Review: Decker's 'Disclosures' and other items

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Posted: October 16, 2009 - 2:23 pm

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By Mike Dunham

The No. 1 “must see” show from the latest First Friday openings is Don Decker’s “Disclosures” series at the International Gallery of Contemporary Art. These deal with things revealed as the seasons change, water, trash, canine jawbones. You might call them abstract landscapes.
Frozen River: The three dimensionality of Don Decker's "Disclosure" series is hard to capture in a photo.

Most have the approximate same shape — a vertical rectangle — and size, about 30 by 40 inches. But each features a completely different group of media ranging from plywood to foam, metal, fabric, resin, found objects and video.

Artifact (detail): The dog's jawbone can be seen beneath the polymer "ice."
Each is also totally different in concept and appearance. The connecting factor is the sense in each that there’s something to try and see beneath the surface. Decker’s admirable technical proficiency is evident in all of the pieces.
Break Up: The only round item in Decker's otherwise very rectangular show.

The bad news is that the gallery on D Street is only open from noon to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The good news is that downtown traffic is quiet enough that you can find a parking place.

Among other displays in the IGCA, small five-by-five inch paintings by Laura Nutter and Karmen Staveland, priced at $85, are worth looking at, especially if you like cats.
Village Exodus: By Paula Rasmus-Dedem in "Virtual Subsistence" at MTS.
"Virtual Subsistence," a group show curated by Gretchen Sagan and Joan Kane, opens Friday night at the MTS Gallery, 3142 Mt. View Dr. The themed exhibit features visual and literary art by several well-known names, including Sonya Kelliher-Combs and Perry Eaton among others. Fred Anderson has at least three curiously surreal ink drawings.
Joan Kane: Anchorage author curates the literary side of "Virtual Subsistence."
If you miss tonights opening, which features performance art by Allison Warden and real good food by Tap Root, it will be repeated at 7 p.m. on Nov. 6. Also, the gallery advertises that it's open from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Allison Warden: Performance artist known for channeling polar bears will present at "Virtual Subsistence" openings on Oct. 16 and Nov. 6.

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