Ornamentum Gallery at SOFA New York City

This past weekend my friend, Katherine, and I went to SOFA, the twelfth annual Sculpture Objects and Functional Arts Fair. Most of the galleries had an incredible array of objects, with a preponderance of the galleries displaying jewelry and other objects made of glass.  The use of glass to produce the objects was as varied as the objects themselves.  There were figurative shapes, as well as more traditional objects such as vases. Elsewhere, glass was used as an element of the whole piece, either as a foundation or as added texture.

What struck me most, however, were two pieces at the Ornamentum Gallery that were encased in acrylic, seen here. In my view , acrylic,  from a visual point of view is in the glass category, but not entirely. I think in this instance the use of acrylic rather than glass is a better choice. Acrylic has that look and feel of plastic that relates better to the objects enclosed in it.

What about the 45 caliber pistol and bullet. I think that there is an interplay of strong graphics with soft and hard textures.... and it all works. Perhaps the hues and colors unify all of the elements. Perhaps what makes all this attractive is that all the elements are familiar and could ostensibly be found together in more traditional circumstances and enclosures. 

  The work here is created by Ted Noten. See ornamentumgallery.com