Foothill artist's food for thought Foothill artist's food for thought (June 10, 2005)

Una Mjurka's ceramic sculptures explore the passage of time

By Katie Vaughn

A collection of recent ceramic works by Foothill College art teacher Una Mjurka includes a variety of food-related still-life sculptures that explore the passing of time and humans' sense of psychological fulfillment -- food for thought in a literal sense.

Mjurka began working in ceramics as a child in Latvia. At age 11, she decided to make her hobby a career, and later earned fine arts degrees from the Latvian Academy of Arts and San Jose State University. Her new exhibit is showing until July 31 at the Community School of Music and Arts in Mountain View.

Mjurka, who also teaches at CSMA, began her recent sculpture series five years ago. After learning that a family member had died but realizing she would not be able to attend the funeral, she felt trapped and looked for imagery that conveyed her emotions. Her search led her to Dutch still-life paintings of the 17th century, and she became interested in transferring such images into three-dimensional sculptures.

The notion of time is an important element in her works, just as it was to the Dutch painters who depicted such items as decaying food and mirrors -- visual references to the passing of time. Similarly, some of Mjurka's food items seem on the verge of decay. For instance, a sack lunch display features a distressed-looking brown bag and slightly lumpy fruits and vegetables.

Another result of her study of time comes in the form of three life-sized wedding cakes. Mjurka said she was surprised that even a modern country like the United States seems to promote the idea that people should be married by a certain age. The multi-tiered cakes, accented with ceramic flowers and bows, were her way of fulfilling the obligation without getting married.

"You get to a point where you reevaluate your life," said Mjurka, who turns 35 this year. "You decide whether you want to focus on your career or have kids. That's where the wedding cakes come in."

Additionally, Mjurka's use of color relates to her interest in time. All of her sculptures, including delicate and detailed clusters of flowers and fruit branches, are tinged in subdued colors. Amid twisting vines and leaves peek apples and lemons, but all are pale, nearly a monochromatic cream, in color. Mjurka said using light shades keeps the focus on the shape and content of her sculptures.

"Working in three dimensions, form is a really important element," she said. "Color should work with form, not compete with it."

In contrast are more simply shaped pieces such as a collection of bottles. Since the dozens of bottles boast sleek forms, Mjurka shaded them in slightly more vibrant shades of blues, greens, yellows and creams.

However, as Mjurka progressed in creating her sculptures, her interest turned to the deeply rooted interplay between people and food. She began recognizing food for the purpose it served other than satisfying a basic human need. More and more often, she said, food becomes a substitute for other unfulfilled needs and desires.

"It has become a friend, a symbol, an identity and even an obsession," Mjurka said. "As a society, we have a very peculiar relationship with our daily bread."

E-mail Katie Vaughn at mvvoicearts@yahoo.com

Information: What: Exhibition by Ceramic Sculptor Una Mjurka Where: Community School of Music and Arts, 230 San Antonio Circle, Mountain View When: June 6-July 31, with an artist's talk and opening reception June 10, 6-8 p.m. Call: (650) 917-6800 or visit www.arts4all.org

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