Art Commentary by Marion Wolberg Weiss

Kate Shepherd's "Stack, Shack" at Glenn Horowitz

Let's face it. When it comes to blocks of wood, nothing beats Louise Nevelson's sculpture. Even so, Kate Shepherd's works, now at Glenn Horowitz Bookseller, have considerable charm. When combined with items like relevant books and shelving, the entire exhibit becomes more than Shepherd's pieces.

Simply put, the arrangement of paperbacks and hardcovers on glass tables, placed with the artist's block toys, materializes into an installation. The box-like shelves, which hold other works, including wooden jigsaw puzzles, complete the picture.

If ever there was Gestalt at work, this is it - the integration of formed units. In the case of this exhibit, "units" are to be taken literally when applied to Shepherd's block toys. Her skill relies, therefore, on the notion of restacking the blocks or "units" in diverse ways.

Another example is the small blocks thrown, like dice, onto a flat surface, thus forming what appear to be random patterns.

What's also intriguing about the show are the books which accompany Shepherd's work, evoking a mini-course in the way structure becomes the raison d'etre of art. Consider the suggested books on hand by Rem Koolhaas and about Sol Lewitt. The book covers are also great examples of graphic art, thus implying another influence on Shepherd's work.

There are other surprises awaiting us, however: pieces that are not made of wood at all, yet are still geometric, including silkscreen posters and paintings. The silkscreens recall the colors used by Paul Brach, with their reds, purples and pinks.

Moreover, there are two pieces leaning against the wall resembling diagrams and crisscrossing lines. We can't help but think of somewhat similar work by performance/conceptual artist Adrian Piper, who, coincidently, was influenced a great deal by Lewitt. Shepherd's pieces look like a time-based diagram made by Piper several years ago which chronicled her actions.

Regardless of Shepherd's possible sources and the exhibit's effect, there's also a possible philosophical implication of the artist's stackable toys. Or maybe a better word would be "metaphysical" implication.

Does Shepherd see the world's current state-of-affairs as "coming apart," like her pieces, where things are not as tangible and solid as they might be?

The current show will be on view at East Hampton's Glenn Horowitz Bookseller until Nov. 10.

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