The grace of Austin-based Bale Creek Allen's cast bronze tumbleweed sculptures defy their materiality. Despite the permanence and weight of the bronze, they remain airy and intricate. Each of these tumbleweeds has a different character and surface patina; each was assembled by piecing together the individually cast branches. Some are placed upright, others on their side, lending each a unique personality and also evoking the memory of their presumed movement with the wind. Allen's sculptures are elegantly installed, placed on white pedestals that are scattered throughout the gallery. Mounted on the surrounding walls are montages of images and ephemera printed on sheets of aluminum by James Hill. The black ink on the aluminum gives the images a rich surface that makes the images sing. This stunning show brings together two artists whose divergent works benefit from and enhance each other.
Published courtesy of ArtScene ©2010