Exhibition News

Crafting Modernism: The MAG Connection

In a recent issue, American Craft magazine singled out Rochester in the 1950s as a “craft hotbed.” So it comes as no surprise that at least 11 artists in Crafting Modernism: Midcentury American Art and Design have connections to RIT’s School for American Crafts (SAC). Among them is Ruth Clark Radakovich, who lived in Rochester from 1955 to 1959 and studied with SAC metalsmith Jack Prip (also in the show).

Two works by Radakovich—a cocktail ring and a futuristic door—are on view in Crafting Modernism. But a few steps away, you can also see work by her husband, Svetozar. His Bird Form, from the Gallery’s permanent collection, is currently on view in the Folk and American Decorative Arts Gallery. You may also have seen one of his paintings, a prize winner in the 1956 Rochester-Finger Lakes Exhibition. Seascape—Dubrovnik was on view last summer in conjunction with the 63rd Finger Lakes.

While in Rochester, both Radakoviches taught in the Gallery’s Creative Workshop; in the undated archive photo above, Ruth (standing) is shown with Workshop students.

In 1959, the couple left Rochester with their two daughters and settled north of San Diego, California. Ruth died in 1975, Svetozar in 1998.

More western NY connections

And the Walls Came Tumblin’ (Gently) Down

What do you do with 12,000+ bars of soap? (And not just soap, but soap that has been glued together to form the “bricks” of a wall?) In the case of Extreme Materials 2, the answer was obvious—repurpose it.

On January 20, after the show had closed, MAG staffers took down Clear, Danielle Julian Norton’s spectacular room-sized structure built of Neutrogena soap. A pallet-load of soap went to the School of the Arts, where students will melt the bars down for art projects. Another big batch went to Sample Soap, a non-profit organization that will clean off the glue and donate soap to social service agencies for distribution to the neediest.

Clear installation pictures from October 2011

Related Stories

• November 2011: Extreme Materials 2 Family Day

Archived Stories

• October 2011: Artists on Site for Extreme Materials 2
• June 2011: Ashbery & Friends
• Spring 2011: Fiberart International Collection Connections
  
• May 2011: Fiberart International Opening
• January 2011: Wine and Spirit Collection Connections
• October 2010: Psychedelic Opening Party
• August 2010: Exhibition Explores Relationship of Visionary Artists Claude Bragdon and Fritz Trautmann
• October 2009: Installing Paint Made Flesh
• February 2009: Lincoln in Rochester Celebrates Abraham Lincoln’s 200th Anniversary