May 10-August 6, 2004
Reception: May 20, 5-8pm

Presented by the Oakland Museum of California Professional Services division
Professional Services Exhibition Archive

Al Honig, Urn Series #9, 1989, manufactured object 56" x 31" x 27"

One man’s trash is another’s treasure, or so it appears in the sculpture of Al Honig. Honig’s witty constructions are created using a mélange of manufactured objects. His forms incorporate a wide range of discarded items – moving parts, strobe lights, fake fur, even beauty parlor equipment – each fitting together to comprise a cohesive, single sculpture.

Honig discovers his materials in scrap yards and flea markets, places he says represent “the last step before meltdown.” He selects the items based on their design, condition and price, paying little attention to utilitarian characteristics. Through this process, Honig pursues form over function and allows each individual part to inform the overall aesthetic of a completed sculpture.

Much of Honig’s work addresses profound subject matter, including death, life, religion and business. The sculptures in his Urn Series are designed as elaborate, often satirical, containers for cremation ashes. In his Allegory Series, Honig presents abstract ideas and moral principles based on his observations and suppositions of human behavior. Some reflect related worldly ideas, including cross-cultural experiences and the betterment of mankind.

Organized by the Professional Services division of the Oakland Museum of California.