Art Review for Austin
American-Statesman

Apron Strings

Kitchen apparel is the canvas that ties artists together

San Marcos - I had no idea what to expect as I prepared to attend the opening of "No Fuss At All," an exhibit at the Southwest Texas State University Art Gallery. The concept of an apron as art was as intriguing as it was unusual. I found more than I expected.

In order to fully enjoy this show, it's necessary to go back to its beginnings. When a close friend of visual artist Bonnie Stone was diagnosed with a rare form of stomach cancer, Stone fashioned an apron for her friend that would serve as a bond between them in this difficult time.

Soon after sending her friend the apron, Stone purchased 26 plain, white aprons and sent them to selected female friends and relatives across the country. Each recipient was invited to use the apron as a blank canvas on which to "tell their story."

Beyond this basic request, there were very few preconditions. Each artist was encouraged to use their imagination, choosing to depict however much. Or little, of their lives as they saw fit. They were also free to decorate it with any medium they chose.

Eighteen months later, Stone had 20 of the aprons back in her possession; she also had the centerpiece for her show. Her artists had each made a voyage of self-discovery and revelation. As participant Judy Norris said, "Until I worked on this project, I did not realize that maybe I do have an interesting story.

While each apron in the exhibit is unique, two stood out. The first is from a Latino participant with strong connections to the land of her ancestors. Decorated in exacting detail with various butterflies that migrate between the United States and Mexico (on a background that includes the colors of the flags of both countries), it speaks of freedom, joyfulness and the richness of her life.

The other apron, with its withered shrinking violet and resplendent sunflower, tells of the limiting, abusive nature of the creator's now ex-husband, and her rebirth as a happy, well balanced individual with much to offer her children, friends and the world at large.

The second portion of the show is an excellent selection of prints by American women of the '20s, '30s and '40s from the collection of Bonnie's husband, M. Lee Stone. A pediatrician by profession, Lee is the kind of collector every artist prays for, doing what he does just for the love of it all.

As for the apron - taking a piece of apparel that is limiting and confining by its very nature and using it to demonstrate to the world that there are really no limits at all - this is ingenious, making a visit to the gallery worthwhile.

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