The art of Leslie Pontz clearly transcends the traditional boundaries of fiber art. This artist pursues dichotomies in her sculpture with materials that, by nature, are usually antithetical. Pontz works with crochet and other fiber techniques on silk, monofilament and metal wire. In the artist’s own words, she has been intrigued by “elements that are far more exciting existing together than independently.” Contrasts of texture and color in environments she has experienced have had a strong impact on her art, as has her awareness o... Read more

The art of Leslie Pontz clearly transcends the traditional boundaries of fiber art. This artist pursues dichotomies in her sculpture with materials that, by nature, are usually antithetical. Pontz works with crochet and other fiber techniques on silk, monofilament and metal wire. In the artist’s own words, she has been intrigued by “elements that are far more exciting existing together than independently.” Contrasts of texture and color in environments she has experienced have had a strong impact on her art, as has her awareness of the interaction of light and form in penetrable structures. Bodies of work have thoughtfully investigated these oppositions until they are resolved in multi-dimensional sculptures.

Many of the artist’s works are suspended with metal attachments and hooks that allow gravity to shape sack-like containers. Openwork crocheted “sacks” frequently hold objects of contrasting texture, color and density; cores of wood are wrapped in multiple layers of metal wire. The tensile strength of silk and filament evokes a visceral response; we sense the holding power of structures that appear fragile but are surprisingly strong. Some expand gracefully in space while others are shaped by what they contain. Metal attachments appear aged by time and use, but many have been fabricated for specific pieces and their patinas created by the artist.

The body of work in this exhibition reflects a very reasoned, personal approach to color: almost all of the sculptures have a pale translucency, a quiet, meditative quality. Pontz uses a slightly coarse silk thread along with colorless monofilament for many of the pieces. No dyes have been used: color on some is introduced by crocheting a polyester thread along with the monofilament. The artist has deliberately used the natural color of silk and linen and the neutral color of filament to focus our response on form.

The title of the exhibition tells us what it is about: space, surrounded by varied hanging and resting shapes that respond to their internal and external environments. We are invited into a gentle, unexpectedly subtle organization of space, shape, weight, and the volume of air contained and displaced as it flows through the work.