Realism In Clay by Gail Rosenbloom Kaplan january 14 - february 29, 1996 Realism In (lay -. Opening Reception January 1 4, 1 2:00.2:00 p.m. Special Artist's Presentation January 28, at 2:00 p.m. Gail Rosenbloom Kaplan creates a mirror of everyday life through her art. - The artist' s pieces are trompe 1 oeil and reproduce reality in such a way that one mistakes what is sculpted for what is real Sponsored in part by Hoot McInerney Star Lincoln Mercury FRANK PROVENZANO SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS Left: Gail Rosenbloom Kaplan sculpts her art as a whole, then cuts it into segments that can fit into her small kiln. Once the pieces are fired, she reassembles the pieces of her art puule. Pictured: A shoulder pad is a necessary accoutrement to any wardrobe. JANICE CHARACH EPSTEIN Gallery Hours: Sun 11-4:00 p.m., Mon-Wed 11-6:00 p.m., Thurs 1 1-8:00 p.m. 6600 W. Maple Rd., W. 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Whereas most artists guard their private studios with the type of fastidiousness that goes into their art, Kaplan realized that her work as a sculptor is indistin- guishable from her day-to-day roles as wife and mother. From the beginning, she considered the place where she sculpts, paints and stores her kiln as an extend- ed living room. The door to her studio remained open at all times. Her children not only know where to find her, but the studio has become the place for "creative solutions." Through the end of February, the Janice Charach Epstein Mu- seum/Gallery will exhibit "Real- ism in Clay," an expansive display of Kaplan's work that demon- strates her uncanny talent for el- evating everyday objects into the realm of wonderment. "I've always been drawn to re- alism," said Kaplan, who earned a fine arts degree from the Uni- versity of Michigan in 1976. "Re- alism can fool the eye by drawing the spectators' attention to one thing, and then recreating a whole new impression." The "trick" of realism can be seen in Kaplan's life-like sculp- tures — a pair of cowboy boots, hockey skates, a golf bag and a leather purse. The style, referred to as trompe l'oeil ("fools the eye"), is characterized by the striking similarity between sculpture and object. About 12 years ago, Kaplan's work was unveiled at the home of a private collector. Around that time, however, Kaplan was fully engaged in another all-consuming project — motherhood. "Now with my kids in school full time, I can work on a more intense level," said Kaplan, who begins her daily sculpting routine shortly af- ter sending her children to school, and ends her work about the time they come home. Since late December, she's been feverishly preparing for her first public exhibit at the Janice Charach Epstein Museum/ Gallery. It will feature 30 sculp- tures. During the last decade, Ka- plan's work has been shown in California galleries, where the clay movement began. Her "Cowboy Boots" and "Horse Saddle" partic- ularly reflect a Westernized fron- tier sensibility. Most gallery directors have com- pared Kaplan's work to that of Marilyn Levine, considered in the forefront of artists sculpting leather objects. The obvious dif- ference, however, is that Kaplan often explores objects beyond leather, including fruit and metal still-life sculptures. Her "Tool Box" is an assemblage of screw drivers, pliers and wrenches in an open chest. And "Bunch of Bananas" is so close to the real thing that the stench of the darkened fruit nearly em- anates from the clay. A self-described fiercely inde- pendent, hands-on person, Kaplan has a highly focused approach, from choosing a subject to sculpt- ing the intricate details to apply- ing the finishing touches. She begins by looking for everyday ob- jects of American culture. The pieces are sculpted as a whole, then cut into segments that can fit inside of her small electric kiln. Once the segments are fired, and refired, and painted, they are reassembled as large pieces of a puzzle. Quite often when searching for ideas, Kaplan travels to shopping malls or looks over retail displays. Yet she didn't have to travel far from her studio to recognize the potential of a pair of her husband's faded jeans. Perhaps only an artist with a sense of domestic bliss could see that the folded denim belongs somewhere other than the laun- dry room. ❑ e "Realism in Clay," an ex- hibit of works by Gail Rosen- bloom Kaplan, will be on display at the Janice Charach Epstein Museum/ Gallery from Jan. 14 through Feb. 29. The gallery is loiated in the Maple- Drake Jewish Community Center. For more information, call (810) 661-1000.