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July 2, 2004

Artist-Designed Toys Currently Displayed at Masur Museum

Masur Museum of Art is currently showing "Playing Around: Toys Designed by Artists," a traveling exhibition emanating from the Arkansas Art Center's annual competition and exhibition of artist-designed toys.

Coupled with this traveling exhibition is an exhibition of toys designed by local and regional artists. Included in this mini-exhibition are the works of three art faculty members from ULM: Brian Fassett is showing a painted brass and wood executive toy; Gary Radcliff is displaying a plastic and mixed media cannon that can propel a jet of air at a target over 20 feet away; and Cliff Tresner is displaying two wooden sculptural assemblages based on the concept of kitchen utensils employed as playthings.

University alumni also submitted toys, Arlene Cason of Dallas, teaming with studio partner Mike Kury, submitted a clay, wire and steel pull-toy doll on wheels; while Monroe alumnae Jessica Heard presented a fabric soft sculpture bird and Linda Ward created a herd of soft sculpture horses rockin' and rollin' on wooden wheels and rockers.

Area faculty artists Joey Slaughter from Grambling State University displayed a wooden vegetable form on pull-toy metal wheels, while Donna Service from Bossier Community College presented two figurative soft sculptures ­ a merman in a metal shark cage and an eight-foot high working marionette.

The mini-exhibition of regional artists' toys was organized by the head of ULM Division of Art, Robert Ward.

On the last week-end in June, works by Brian Fassett, Cliff Tesner, Joey Slaughter and Linda Ward were loaned to ULM TheatreWorks for a lobby exhibition during their production of the musical comedy "Big."

The two toy shows will be on view at the Masur Museum of Art, 1400 South Grand Street in Monroe through August 8. The museum is open from 9 to 5, Tuesday through Thursday, and 2 to 5, Friday through Saturday.

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