September, 2012
Norma Penchansky Glasser’s show ‘Line – Motion – Leve’
Norma Penchansky Glasser’s show ‘Line – Motion – Leve’ is up at WSG through October 14. Her approach to representing the dancer, whether in graphite and charcoal or bronze, is elegant, studied and yet fresh. She has been studying the dancer so intently that, many times, she doesn’t even need a model – she conjures her into being on the paper.
Her large scale drawings are stunning! They capture the dancer in motion, one drawing on top of the one before it, creating the suggestion of movement.
Gesture and believability of movement have always been important as Penchansky Glasser works through a piece. The feet of the dancers are exaggerated in size to give the viewer the impression of looking at a dancer’s feet at eye level, much like an audience member sitting on the front row of a performance. (When you see Norma’s work at the gallery, bend down and look up at the sculpture with the feet at your eye level – see how it changes your perspective!) A dancer’s feet are their work tools! They are going to be strong and spread out from all that barefoot pounding.
This show is a special experience and a window in to Penchansky Glasser’s creative process. The translation of gesture from charcoal onto paper, and then to such a powerful material as bronze is a feat in and of itself. Don’t miss this show!