 "Photo: Curt Youngblood/The Daily Texan")
The Blanton Museum of Art’s new exhibits, “Teresita Fernández: Blind Landscape” and the complementary “Drawn Toward Light,” are enchanting, if flawed.
While any exhibit purporting to focus on light may bring to mind unsavory memories of Thomas Kinkade, the stark simplicity of the sculptures will instantly banish such thoughts.
“Blind Landscape” is an immersion into the work of Teresita Fernández, the artist who designed the Stacked Waters sculpture in the Blanton’s atrium. Where Stacked Waters is light and playful, the pieces in “Blind Landscape” are more muted and dark.
The exhibit is well-organized. Fernández’s sculptures are relatively large so only 15 or so are on display, giving the viewer breathing room to process one piece at a time. While most pieces are unique, there are a few so similar to each other that they seem slightly redundant for such a small exhibit.
However, this doesn’t mean that Fernández’s work isn’t fascinating.
“Dune,” a curved, stairstepped wooden structure with thousands of pale beads glued to the steps, is an exhibit highlight. As you walk around the piece, subtle color patterns emerge that aren’t detectable up close but come into focus at an angled distance.
Perhaps the most intriguing element of this exhibit is watching the many ways in which Fernández’s fascination with water is played out.
“Drawn Waters,” a stunning graphite structure, is only a few steps away from the atrium’s “Stacked Waters.” Seeing these two pieces virtually side by side is a unique experience that only Blanton visitors will be able to enjoy.
But the biggest problem with the Fernández exhibit is the total lack of explanatory information on the placards identifying each sculpture. The Blanton has worked with Fernández before and she was involved personally in the installation of this exhibit.
Could they not have obtained one or two quotes or an explanation for at least a few of the pieces?
The second exhibit, “Drawn Toward Light,” unfortunately comes across as an afterthought intended to fill space.
While in this exhibit the placards each had a quote from the artist as well as in-depth explanations and background information, it leaves much to be desired.
Showing only one work from each of four artists, the idea seems underdeveloped, and would have been much more satisfying had it not been competing for space with the Fernández exhibit.
Leo Villareal’s Horizon 24 is a mesmerizing LED light display that alternates between lava-like color changes and flickering like a campfire. This artist, along with Paul Chan, whose 2nd Light is reminiscent of Kara Walker’s silhouettes, deserves to have a more in-depth treatment of his work.
Part of the Blanton’s charm is its ability to host exhibits that are right-sized — enough room to give its guests a comprehensive sense of the artist’s vision without being overwhelming. However, while “Drawn Toward Light” and “Blind Landscape” are intended to complement each other, they seem too different and end up competing for space and attention.
While each exhibit on its own has its merits, the transition is jarring, and they would have been more satisfying if they had been developed more fully – and separately.
in history! Thomas Kinkade is a fellow American who you know nothing about! Does it make you feel cool
to call work that you don't even research "unsavory"? You should get another line of work!
Thomas Kinkade's last two "Disney Dreams" painting SOLD OUT in one day at the publisher and last years
"Snow White" tripled in value during the bad economy! Please get a clue and another job. God bless you!