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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Pieces Of Poise Jody Sahlin Will Present Her Work In A Solo Exhibit

Suzanne Pate Correspondent

The strength of Jody Sahlin’s artwork is not its diminutive size nor its fine materials of precious metals, rich hardwoods, pearls and gemstones. It’s the poise.

In the first solo exhibition of her career, Spokane metalsmith Sahlin presents 26 examples of her benchwork from 1981 to the present. The brooches, pins, pendants and small sculptures gleam handsomely in glass cases at the Arcade Gallery of the Jundt Art Museum through Dec. 12.

In Sahlin’s hands, disparate materials find their composure in the same way that splinters of thought coalesce in meditation. The 1996 “Windows” series of four brooches echo each other genetically, but clearly enjoy distinct personalities in mood and materials that include copper, acrylic, ebony, sterling and Prismacolor.

The love of edges and their intersections characterize the “Architecture” constructions of sterling accented with bits of chalcedony, Formica and Dumortierite. If buildings could look like these, they would be more mantra than structure. The workers inside would hum, stress-free.

Sahlin’s earlier pieces engage brief narratives from her life: The death of a hummingbird is memorialized in “Prayer for the Dead”; “Gina” is a tribute to a longtime friend; “Museum Piece” comments on culture; “Silver City” remarks about development at the cost of nature.

Her more recent work steps past overt statements and moves into a covert celebration and synthesis of materials, shapes and volumes for their own sake.

“There’s not supposed to be much difference between being a good craftsman in your artwork and being a good artist in your craft,” said Sahlin, “but a craftsman has an innate love of materials, and artists don’t have to worry about that so much. It’s all part of the same discipline.”

Sahlin, a Washington State University graduate whose work has been shown in numerous group exhibitions, also loves to finish what she begins and may revisit a work-in-progress over several years until she feels it is completed. One intricate project commanded her prolonged attention, much to the resentment of her barking puppy, after whom she named the piece “Bijou.”

“I enjoy working out the problems and mechanical details each piece presents,” she said. “There are always surprises in what the material will and won’t do.”

When her dentist retired, he gave her some tools from his practice, and she uses these to carve scraps of hardwood she gets from her son, who makes classical guitars. A few pieces integrate metal with bone, which she salvages from the dinner roast and ages to the appearance of old ivory.

“A Jeweler’s Eye” is an engaging glimpse of Shalin’s vision and skill and is to be savored on its own merit. It also relates to the concurrent exhibition of Keith Achepohl’s watercolors in the Jundt’s main galleries, so be sure to allow yourself ample time to enjoy both.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: EXHIBIT “A Jeweler’s Eye: Sculptures by Jody Sahlin” will be held at the Jundt Art Museum at Gonzaga University through Dec. 12. The exhibit is free; museum hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday.

This sidebar appeared with the story: EXHIBIT “A Jeweler’s Eye: Sculptures by Jody Sahlin” will be held at the Jundt Art Museum at Gonzaga University through Dec. 12. The exhibit is free; museum hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday.