Out on a Limb

Ceramic Sculpture by Kathy Ruttenberg at the Kleinert/James

by Brian K. Mahoney, October 30, 2009

Not much in art, like life, can be described as sui generis. Enter the unruly subconcious of Kathy Ruttenberg, an unstopperable stream of exquisite complexity. Ruttenberg's intricately detailed ceramic sculptures possess the stately elegance of Proust, as well as the winsome immediacy of an indie pop song—simultaneously solid and slight; rooted down and taking flight. They exist in a distinct world that belongs solely to the artist. You can pay a visit to Ruttenberg's realm this month at the Kleinert/James Art Center in Woodstock, where her sculptures are being exhibited alongside large abstract paintings by Peggy Cyphers, part of a smart two-person show curated by Paul Smart, “Animal Spirits I,” through November 19.
(845) 679-2079; www.woodstockguild.org. Portfolio: www.kathyruttenberg.com.