk in downtown Berkeley Springs, WV. Shapes and Shrubberies runs through August 1.

The 28 sculptures that compose the exhibit are made from various media, including alabaster, bronze, earthenware, forton, limestone, marble, recycled automobile parts, steel, stoneware and wood. The shrubberies include live flowering plants provided by the Green House Shop together with images of gardens and plants from Dumbarton Oaks, the U.S. National Arboretum, Chanticleer and the Lilypons Aquatic Gardens. Shapes and Shrubberies continues the ancient tradition of placing sculpture and plants together both indoors and out. Plants and sculptures in the exhibit may be purchased.

The seven sculptors are Luc-Alain Fiedler, Retha Walden Gambaro, Len Harris, Lynn Lavin, Jane Kelly Morais, Massimo Righini and Gerry Spaeth. They come from the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. Some are members of the Ice House Artists' Co-op in Berkeley Springs; some are members of the Washington Sculptors Group and the Indian Arts and Crafts Association. Fiedler, Gambaro, Lavin and Morais have taught and worked with students in Seattle, Stafford, Berkeley Springs and Baltimore. Harris, Righini and Spaeth come to sculpting after careers of engineering, surgery and customizing automobiles. Some are self-taught; others hold Masters of Fine Arts.

The pieces in the show have been chosen by curator Massimo Righini to exhibit the great variety of materials and subject matter of these seven artists. There are pieces based on mythology and the beauty of form while others are abstract or representational. Some are spiritual and others are whimsical. Each sculpture will encourage the viewers to explore its shape and texture.

A 27-minute video presentation by Retha Walden Gambaro - "Born of Fire" - which demonstrates how wax images are transformed into bronze figures will be available for viewing.

The Ice House Gallery sculpture show is funded through grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the West Virginia Commission on the Arts and local hotel/motel tax revenues. The Ice House is located on the corner of Independence and Mercer streets. The gallery is open from 11am to 5pm Fridays through Sundays. For more information call 304-258-2300