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The Urbana artist has taken 24 figurines and given them character beyond their faces and bodies by taking ceramic figurines of fired clay and combining them with found or recycled objects, also known as assemblage art.
The carved faces are complemented with things such as hair or shaving brushes, one with a lantern on his head and body or Chuck, a dog with wheels for paws, a spring coil for a tail, a gear for a collar and even sports his own Ohio registration tag on it.
“Her work is fun, whimsical,” said Erin Shapiro, museum curator. “There are little discoveries to see what they’re made of and such great personality. She’s done nice work in making them seamless.”
Loffing runs Mad River Mud Pottery Studio in Urbana, where she specializes in pottery and assemblage.
The exhibit is recommended for all ages, and visitors can also make their own assemblage art while in the Chakeres Interactive Gallery.
Assorted pieces are available to do your own creations with several variations. An interactive watercolor station tying in with another current exhibit, “Jennifer Rosengarten: Gardens & Ponds,” is also in the gallery.
Shapiro said the “Assembled Misfits” exhibit also echoes another recent popular exhibit in the museum’s main gallery, “Industrial Nature: Works by Michelle Stitzlein,” which also made art from recyclable objects.
“Assembled Misfits” will be up until Dec. 30, and the pieces are available for sale.
Contact this contributing writer at bturner004@woh.rr.com.
How to go
What: “Debbie Loffing: Assembled Misfits”
Where: Springfield Museum of Art, 107 Cliff Park Road, Springfield
When: Continuing through Dec. 30; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and 12:30-4:30 p.m. Sundays
Admission: $5 adults; $3 students with valid ID and seniors; free, students ages 17-under and museum members
More info: 937-325-4673 or www.springfieldart.museum
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