Sculptor Aaron Kramer at Erie Art Museum
Reuse, Recycle and Repurpose (For Art’s Sake)
“Sense of Wonder: Aaron Kramer”
At Erie Art Museum
An Art Review
A sense of wonderment and joy is immediately bestowed on visitors upon seeing Erie Art Museum’s latest exhibit: “Sense of Wonder: Aaron Kramer.”
Kramer, a tinkerer, imagineer and crafter all rolled into one, offers up approximately 40 creations of found or recovered materials and “recycles” them into playful visions that sometimes contain a social message.
All within Frenzel Gallery.
“Please Touch” are often words next to Kramer’s kinetic creations, inviting visitors to twist, pull or yank a lever or handle allowing artwork to come alive. His reuse of castoff, obscure or throwaway items (a mid-20th century hat advertising display box, a vintage badminton racquet, obscure brand X luncheon meat cans, bowling league trophies, etc.), gives the feel of a show from another century, while actually fashioned within the current one.
“Devil Full o’ Nuts” (2008) uses multiple taxidermy eyes, a wooden broom handle, Bakelite and a Chock full o’ Nuts coffee can to produce a fun jack-in-the-box creation that’s maybe meant to illustrate that the devil sees all?
“Hula Hugger” (2008) brings together a Japanese vintage toy train, an 8mm movie viewer, welded wire and a vintage hat advertising display box to offer the experience of carnival sideshows and long-gone coin-operated gizmos. Peer into the viewer and see an old-timey hula dance!
While some sculptures were created with a sense of fun, others ask viewers to become more aware of our carbon footprint. “World Clock” (1992) composed of antelope antlers, a cuckoo clock mechanism, crutches, and other found knickknacks, shows the artist’s concerns over extinction.
“The sooner we all treat waste differently, the sooner we can begin to avoid the next extinction event. I want to inspire others to action – to look differently at trash – because I believe that ‘Trash is the Failure of the Imagination,’” stated Kramer explaining his inspiration.
Though Kramer often uses discarded items from the past, don’t think he’s out of touch with the present. If anything he replicates the worldwide obsession with cell-phone “selfies” within his show.
Well, in his own way.
“Selfie Machine” (2015; see picture) is comprised of simple materials (found wood, metal, a door knob). With it, Kramer’s simple “machine” creates a self portrait of the artist.
Who needs Samsung, Apple or Consumer Cellular?
Apparently not Aaron Kramer.
I can’t recall the last time I left an art exhibit with a smile, a feeling of enchantment, and a sense of my own childhood curiosity, long gone, briefly restored.
***Gregory Greenleaf
Sense of Wonder runs through June 8, 2025. For more information, visit erieartmuseum.org.
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