Mesh

January 5 – February 23

Main Gallery

by Lanny Bergner

EXTENDED  - Through Sunday, February 26th

About the Exhibit

Opening Reception, January 5, 5-8pm

Lanny has been creating biomorphic and geometric constructions and installations out of metal mesh since 1983.  The works in "MESH" will feature a selection of bronze, brass, aluminum and stainless steel mesh studio works created since 2005 and installations created on-site specifically for the Schack Art Center Gallery.

Lecture - "Mesh: Transforming the Common"

February 18, 6-7pm during Everett's Artwalk, FREE

This lecture will examine works created by mixed-media sculptor/installation, fiber and sculptural basketry artist Lanny Bergner. The talk will focus on construction process and his unique yet simple repetitive techniques he uses to create his works. Through a PowerPoint presentation Lanny will detail the making of three metal mesh works from start to finish. In the last half of the lecture he will talk about his site-specific installations.

Workshop -"Meshworking: creating biomorphic metal mesh baskets"

Sunday, February 5, 10am - 5pm, $60 Members/ $65 Non-Members, $25 Supply Fee. Register now!

OR

Sunday, February 12, 10am - 5pm, $60 Members/ $65 Non-Members, $25 Supply Fee. Register now!

In this fun 6-hour workshop students will learn basic metal mesh fabrication techniques and they will make one biomorphic metal mesh basket.  They will be taught how to flame treat stainless steel mesh, wire edging techniques, and how to make twisted wire appendages and glass frit berry forms.  

Artist Statement

Lanny Bergner is an international mixed-media sculptor/installation, fiber and sculptural basketry artist. He was born in Anacortes, WA in 1952 and received his BFA in sculpture from the University of Washington in 1981 and an MFA in sculpture from Tyler School of Art, Temple University in 1983. His work is in numerous museum collections including the Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA; Museum of Art and Design, NY, NY; Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton, MA and The Central Museum of Textile, Łódź, Poland. In 1995 he won the Betty Bowen Memorial Award, administered by the Seattle Art Museum. In 2005 he won a Gold Prize at the Cheongju International Craft Biennale in Cheongju, Korea and was invited to create an installation "Between Earth and Sky" at the 2007 Cheongju International Craft Biennale. In 2010 he was one of five American artists invited to exhibit in the prestigious 13th International Triennial of Tapestry in Łódź, Poland. His work was recently included in the book "Fiber Art Today", a survey of contemporary international fiber artists, published by Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. Lanny maintains a studio and residence near Anacortes, WA. 

The ethereal quality of Lanny Bergner's work is in contrast to the mundane materials he uses to construct them.  All are created using industrially woven bronze, brass, copper, aluminum and stainless steel mesh. He also uses silicone, wire and glass frit as additional elements.  Using only a pliers and scissors, he employs inventive yet simple techniques to transform mesh into semi-transparent chambers, vessels and angular constructions that play with light and overlapping patterns.  The forms are made without the use of an armature and their structural integrity is determined by the method of construction.

The works have references to architecture, plant biology, microorganisms, cosmology, undersea forms and the human body.  They engage the viewer with glimpses into a primordial genesis where nature and industry coalesce.   They celebrate the mystery and wonder of it all.

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