Thought Travels to Palmer

Lauren Tennenbaum Assitant Arts Editor

The ancient and the contemporary unite in the new sculptural exhibit Thought Travels, which is on display at the Palmer Gallery.

The pieces, by sculptor Elizabeth Strong-Cuevas, are monumental in size, yet often minimalist in approach; they are largely abstract human forms. The figures’ large heads dominate the small space in which they are displayed, and the smoothness of bronze with green patina is suggestive of an ancient stone, perhaps malachite.

Most sculptures in the exhibit seem to suggest some sort of ancient, mystic communication, since the forms harken back to African masks and Aztec figures. Communication is conveyed through tubular structures which connect the eyes of the sculptures, yet never the mouths or ears.

In pieces such as “Thought Travels III-G (Pipe Face III)” and “Thought Travels II-G (Pipe Face II),” stern, unassuming faces stare at each other, linked decisively by the tube running across their eyes. The figures are polished with a deep green patina, contrasting with the dull, steel gray of “Windows.” The figure in “Windows” looms over the others and appears especially heavy despite being made of the same bronze as the sculptures surrounding it. Strong-Cuevas chose to polish this one with a silver nitrate patina, giving it the appearance of steel and distinguishing it from the others in the series. There are six versions of “Windows,” but this one alone bears that steely finish.

“It was interesting to see the various reactions of people who came into the gallery,” said Kamolika Das ’09, who works at the Palmer Gallery. “People seemed to react strongly to the pieces in green patina, and very favorably to the exhibit as a whole. I found the concept of connecting eyes in works like Pipe Face II and Pipe Face V really thought-provoking.”

Strong-Cuevas was trained in sculptural carving of wood and stone, and later expanded to sculpting in plaster.

Today, she prefers to use wax and plaster instead of model casts to make her bronze pieces. She applies different surface treatments to her pieces, creating a range of effects, some of which can be likened to stone.

Thought Travels is Strong-Cuevas’s 12th solo exhibition. She has also exhibited her works at numerous New York galleries and museums, including the Bruce Museum and the Guild Hall Museum. The Palmer Gallery exhibit will close on Nov. 12.