Betty Woodman at David Kordansky Gallery

“I do like extravagance, so if I’m going to err, I usually err in that direction,” Betty Woodman once said in a recorded interview as she explained the processes behind her exuberant ceramic sculpture.  David Kordansky Gallery’s current show of Woodman’s work from the ‘90s demonstrates the artist’s unconventional take on painting, ceramics and sculpture, including this lively piece, ‘Sala da Pranzo.’  Elaborate handles create a striking silhouette and call attention to the space beyond the conventional cylinder, a vessel that could hold flowers but better acts as a surface for painting.  Among the abundant patterns are foliate shapes and scrolls against an orange background, recalling Greek motifs, and large circles that suggest stylized neolithic pottery designs. (On view in Chelsea through Dec 17th).

Betty Woodman, Sala da Pranzo, glazed earthenware, epoxy resin, lacquer and paint, 25 ¼ x 32 x 10 inches, 1995.

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Merrily Kerr

Merrily Kerr is an art critic and writer based in New York. For more than 20 years, Merrily has published in international art magazines including Time Out New York, Art on Paper, Flash Art, Art Asia Pacific, Art Review, and Tema Celeste in addition to writing catalogue essays and guest lecturing. Merrily teaches art appreciation at Marymount Manhattan College and has taught for Cooper Union Continuing Education. For more than a decade Merrily has crafted personalized tours of cultural discovery in New York's galleries and museums for individuals and groups, including corporate tours, collectors, artists, advertising agencies, and student groups from Texas Woman's University, Parsons School of Design, Chicago's Moody Institute, Cooper Union Continuing Education, Hunter College Continuing Education and other institutions. Merrily's tours have been featured in The New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler, Sydney Morning Herald and Philadelphia Magazine. Merrily is licensed by New York City's Department of Consumer Affairs as a tour guide and is a member of the International Association of Art Critics (AICA USA)