Art of diplomacy

Flathead artist has three works entered in Cairo art exhibition

The Daily Inter Lake

Artist John Rawlings' latest sculptures traveled halfway around the world to Egypt for the prestigious Cairo International Biennale, the largest visual-arts exhibition in the Arab world.

An artist and art instructor at Flathead Valley Community College, Rawlings represents Australia, where he grew up, in the show featuring art from 51 countries.

Rawlings said the show was fashioned after the Venice Biennial, an avant-garde exhibition promoting contemporary arts. The Cairo competition features a first prize of $50,000.

He said the format encourages interaction among the artists, which results in a subtle diplomacy.

"Believe me, this is about more than just the art thing," he said.

For his contribution, the artist created ceramic sculptures that he said emanate from a personal, primordial place.

Rawlings explains this primordial drive by comparing it to taking a walk along Lake McDonald.

"No one comes back without a rock," he said.

His sculptures feature undulating curves carved into curvaceous mounds of clay, sawdust-fired to a black, stonelike luster. He drew inspiration from the art of aboriginal people of Australia, who link to the Paleolithic period.

"They would take a found object and add something to it," he said.

He calls the series "Aton," the name of an Egyptian god who bestowed life, peace and equality upon mankind. Rawlings selected the pieces "Crucible," "Mill Wheel," and "Zenith Marker" and recently shipped them to Egypt.

Rawlings' work came to the attention of the art selection committee via a family friend of his wife, Souheir, in Cairo. A famous Egyptian artist, Mostafa Razzaz, has exhibited all across the country.

Razzaz had asked for a DVD with samples of his work just before Rawlings and his wife and family traveled to Egypt last summer.

"When I got there, nothing more was said," Rawlings said with a laugh.

Then just before he was scheduled to leave, Razzaz, asked him whether he could meet him at the Egyptian Museum of Modern Art for a reception. As they approached the door, Rawlings saw a plate of cookies and decided it was a low-key event.

The doorman informed them that the museum was closed for a special event.

"This guy is the special event," Razzaz said.

Rawlings was surprised but still assumed this was an informal, low-key meeting.

He was ushered to the front of the assembled Cairo International Biennale committee and questioned through an interpreter. Rawlings said that no one paid the least bit of attention as he answered.

"When the interpreter started talking, they were glued," he said.

Rawlings compared it to an old-fashioned salon, which features a very intellectual sort of artistic debate, verging on a brawl at times. After the discussion, a highly respected elder of the group, impeccably attired in a white seersucker suit, approached him.

He asked Rawlings whether he would like a critique of his work.

"It was wonderful," Rawlings said. "He didn't miss anything."

He said he was enormously tired when a very elegant man invited him to participate in the international show. The man was the minister of culture.

"They didn't quite carry me out, but it came close," Rawlings said with a laugh.

Rawlings said that the slots for American artists were filled, but his Australian nationality made him available for consideration. Since his selection, the Australian consulate contacted Rawlings about linking to his Web site.

No sooner had Rawlings accepted the invitation than his anxiety level shot up. While the other artists had a year and a half to create three works, Rawlings barely had six months, leaving little time for research and development.

He remained committed to creating ceramic sculptures. Rawlings visualized composite pieces that stacked.

"I kept breaking them," he recalled.

In mid-November, the artist shipped the fragile ceramics to Egypt. His pieces reportedly arrived, but no one at the museum knew where they were. Rawlings knew he must restrain his control mentality.

"It's a long way from here to Cairo, but it a hell of a lot longer culturally," he said. "They don't get stressed."

Rawlings has every expectation that they arrived intact for the show that opens Dec. 12. Hosni Mubarak, president of Egypt, opens the show, and Rawlings will get to meet him.

H also was tapped to participate in two seminars for artists. Rawlings looks forward to his pending trip to Cairo.

He contrasts the mass-media view of Egypt with his experience walking through neighborhoods in Cairo.

"It's all about tension and difference [in the media], but the dominant sound of Egypt is laughter," Rawlings said.

After exhibiting among the international elite of the art world and meeting the president of Egypt, the artist travels back to Kalispell after just seven days for a dose of community-college-instructor reality.

"I have to be back for finals," he said.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com