Artists "Review" Artists: Aric Calfee on Paula McCullough
The Artists "Review" Artists Project was launched on June 30, 2008. Below is a "review" of Paula McCullough's work, Nitidulidae, written by Aric Calfee. Paula provided the second jpeg, an image of Evolution, as well as a brief response to Aric's "review."
Paula currently resides in Stowe, VT, and Aric lives in Budd Lake, NJ.
If you would like to participate in this project, please email me at jtkirkland [at] gmail [dot] com.
Nitidulidae
Mixed Media. RR Fish Tie Plate, Found Objects, Quartz Clock
9.5" x 14"
2008
The "Review"
I admire artists who are able to gather scraps of material and the everyday objects around them and turn these items into visually interesting and thought provoking works. In my opinion the creator of "Nitidulidae" has succeeded in this.
What grabbed my attention when first viewing this piece is the contradictory nature of some of the materials used, particularly the rubber tubing and the vices at its corners. Vices, of course, exist to exert pressure on and restrict the movement of other objects. The tubing, to me, resembles an expanding natural substance (flesh, perhaps) which is in turn constricted by the pressure of the four vices. The clock adds to this idea, evoking the passage of time – man and his tools attempt to control the passage of time and restrict the expansion of nature.
Not possessing any skill in the comprehension of the Latin tongue, I resorted to checking online sources for a definition of the title of the piece. To my surprise, "Nitidulidae" is the scientific name of a species of sap beetle. Looking at the piece once again I notice the insectoid shape of the tubing, the four vices substituting for legs, and the ‘ticker’ in its center. I’m reminded of the many instances in which I have interpreted a piece of art in a way very different from what the artist may have intended. In this case I’m not sure whether I have accurately understood the artist’s intentions or I have read a bit too much into "Nitidulidae" upon first looking at it, but I do appreciate that it is put together in a way that seems to encourage the viewer’s interpretation.
By Aric Calfee
Evolution
Mixed Media
10.5" x 14.5" AP Print
Total Size 21" diameter
2007
The Response
I enjoyed this review, the initial interpretation about the tubing and vices were interesting. Nitidulidae [to me] is like the underbelly of a beetle and I was pleased it made sense after they looked the name up and found it to be insectoidial too.
Previous "Reviews":
Pam Farrell on Ken Weathersby
Paula McCullough on Aric Calfee
Lee Gainer on Leigh Waldron-Taylor
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