Avner Zabari Furniture Art
SEDONA, AZ - It’s a fine thing when one can sit on a piece of artwork and not feel bad about it. At Sedona’s Lanning Gallery that particular joy is celebrated this month as the gallery features the fanciful yet elegant hand-made, hand-painted furniture of artist Avner Zabari. On Friday, April 4th, from 5-8 pm, visitors can enjoy Zabari’s singular imagination at the gallery’s “1st Friday” reception. On view
all of April, 2008.
The artist gives credit to the skillful hands of his grandfather, a successful silversmith, for what he refers to as, "my first peek into the world of beauty." As a young man Zabari traveled from his native Israel to Europe before journeying to South America where the relics left by primitive cultures first impressed him. “When I was in South America,” Zabari recalls, “I met an old man who would create the most brilliant colors. I stayed with him for two days and studied his techniques. We didn't speak, because I spoke no Spanish, but he taught me a lot about color.”
The artist soon settled in this country where his ability to learn from the world around him and from his own self-study had him painting on everything. "I was fascinated with the temperament of wood. The way the color would bleed or hold depending on the consistencies of the wood,” he says. Discarded furniture was resurrected under Zabari’s skilled hands as he mastered his methods of wood staining and decoration. Interest in his creations began to rise and soon the artist turned his attention to the nuances to fine furniture making. Almost as soon as the artist’s original pieces appeared, with his primitive aesthetic and rich use of deep, textured color defining them, Zabari’s work exploded on the art scene.
The beauty of each of his pieces begins with natural pine that is enhanced by a sun-weathering process. Five to ten layers of paint and pigment are applied at different stages, resulting in a magnificent blend of colors. A rainbow of rare and unusual dyes saturates consoles, benches, chests and cabinets. Adorned with curious compartments, primitive faces and mystical symbols, Zabari’s colorful and deeply personal art furniture has consistently impressed collectors while always maintaining focus on comfort and utility.
It is the addition of atmosphere and sociability to any space his worked is placed that impresses Lanning Gallery’s director, Isabelle Cozart; “Our clients consistently tell us that living with a Zabari piece, being able to simply look at it every day, puts a smile on their face. And that could not make us happier.” For further information, call Lanning Gallery, 928.282.6865, email mail@lanninggallery.com, or visit www.lanninggallery.com. Open daily: 10-6 Mon-Sat, 11-5 Sun.