John Michael Kohler Arts Center - Makeshift

“As his contribution, Kahlhamer installed a large aluminium model of an Ultra Cruiser [a light-weight American aircraft that could be assembled by amateurs], built by his father, paired with the artist’s intricate, supersized version of a Native American dream catcher. Each seems based on the idea of a protective charm, of transporting and escape, the warding off of evil by means of craft, magic talismans and ingenuity.

Grabner defined her concept of the studio as a place of ideas and thinking, a place for making and for exhibition. Makeshift, in offering a glimpse of this to the viewer, of the “make” and the “shift”, offers a gift, especially to those who might not usually have an opportunity to visit an artist’s studio and see him or her at work, an activity that is mundane, mysterious and, ultimately, illuminating.”

Written by Lilly Wei for Studio International, ‘Makeshift’, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, Wisconsin September 2018 – March 2019