Review of Dianna Callahan’s show at Driskell Gallery

Dianna Callahan at Driskell Gallery at Southwest Baptist University
Review by Merrilee Tieche

Dianna Callahan’s use of found objects, discarded by some as unworthy, shows resourcefulness as well as a talent for seeing extraordinary beauty in ordinary things.

Four distinct types of art are featured in this exhibit, but the art quilts by far outnumber the other types of work in the gallery. While making art quilts is a relatively new endeavor for Callahan, we can see the progression of talent and skill through this exhibit. It is obvious from framed pieces such as House Plants, created solely from rescued scraps of upholstery fabrics highlighted by gleaming Angelina, that Callahan’s newer works are taking a less constructed view of an ancient art form.

Geometrics is filled with bright and springlike colors of aqua and lilac, with shiny lame’ catching the light throughout the piece. This leads us inside to experience other facets of Callahan’s mind.

Harmonious Augmentation is as mysterious as its title. Interestingly confined in a shadow box frame that celebrates the raw edges of its perimeter, the complementary shades of purple and gold glisten with the texture of frayed threads.

Two fiber pieces are different from the rest, being charcoal drawings on fabric stitches. The black and white simplicity of Isabel and Misty Lake make the viewer come close for a better look at the detail shown by the skillful permanent charcoal drawings.

Several well presented oil pastels grace the walls. They are lovingly executed drawings of the artist’s daughter and granddaughters that evidence Callahan’s fondness for the subjects. We feel we have met Danette, Anya and Kimmie after gazing at the portraits. Her pastel work glows with the joy she seems to take from her family.

Several vessels, both porcelain and fabric line one side of the gallery. The glazed porcelain bowls are decorated with natural fibers such as vines, and touched with gold paint. These are juxtaposed with more recently created soft fiber vessels. Dianna states that the fabric bowls were created in response to a 3-D challenge issued by her art group, but one can surmise that the shape itself has been long favored. One in particular, Spirit Bowl, is a porcelain bowl filled with varied soft fabric shapes creating a meditation on both media.

This small but charming gallery on the campus of SBU showcases one artist’s growth through the varying phases of her chosen profession. Dianna Callahan has invited us on a journey along her path as an artist, a mother and grandmother, and a caring citizen of the world, making the viewer look forward to seeing what’s next along Dianna’s path as an artist.

For a web gallery of Dianna’s show, please go here.

6 comments March 1st, 2007