Dark Eyes 2008 Glassford

Thomas Glassford indulges in anodized aluminum, found objects and framed zippers at his latest solo show in Houston this month. The show, “Between Earth and Sky” at Sicardi Gallery, just closed on March 15th. Glassford strikes two different chords that balance pitch perfectly in the gallery. The giant, chandelier-like structure titled “Dark Eyes” piques visitors attention with an assortment of stacked dinnerware, ornaments, gourds, skeletal remains and fluffy clean sponges. Upon closer inspection, a lamp fixture lets viewers peek into a child’s private world with pint size lampshades covered in crude drawings of fatuous mazes, little round devils and poor penmanship. There’s something flawless about Glassford’s approach to anodized aluminum. His series of Paritituras seems to have found a new rhythm, with cerulean, grey and verdant aluminum panels arranged as shuffled piano keys in “Between Earth and Sky.” A tower of discarded broom handles in lovely weathered blues and greens seems to pay homage to invisible labor and the accumulation of time. In a small, framed mixed media piece, “Don’t touch Me,” the artist puts an elbow patch, a blue/gold zipper and some glitter flower appliques in an arrangement that seems separate but equal. Glassford pulls a mimetic line from the aluminum panels and into the small delicate frames with clean lines of mint condition zippers seemingly holding ground between celestial ideals and earthly delights.

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