The two local women met when MacKnight entered her pottery in a show at the art center, where Molleson is Visual Arts Director. Soon after, MacKnight joined the art center, became a volunteer and member of the visual arts committee. A friendship blossomed as well as a mutual admiration for each other’s work, which led to this joint exhibit.
Molleson makes assemblage sculptures from wood and metal components. Architectural salvage, such as porch spindles, corbels, newel posts and gingerbread trim are the raw materials that suggest some part of the human figure. All of her sculptures are figural – many represent angels or fairies due to the addition of wings as a further decorative element. Vintage lamp parts, chandelier arms, prisms, brass or silver bowls and cups are transformed into clothing or headdresses. The artist’s whimsical and imaginative cast of characters range in size from one foot to five feet. One of the larger pieces, “She Who Speaks with Trees,” is an Indian maiden who takes shape by the combination of a newel post body, tin ceiling tile and baling wire skirt, cut tin feathers and coal tong hands. Molleson credits her wood-worker husband, Mark, with helping to securely attach large or difficult parts.
“I titled this series “Old Souls” because the components of my pieces have all led past lives and are often damaged or cast aside. I enjoy repurposing objects into an art piece that will live a new life and be valued once again,” states Molleson.
“New Beginnings” is MacKnight’s title for her distinctive hand built pottery. An organic pallet and a style driven by nature has allowed this mixed media artisan to use her passion for pottery as the canvas to add copper, wood and sometimes concrete to create her unique style. At fist glance MacKnight’s designs are appealing and amazingly simple, yet like nature, a closer inspection will reveal a wonder of surprises. Looking closely one might find a small face imbedded in a leaf , a set of foot prints marching across a bowl, a few ants here and there, or turn any garden bowl over and the bottom will be embossed with a woodland scene enhanced to look like metal.
“The title ‘New Beginnings’ has to do with my dragon fly bowls,” said Macknight. “Over the years I have made many versions of this one theme bowl. When I first started working with clay I sort of took on the dragonfly as a center piece in most of my garden bowls. The dragon fly symbol itself has a folk-lore of representing new beginnings, prosperity and good luck. The dragonfly is still my favorite sub-ject to work with, and it seems I’m always taking on ‘New Beginnings‘, and that’s a good thing.”
MacKnight works in her home studio almost daily and can often be found selling her popular wares at the Chattanooga Market on Sundays. For Molleson, this will be the first time in recent years that she has produced enough pieces to carry a show. Family life is central to both women and their crea-tive spirit brings them balance and joy. The artists feel their individual styles meld harmoniously into a unique and interesting exhibit.
Post a Comment