“Uncommon,” “different” and “rare” can all be used to describe Isabel Barbuzza’s work, but “incomparable” is the only word that can really do it justice.
Barbuzza, an artist from Argentina, has smashed the mold of standard artistic images and used the remnants to create unique pieces that she will discuss and present during a free slideshow lecture from 5 to 6 p.m. today in the Business Rotunda.
Encompassing mundane elements such as cornhusks, books, mussel shells and razor blades, her works convey complicated concepts by altering simple and common ready-made objects.
“She’s very much an installation artist,” said Sky Bergman, art and design department chair. “I went to grad school with her, and she would build some really interesting works, so I’m looking forward to seeing how her style has developed.”
Constantly evolving, her mixed-media approach includes elements of sculpture, printmaking and book art while using methods like sawing, gluing and welding to ensure her work makes a statement.
One such piece forms a pseudo-suit of armor created with 50 pounds of mussel shells and Vaseline, titled “embrace me/abrazame.” A similar looking, yet very different piece titled “casa/home,” features an empty coat created of soft muslin and waxed cornhusks, presenting a contrasting concept for viewers to consider.
Another original work in her collection presents several altered encyclopedias covered in printer ink, wax and lead that are appropriately called “el libro de los libros/the book of books.” This piece has a similar feeling to “rhizome/rizoma,” a sculpture formed by 10 volumes of encyclopedias molded together with wax.
By using everyday materials, Barbuzza conveys a reality that average people can relate to and a context in which she can create pieces that emphasize perceptual qualities of intimate space.
Barbuzza studied art and art history at the Universidad Nacional de Cuyo in her native city of Mendoza, Argentina. Though her early training focused primarily on traditional drawing and sculpture, her focus later shifted and was influenced by the extreme censorship and repression she experienced in Latin America before moving to the United States in 1978.
She studied art at UC Santa Barbara from 1984 to 1988 and received her master’s degree of fine arts in 1990 with a concentration on sculpture, printmaking and book art. Since then, she has studied with other notable artists, including Ann Hamilton, Buzz Spector, Harry Reese and Steven Cortright. She currently works as an assistant professor at the University of Iowa.
“Her work is interesting and poignant,” Bergman said. “Anytime that we can get well-known people to come to a town like San Luis Obispo, students should take the opportunity to come and see the work. Students don’t necessarily get the chance to go out and see things like this very often, so they should take advantage of it.”