By Brianna Holcomb arts and entertainment editor
Steve Keister is an artist of many talents. He has made dinnerware, sculptures and a series of pieces called “Glyph Series.”
Keister’s recent work can be found in the Rosenberg Gallery here at Hofstra. Glazed ceramic, acrylic and wood are used to create each of the pieces found on the gallery walls. Each piece extends from the wall and is made of a mixture of bright colors that catch your attention. Unlike a lot of Keister’s previous works, these are not abstract in nature at all.
His previous ceramic series featured a more obscure look as well as a basic color palette, the complete opposite to his newest work.
In an article featured in The New York Times, his previous work, “USOs: 1978-1981,” is described as “neatly made with tight joints and sharp edges, the basic wooden structures evoke early 20th-century play with purely abstract forms that you see in Cubism and Russian Suprematism.”
In this gallery titled “Recent Work,” the audience gets a feel of ancient Mayan, Aztec and Guatemalan artwork. His pieces capture the history found in each of the cultures.
One image features a Toltec warrior, a culture of Mesoamerican warriors that were found in Mexico and later on in Aztec cultures.
This image of the warrior features a large headdress and stone face that can be seen in the traditional Aztec statues. Keister adds color and life to these ceramic pieces, making them look almost cartoonish in design.
Another image called “Quetzal I” is a bird that can be found in Baja Verpaz, Guatemala. This bird possess a dazzling array of colors, primarily featuring a red chest and a green body with yellow highlights. This bird’s features are striking, and interestingly, Keister does not focus on the already bright colors of the bird.
His piece features softer colors – such as sky blues and a duller red – rather than the vibrant colors found on the bird.
Besides the piece “Quetzal I,” there is a bright color palette used across all of the pieces, giving them an almost childish feel. They become more of a current and playful piece, rather than traditional, ancient pieces of work.
With all of the different cultures found in this gallery, Keister’s designs show the similarities between them. Walking into the gallery, it is very hard to place a distinct cultural background to the pieces. The only indication that the viewer receives as to which piece belongs to which culture, are their names.
Each piece is titled by what they represent from that culture, “Toltec Warrior,” “Quetzal I” and “Mayan Lord,” are just a few of the titles of these pieces.
This gallery is a great look at the connection between multiple cultures that have a lot more in common than many may assume.
Keister’s gallery will be on display until April 8 in the Rosenberg Gallery in Calkins Hall.