Virginia Dotson, Shadow Play #1, 1994, birch, maple, and aniline dye, 9 1⁄2 X 8 3⁄4 in. (24.2 X 22.3 cm) diam., Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of George Peter Lamb and Lucy Scardino in memory of Natalie Rust Lamb, 1995.100.5, © 1994, Virginia Dotson
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Artwork Details
- Title
- Shadow Play #1
- Artist
- Date
- 1994
- Location
- Dimensions
- 9 1⁄2 X 8 3⁄4 in. (24.2 X 22.3 cm) diam.
- Copyright
- © 1994, Virginia Dotson
- Credit Line
- Gift of George Peter Lamb and Lucy Scardino in memory of Natalie Rust Lamb
- Mediums Description
- birch, maple, and aniline dye
- Classifications
- Object Number
- 1995.100.5
Artwork Description
Virginia Dotson begins her pieces by cutting strips of wood to varying thicknesses with a band saw, which she then glues together to form a block. She removes the center using a gouging tool while the piece is turned on the lathe, revealing the layered pattern inside the vessel. In Shadow Play #1, Dotson carefully removed some of the laminate layers at the mouth of the vessel to create negative space. The angular lines combined with the light and dark wood mimic the striking shadows that sometimes appear in nature as a result of strong sunlight.