ART SHOW OPENING >>>

I want to learn how to weld, not just for practical purposes; I want to make intricate brass sculptures that will still be around when the rest of us are living on Mars. I might ask Ben Hirschkoff for pointers. The Seattle artist will be on hand tomorrow for the opening of his brass chandelier show at the tiny Telephone Room Gallery in Tacoma. Entitled Eternal Flickr Flame, Hirschkoff's sculpture celebrates the artificial and symbolizes renewal, creation and destruction.

"After a busy beginning of the year, I find myself attracted to the idea of purification and renewal of focus," Hirschkoff writes in a press release. "My initial concept for this piece included the blending of landscape, the figure, and mechanically kinetic elements. As is frequently the case, experimenting with various materials influenced my concept and I gradually decided to simplify this piece to what I felt were its essential elements. The Eternal Flicker Flame. Using the all too common brass chandelier as a medium, this sculpture celebrates the artificial. The artificial luxury of the chandelier, the artificial golden finish of yellow brass, the artificial nod to rococo design reduced to the mass produced "S" scroll with stunted frill. The smoking flame is a motif I've repeatedly come back to over the last 4 years. To me it symbolizes renewal, creation and destruction. In a sense, this is what I do with the materials I choose, shifting them from their manufactured purpose, into a new visual context as sculpture with the intention of creating fresh art from depleted design components."

I want to see the light.

Eternal Flicker Flame

Opening: Friday, May 7, 6-9 p.m.
Run: Through May 30 by appointment at thetelephoneroom@gmail.com
Telephone Room Gallery, 3710 N. Seventh St., (Sixth and Union), Tacoma
thetelephoneroom.blogspot.com