Images, clockwise from top left: Mark Newport, Batman 2, 2005; Mary Van Cline, Cycles of Relationship of Time, 2000; Christyl Boger, Waterwings, 2007; SunKoo Yuh, Can You Hear Me?, 2007 Courtesy Renwick Gallery.

Opening today, the Renwick Gallery presents Staged Stories: Renwick Craft Invitational 2009 which brings together four artists who explore the narrative in their medium of choice. Ceramic artist Christyl Boger, fiber artist Mark Newport, glass artist Mary Van Cline and ceramic artist SunKoo Yuh walk the fine line between what is traditionally known as craft and art, showing decidedly non-functional pieces that are heavy on the narrative. They forgo the traditional definition of craft for the appeal of story telling through art.

Boger creates ceramic figurines that incorporate contemporary props such as inflatable swimming pool toys. The surface of the figures are white, creamy and smooth. A perfect texture for layering the decorative touches and flourishes that adorn each of her sculptures. They are gilded, stamped and embellished with flourishes and spots of color that are brushed on the tips of fingers, hair and the seams of the pool toys.

The figures are reminiscent of classical sculpture but verge on superficial decorative figurines. They are posed low to the ground, crouching with their props of dolphins, sea horses and inner tubes that add a strange juxtaposition to their countenance. In Sea Toy, the figure protectively holds a sea horse to her side, partly using it as a shield. Pink spots of color bloom almost randomly over the figure and the sea horse, fulfilling their decorative purpose.

Glass artist Mary Van Cline presents a photographic emulsion technique within medium to large decorative glass pieces. The photographs contain mysterious characters often shrouded in hoods and capes settled in amongst glass pieces in the shape of a vase or vessel. The glass work in and of itself is well done but the glass found in the smaller of the pieces distracts from the photographic detail, which it seeks to highlight. In The Ocean of Memory Within a photograph of a figure on a pebble beach is sandwiched between vibrant green glass. So vibrant, that the glass draws your eye away from the photograph which is quickly forgotten.