Home Reviews L. Plummer (Denisonian)

Leslie Plummer

-- Denisonian, January 29th, 1975. Review.
 
"Vinyl Sculptures Oblige Viewers' Participation"
 
 
  Experiments with Form 1
 
 
  Experiments with Form 2

Betty Collings' show of inflatable vinyl sculptures currently at Burke Hall is similar to the Marcheschi/Pelosini exhibition of kinetic sculptures in that the viewer becomes an integral part of each work.

Her show is atypical of most conventional sculpture exhibits as it not only appeals to, but requires full participation of all one's senses, not just vision.

For example, "Hearts," a triangular arrangement of inflated vinyl bags connected by air tubes, is equipped with stethoscopes, through which participants talk and listen to each other.

"Sphere," a 7'3" globe in which the participant stands, affects one's equilibrium through its different focus of sounds, as does "Rolling Cone."

"Mound" is the only piece that depends totally on the inpput of the participant. It consists of a mound of hard plastic on which one can slide, conforming his hips to the contour of the work.

All of Collings' exhibited works are basic geometric forms: elipses, triangles, circles. She commented on this, saying:

"One of the reasons for choosing the forms used was to de-emphasize the thought and expressive structure of the artist, thereby emphasizing the fact that, although this is an essential and inescapable aspect of the work, once the work is experienced by someone else it takes on the dimensions of that person's perspectives."

Collings, a native New Zealander, is now working out of Columbus. The pieces on view at Burke were created within the past 18 months.

 

 

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