MARK TABER

Mark Taber is a folk artist, a junk sculptor, an outsider whose assemblages are constructed of rust, wood, wheels, pieces of sewing machines and gutted pianos, ironing boards, rocking chair rockers, and anything else he's found or that has been left at his doorstep. His pieces, mainly vehicles or musical instruments, are charming, animated with personality, rearing to travel or to sound the first chord, the stuff of adventure and dream.

Mark is a lifelong Rhode Island resident and well known, both as an artist and as a pianist, playing solo and with just about every club musician in town for the past 40 some years. He's been making his sculptures for just as long, in his backyard, his basement, anywhere that space would allow. He first showed his work with us in 1991 as part of a group show at Davol Square called "Nine Nuts" (curated by artist Jeff Thomas), and his work caught the attention of the press, artists, curators, and everyone who stopped by for a look. He's exhibited extensively since, both at Po Gallery and with other institutions including the Newport, the Attleboro and the Warwick Museums. He was awarded a RISCA project grant, was commissioned to build a piece for permanent installation at the BB King Blues Club in New York City, and one of his pieces was included in a Smithsonian SITES publication titled "Seeing Jazz".