Installation shots from Melissa Balch show at M+M. Photos by Lisa Kinoshita |
What
I first saw when peeking at Melissa Balch’s ceramics through the windows at
Moss and Mineral, a.k.a., M+M, was a clot of stacked white balls about the size
of ping-pong balls — with nipples. I was immediately reminded of some of Louise
Bourgeoise’s strange and sexy sculptures.
Inside
this unique arts and plant store Balch’s ceramic sculptures fill a large glass
display case, a display table top, and one good-size section of wall. Balls,
breasts, bladders and abstract, organic and otherwise anatomical forms abound.
Many
of her pieces are small — some the size of a
tightly closed fist, and some even smaller. The Bourgeoise-like stack of
nippled ping-pong balls stands about a foot high. On the table at the back are
a couple of larger pieces, and on the back wall is an installation with a
larger sculptural piece all in white with a proliferation of little white balls
all around. The larger part is a bulb-like form sprouting a flower on top, with
a tiny little ceramic woman in a bathing suit doing a jackknife dive from the
open petals of the flower. I must confess that I am usually put off by abstract
sculpture with a face or figure stuck on. It’s like the artist doesn’t trust
the viewer to “get” the beauty of the smooth abstract shape (for some reason
they’re nearly all smoothly polished organic shapes) and has to add something
recognizable to cater to the public. This is not one of those. In this one, the
Ester Williams type diver is a tongue-in-cheek bit of kitsch. I love the
absurdity of it
There
are other pieces with fun figures or parts of figures. There is one with an
open form like a conch shell in brilliant pink tones and a white pod with two
baby hands reaching out. There’s also a playful little creature with pointed
ears and great big blue glass eyes. And there are two pieces that are patterned
after Japanese shoes.
Among
the more abstract works are some that look like sea urchins and others covered
with projections that look like barnacles.
Two
of the largest pieces are fountain shapes with vertical towers, rounded on top,
that rise from circular bases. The towers are riddled with multiple holes and
covered with more of the little white balls that proliferate throughout the
show. If these works were indeed fountains, I would expect water to flow from
the holes.
This
is a small show with many little pieces that hover between pure form and
playful references to nature, many of them sexual in at
least in implication. Sadly, M+M is open only on Saturday afternoons and by
appointment. If you happen to be downtown in Tacoma, at least stop to look
through the window, and if you can go by on a Saturday afternoon, please do.
Shop owner Lisa Kinoshita will gladly open up for you if you’re interested in
making a purchase.
Moss and
Mineral, Saturday only, noon to 5 p.m., and
by appointment, through March, 16, 305 South 9th Ave., Tacoma, 253.96.5220, mossandmineral.com.
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