Lincoln, Massachusetts
Describe a plastic bottle. What are the first adjectives that come to mind? Maybe fragile, ephemeral, unattractive. We are so used to seeing these disposable objects transit quickly through our homes that we fail to consider their long life after the trashcan. As a matter of fact, plastic bottles are resistant and durable. According to Tony Feher, they are also beautiful. He collects them, along with a number of other everyday items such as marbles, glass jars, and cardboard boxes. These objects inhabit his space, and he observes them over time, charmed by how they respond to light and how they behave when they are stacked or displayed in repetitive patterns. Entering Feher’s retrospective at the deCordova Museum, viewers were immediately introduced to a sample of his collection. Apparently insignificant items were displayed on tables, shelves, cases, and even on the floor. Their formal qualities—patterns and colors—became immediately apparent, as volumes and reflections revealed inherent harmonies. Untitled (1987) is a common glass jar filled with red marbles. Light filters through the glass to design ever-changing drawings on the walls. With this piece, Feher moved beyond painting to experiment with the language of the readymade… see the entire review in the print version of April’s Sculpture magazine.
