WOMEN&ART AT RIFFE: ANN WITH TWO VASES

Art is a journey, and FAR, NEAR, HERE presents a treasure trove of varied selections from the Columbus Museum of Art. AT RIFFE CENTER GALLERY until April 15. The curatorial guidelines stipulated that selected works had not been exhibited for at least five years. Viewers are soon greeted by ANN DEWALD's Beyond the Limit, one of her neon and aluminum structures. The shiny "sign" resembles, well, a shape,a quirky road sign! Two red lights, cocky as leprechaun ears, blink on and off. BTL plugs into a socket.--You could have bought a Dewald for your home, and connoisseurs did! Dewald (1930-2003) was a meteroic influence on the Columbus art scene, and famous for her parties. She was kind, yet outspoken. Frail, neurotic ,driven, she lived "Beyond the Limit."--I can see her flashing now.
For whatever reason, whenever I think of the Far/Near show, I recall with delight two slender VASES poised like ballerinas, side by side in a glass case. I've recalled them frequently.
Simple, curved, glistening. Jade, turquoise,sky, lavender. Unadorned. Their label? "Tiffany glass and Decorating Co. or Studio or attributed to Tiffany Studios, American. blue iridescent glass, possibly favrile, the gift of MRS. RALPH H. TRIVELLA in 1978."--I wondered if, possibly, Mrs. Trivella gave wonderful parties, or if she ever met Edna Boies Hopkins, or Ann Dewald.--Maybe I'll find out! Whatever. I'm glad she gave the vases to the Museum! Again: The Riffe show, Far Near Here, runs to April 15 and exhibits a panoply of valuable paintings, including such contemporary heavies as Toldstedt, Rauschenberg, Shineman.--Yeah, they're guys, but they're darn good. The exhibit includes tiny Japanese Traveling Shrines and an Anasazi pueblo Jar from the 13th-14th century, as well as Apache coiled baskets, and you will find much to consider, much that will dazzle you!