From page 24

a mask-maker is abundantly
substantiated by the outstanding
examples garnered together for
this show, the most impressive
being his unpainted alder Dogfish
Mask and Human Maskette (both
from 1974), Frog Mask (1976) and
the grotesque Gagiit Masks (1985),
among others too numerous to
mention.

The Eagle Transforming into
self Mask of 1990 apens like a
sacred relic to reveal the
quintessence of both the mythic
eagle and artist Davidson himself
in his totemic spirit-persona.

The history of Davidson's ac-
complishment as a screen printer
is (raced in the lineage of prints
running from Frog (1968), a greet-

. ing card reftecting his first

awkward exercise in the assimila-
tion of formline esthetics, to such

masterfully designed and flawlessly

executed serigsaphs as Ruttertly, 5
views (1981), Raven Bringing Light
to the World (1987), Southeast
Wind and Foam Woman (1989)
and Eagle Transforming (1991),
many of which originated in
gouache paintings Davidson
created earlier.

Omripresent in all this is an un-
wavering perfectionism and devo-
tion to detail that is never insen-
sitive to the dynamics of form and
line, never oblivious to the deli-

cate interplay of positive and nega-

tive space. .
But it is not the masterly crafts-
manship alone that constitutes the

reciaims spirituality

46s The element of

abstraction can
be seen to play a
major role in his
creative

CQNNON... FF

alize a degree of creative spon-
taneity previously impossible.

As early as 1977 in his
diminutive circular screen-portraits
of raven, eagle, killer whale and
frog, the element of abstraction
can be seen to play a major role in
his creative cannon, one that will
come to iruition in the circular
format of the drum paintings over
a decade later.

Davidson is able to explore the
fundamental principles of his art

uniquely personal, and genuinely
inventive.

In addition to the rich accumula-

tion of artwork assembled for this
show, there are several short films
that invest the art with its social

significance and place Davidson's

achievement in its true perspec-
tive.

Ultimately the manufacture of

button blankets and ritual drums is
aimed not merely at recovering art

forms, but a lost way of life.
These are clearly artifacts witha

utilitarian purpose beyond mere

function and esthetic beauty, for

they are meant to bring the people

back to the values of their forefa-
thers, to revive the old
technologies and reclaim the
spirituality that made them a great
people.

If, as archaeologists and art his-
torians assure us, the sophistica-
tion and diversity of a society’s art
is indeed some measure of its
magnitude, then the arrival of
Davidson is a testament to the en-
during greatness of Northwest
Coast indian culture.

His diverse accomplishments
both preserve and revitalize the
past without compromising the in-
novative spirit and unique identity
of their creator.

Wednesday, Augu

OT TCI YT

WINE;
E

SPREE RI DAT Ie EE)

NIERSTEINER ‘‘FEISH-
ERMAN” TROCKEN 1991 G.A.
Schmitt $8.40 (Gerimany)

For years Germany exported
only low-alcohol/high residual
sugar rieslings, afternoon sipp-
ing wines best enjoyed without
food.

When the ‘‘dry white wine”
trend slashed their market
share, some sparkplug in mar-
keting got the flash to flog the
dry-but-somewhat-bland
Silvaner and  Muller-Thurgau
mouthwash they'd been
blasting back the bratwurst with
all along.

This was one of the fist
trocken (dry) German wines to
hit the rack and is still the best
value for money.

Crisp and full-flavored, thariks
to a dash of siesling and a
higher “kick’’ (11.5% alcohol
instead of the 7%-8% of sweet
wines).

Unfortunately, the marketing
geniuses who slapped designer
labels and $13 to $15 price tags
on some of these “new” dry
wines can no longer he trans-
ferred to the Russian front. Pity.
Prosit!

MERLOT — GRAVE DEL
FRIULI $13.85 (1.5 L) (Italy)
Keep one of these ‘jugs

around for when you feel like
drinking red out of a tumbler.

Merlot, blended with
cabernet sauvignon to produce
delicate aristocrats in Bordeaux,
cheerfully reverts to rustic fruity
exuberance in this moun-
fainous north Italian province
where farmers start the day at 4
a.m. with a big shot of grapes,
to fight off the chill, and are
belting back big glasses of rec
by 9:30 a.m. (lunch).

It goes without saying, these
guys are in the sack by 8 p.m.

Back-porch wine for when
animated conversation takes
precedence over connoisseur-
ship. Perfect company for
refrigerator-raid picnics and
anything you can immolate
beyond recognition on the
Hibachi.

— By John Moore

* Coupon expires August 20, 1993
* Not valid with any other discount

or coupen offer

e One coupon per couple only

oR,

"i

. true genius of Davidson. Kiddings Texas

; by manipulating its essential com-
. If the early works demonstrate a

compulsion to assimilate and
master traditional forms, the Jater

works embody that abhorrence for

rote repetition of proven formulas
which is ultimately at the heart of

Davidson's mature inventiveness,
“4 itis, for example, in the recur-

rent pursuit of the circle as a

: design field and the relinquish-

ment of the.purely mechanical
aspect of screen printing in favor

" of direct painting that.Davidson
_ has‘at last liberated himself to re-

PRIZES:

ponents.

U-forms, ovoids and tertiary
forms; primary, secondary, and
tertiary formlines all become wor-
thy subjects in their own rights.

In such drum paintings as
Southeast Wind and Foam
Woman, Raven Bringing Light to
the World, and Mouse Wornan,
Davidson achieves a cohesiveness
and economy of form that, if not

" yet entirely abstract — which it

could never be and retain its

‘mythic quality ~ is at least

. Ist Prize © - $200 Stationery
2nd Prize - $100 Stationery
3rd Prize - $50 Stationery

‘TO ENTER DRAW FOR PRIZES ae

Margaret Hancecki
. Manager

Grand Opening
_ Special Certificate
Texas-sized meals at a down home price!
Fridays & Saturdays —+ 26 02. Prime Rib only 17 bucks
Sundays —» kids eat free (some rules apply! .
Everyday — roast beef buffet 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. only 7 bucks
Monday-Thursdays are specia! too, but you have to come in to find out why!

R.U. Kiddings 15 N. Renfrew St.

253-6092

(across from the Coliseum) open dally from 4:30

ae

Ae is

® Office supplies

« Photocopies

® Printing & binding
-° Furniture

° Fax service

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e Self Inking &

Rubber stamps

* Keys Cut

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e Party supplies

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STATIONERY PURCHASE & THIS COUPON:

, ONE COUPON PER CUSTOMER OFFER EXPIRES: 30/9/93 |

“em eety it ce es wen? een ey, wm att er en mg ems nt eam ee ems es ta wm ws ae

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