VESSELS at LongHouse
Even more than the LongHouse textiles, Jack Larsen’s fifty year collecting focus has been on vessels. Small, large, or shoulder high, millennia old or born yesterday, they are here in galaxies. Not surprisingly, ceramics dominate in abundance and variety, from thick slabs to eggshell translucency, and from tiny thimbles to Takaezu’s ten-foot Tree Form. A group titled Asian Clay: 5000 Years is in itself a major holding; there are also pre-Columbian and ethnic pots plus a strong showing by several contemporary potters.
A number of glass and metal vessels -- including Chunghi Choo’s suave silver forms -- will be shown; others are of turned and carved wood. Basketry comes next in numbers as bowl shapes, fishtraps and haversacks -- both ethnic and studio crafted. Glass is dominated by four decades of pieces by Jack Larsen’s maverick friend, Dale Chihuly.
To be installed in new display cases, this is a major craft collection -- forms in diverse materials, from cultures worlds apart in time and place, dating over five millennia. .
Most of these vessels (shown inside the Pavilion) are grouped by medium or provenance; others spill onto the pond-side plaza. Most fantastic of all are large Asian pots marching through sand dunes from Gatehouse to gallery. Hit the Hampton highways; it’s well worth it
This exhibition is made possible with generous support from Johnson Family Foundation, Edward R. Roberts Family Foundation, and Barbara Slifka.
through July 12, 2008
$10; members complimentary
