Tom Cramer

Tom Cramer has a new show opening at Laura Russo this week. He will be my guest tomorrow on Art Focus. His exhibitions keep pushing forward into new territory and this one in particular has a big variety of approaches. Some seems Byzantine; his silver and gold is better than ever. One work is like an oil slick, reminiscent of Arts and Crafts and Tiffany. There are loads of Art Nouveauish sexy loops and plantlike shapes. He's doing this all-over wood burning thing too which is subtle from afar and intense close up. There are a few pieces which are really 60s - in that optimistic, almost fabric/fashion Marimekko way. I love it all. It seems to me that wood is his arena, he really owns it and finds new ways to work with it.