by Alyssa Morrow
The design exhibition Process: Design and Response recently opened its doors to the Madison community. Various UW-Madison Design Studies faculty and staff displayed their work. The exhibit features the work of interior, apparel and architectural designers, all of which emphasized the process of creating.
“Release”
While entering the exhibition, the design “Release” by Carolyn Kellenborn immediately took my breath away. Kellenborn, a talented designer with globally displayed art, uses design to express the development of feelings in a physical manner. According to Kellenborn, her design “Release” displays the feeling of being “bound up and in tension.” The design demonstrates the lifting of these tensions and being released from them. Another of Kellenborn’s pieces, “Weighting,” was inspired by the everyday responsibilities that weigh an individual down. Many of Kellenborn’s designs use every day emotional motifs that make her art relatable for all viewers.
“Weighting”
Another featured designer at the exhibition was Wei Dong, who specializes in design visualization and Asian design. At the exhibition, Dong featured his piece, “Diluting.” This construction, built from wooden pieces, is a concept representing the progress of architecture through time. The beginning of the sculpture represents the ancient era of Asian design, moving on to classical, and then to the future of architecture. As Dong stated, the sculpture represents “moving forward into the unknown.”
“Diluting”
Director of the exhibition, Liese Pfeifer, featured some of her work as well. Pfeifer, a notable sculptor, focuses on mimicking her art after the natural world. One of her sculptures featured at the exhibition was “Rain.” This piece boldly spanned a whole wall, and was constructed from industrial felt, stainless steel and glass. As the materials of this piece demonstrate, Pfeifer aspires to produce art that is consistent with her environmental morals.
“Rain”
This exhibition is free and will be open until October 21, 2012, in the Ruth Davis Design Gallery of Nancy Nicholas Hall on the UW-Madison Campus. Gallery hours are 10-4 Tuesdays, 10-6 Wednesdays and Thursdays, noon to 5 on Sundays, or by appointment. For additional information contact (608) 262-8815.
