ARTS FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 17, 1999 THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER
26E
'Harvest' brings in the sheaves of a higher human consciousness
JANE GRAU
VISUAL ARTS
Visitors have returned for second and third helpings of Mikel Robinson's mystical installation "The Harvest" since its opening Sept. 3 at the Blue Pony Art Gallery, 3202-A N. Davidson St.
"Harvest" is many things - a gathering of souls, a harmonious convergence, a holy place. It is best seen at night. Today's Gallery Crawl will be the last time the installation can be seen at night before it closes Sept. 25. (Hours tonight: 6-9.)Children are especially entranced by its sweet serenity. On the walls are light boxes in the shape of gothic windows and peaked-roof houses. Each is covered in waxed paper, on which shines an image of a child, a young adult, or an elder in the sepia tones of the past. Like a shroud made by loving hands, the translucent surface is punctured by careful stitches; the light shining through them gives each image an angelic aura.
These people were loved. And are loved still.Suspended throughout the gallery are 300 keys that move as if by spirits or gentle winds. Other cryptic elements - locked boxes, Biblical poetry, inscriptions - are carefully placed amidst the repeated motif of real wheat sheaves that Robinson and his family gleaned from the fields, stored, dried and bundled themselves.Everything Robinson does is by hand. He reminds us of our humanity, connects us to one another, raises our consciousness to higher planes.That's what art is all about.
