A Revolution in Wood: The Bresler Collection

A Revolution in Wood: The Bresler Collection by Nicholas R. Bell. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9781588343048.

A Revolution in Wood celebrates the magnificent gift of sixty-six pieces of turned and carved wood to the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum by the distinguished collectors Fleur and Charles Bresler. Illustrated in lavish detail, works by this countrys best-known wood artists highlight the growing sophistication of American crafts youngest medium and the expressive capacity of its most organic material. Masterpieces by the fields pioneers, including David Ellsworth, William Hunter, Mark and Melvin Lindquist, Edward Moulthrop, and Rude Osolnik, demonstrate the extraordinary range of expression achievable on the lathe, the mediums foundational tool. Compelling recent works by Ron Fleming, Michelle Holzapfel, Hugh McKay, Norm Sartorius, Mark Sfirri, and many others reveal the advent of new techniques, including multi-axis turning, the incorporation of secondary materials, and a strong focus on carving. A wide-ranging essay by Renwick Curator Nicholas R. Bell examines contemporary wood arts historical roots and its rapid growth since the 1970s. Particular attention is given to the mediums development outside the studio craft movement and how that dynamic has shaped the current field. An interview with Fleur Bresler by former Renwick Curator-in-Charge Kenneth R. Trapp offers a window on the collectors passion and highlights her twenty-five-year dedication to wood and to the artists she considers family. The final section, “Wood Art at the Renwick Gallery,” illustrates in color over two hundred works by more than one hundred artists, making this premier public collection available in print for the first time. From James Prestinis original gift of twenty pieces before the Renwicks opening to experimental works by current artists, this guide to the Smithsonians collection will serve as a reference for years to come.