Illuminated from within

Numen: divine power or spirit; a deity, especially one presiding locally or believed to inhabit a particular object.

The Grand Rapids Art Museum invited metalsmith David Huang to display his ArtPrize 2011 entry "Numinous Community" in one of their second floor galleries for the 2011 season. This will be Huang's third season with ArtPrize, and the public will again be treated to another facet of his artistic expression.
 

Huang entitled his collection of chase and reposse copper and sterling silver vessels “Numinous Community.” When asked about the naming of this collection, Huang reflected upon the concept of community and said “I like the word [numinous].” His choice reflects a deeper appreciation for the community of artists he is a part of and the greater West Michigan community he calls home.

The collection contains 21 individual vessels, chase and repousse in copper and two chase and repousse vessels in sterling silver. Of the copper vessels, all have been finished with one patination process or another, producing a range of rich finishes from Japanese brown to a creamy Tiffany blue. In contrast, the sterling silver vessels have a little higher polish than their copper counterparts and are also decorated with chase and repousse. Each vessel is finished with a sterling silver rim detail, gold leaf interior and given a lustrous wax buff. The gold leafing, according to Huang, was the turning point for these vessels. Truly, they are luminous from within even under the most subtle, subdued light.

These vessels are also part of larger artistic treatment collections. The largest vessel is part of the "Whorled Flow" collection distinguished by a linear flowing design. When asked why one larger vessel among many, Huang felt the "Numinous Community" collection needed the larger piece to show a contrast in scale among the grouping. The larger piece, sitting regal upon a hidden platform, does indeed pull the divergent collection together as a cohesive unit.

In 2010, Huang entered a single large scale vessel. When asked what motivated him to enter a collection this year, Huang replied "I thought a collection would better show my range of artistic expression." Having created such a large example of chase and repousse in 2010, Huang was mindful of how much time he would be able to devote to an ArtPrize entry this year. The "Numinous Community" collection took him approximately three and a half months to complete. His concerns are well founded as he recently retired from teaching jewelry design classes at Grand Rapids Community College to pursue metalsmithing and fine art in metal as a full time profession.

 Huang plans to spend a large part of the first week of ArtPrize 2011 at the GRAM meeting those interested in his "Numinous Community" entry and answering questions. In the second week he will be out and about town enjoying and drawing inspiration from the artwork of other ArtPrize artists. However, you may still find him at the GRAM early in the day during the second week.

Huang graduated from Grand Valley State University in 2001 with a B.F.A., magna cum laude. Additionally he studied at the Chicago Institute of Arts School, Ox-bow summer program as well as Savannah College of Art and Design.