Birkitts Books presents ...Timo Sarpaneva: Retrospective ISBN: 9518965196 Author: Sarpaneva, Timo Publisher: Helsinki City Art Museum Release Date: 1994-01-01 Seller Category: Art Exhibition Qty Available: 1 Condition: Used: Very Good Sku: 240315005 Notes: Minor shelf wear, binding tight, pages clean and unmarked. Finland is a country rich in the natural resources that are particularly relevant to craft. Its forests are abundant. Its history of glass production is centuries old. Recognition and appreciation of the beautiful, well-made object permeates its daily life and are exemplified as well in the objects displayed in its museums. It is appropriate that the American Craft Museum ? this country's leading art museum specializing in craft ? is presenting the first United States retrospective of Timo Sarpaneva.... With pleasure, we acknowledge the Timo Sarpaneva is one of the most prominent figures in the forefront of postwar Scandinavian design. His early works of the late forties evidence a brilliance that has characterized his career for more than four decades. By the fifties, he was the recipient of several major international awards. Today, he is considered one of Finland's most important living artists. Best known for his work in glass, Sarpaneva has also produced extraordinary objects in other craft media ? clay, fiber, metal, and wood ? unlike most American artists, who tend to focus on a single material. Sarpaneva has created functional objects as well as abstract sculpture; his forms are symmetrical as well as free-formed. The diversity of the work is illuminated by a consistent level of perfection ? of surface, of process,. of function. While frequently involved in all the phases of actual production, he is also able to communicate his ideas with an unusual effectiveness that enables others to realize his vision. This exhibition includes a selection of his most significant vessels in glass, porcelain, and metal, in addition to his tableware and abstract sculptures. Among the works on display, the earliest is Devil's Cradle, 1951; the most recent the silver tea set, created in 1992 expressly for the new residence of the President of Finland, and the Marcel series of vases and tableware, produced in 1993. Finland's distinguished record of glass production is only one aspect of its exceptional design achievements, particularly in the second half of this century. There is no disguising the inspiration for Sarpaneva's work: It is his country's rugged beauty and an artistic tradition to which he has made a profound contribution. The American Craft Museum is honored to bring the work of this brilliant artist to the public. Janet Kardon Director American Craft MuseumDon't forget to check out other great deals in our Store!! Track Page Views WithAuctiva's Counter