David Pinto's 'New Growth' at Mutual Gallery

Robyn Miller and Ruth Howard, Arts & Education Writers

The body, no matter how it is sculpted, is a marvellous creation, much like the plant as it blooms from within its pod.

It's a message that is poignantly etched in the latest instalment of art at the Mutual Gallery and a reminder that came last Thursday at the unearthing of potter and sculptural ceramist David Pinto's 'New Growth' exhibition, in a story which takes on a life of its own.

From a single seed pod which the artist came across on the way to his Good Hope Estate studio in Trelawny blossomed interest, enough to stir him to begin a process of exploration.

Blending the process with a "personal journey of fertility" that captures the "sensuality of human and plant forms", a maze of bodies of varying shapes, hues and sizes, sitting atop massive tree stumps beautifully finished yet retaining enough of their naturalness, formed the greater part of the exhibition.

A smaller collection of massive three-legged, human-like sculptures titled 'Soul Serving', completed the exhibits. This, in the artist's words, was a celebration of rituals "beyond the purely physical", such as the sharing of a meal.

Of these three-legged masterpieces, arts professor at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, Eugenio D'Melon, remarked that it took great skill to know what pigmentation to use to get different colours from the pieces which had been "fired" in the kiln.

"It can be a surprise," he said, while admiring Pinto's handiwork.

He was appreciative of the general ambience of the exhibit, including Pinto's quotes, in black against the gallery's plain white walls, which added life to the creations not only in the beautiful backdrop they created, but also for the simplification of and perspective they brought to the works.

As for Pinto, the move was a good one: "I feel that my quotations on the wall helped to communicate some of the thought process behind the work, and the image presentation and sound reinforced this to complement the sculpture," he said.

That image presentation and sound reinforcement to which Pinto refers places the artist, a study of concentration, in his studio, as he perfected yet another piece of his life-size sculptures, all this with the sights and sounds of nature spurring him on.

Showing his depth, Pinto will today display some of his smaller, functional pieces at the two-day annual Potters' Fair at the Forestry Department in St Andrew from 9a.m. to 5p.m.

Pinto's creative genius, which had its full bloom from his days as an industrial design student at Rhode Island School of Design, has recently led him to "explore new twists and turns" with his triangular bowl series.

The series includes his newest group of sculpted mugs and sets of square dinnerware finished with his latest glaze design. Excellent gift ideas and accent pieces, these mugs are "ideal for cappuccino, soups and even tea!" the artist suggested.

Pinto can be contacted at jamaicaclay@gmail.com for his latest set of creations or, to view his 'New Growth' exhibition, which closes on January 12, contact Gilou Bauer at Mutual Gallery, 929-4302 for an appointment.