I was shopping at IKEA the other day, and I saw the “Wrapping Table” below. The strips hanging from the ceiling are ribbons that you can use to wrap the packages on the table on the right.

It reminded me of the “Wall” piece by Rachel Welty, currently displayed at the ICA. A series of128,000 silver twist ties hangs from the ceiling in a 2 foot by 4 foot block, to create a sculpture that looks impressive but is made of cheap material; it seems like a solid silver mass, but yields with the slightest wind.

It makes a nice contrast with “two page spread,” one of a series of walls using twist-ties she’s collected over the years. The same material of twist ties, formed into two very different pieces of contemporary art.

More of Rachel Perry Welty’s can be found at her web site, at www.rachelperrywelty.com. She seems to specialize in taking everyday items and transforming them into works of art, using an almost obsessive manner of assembling them. Just observe “208,896 loaves,” made of individual bread tags.

As a final note on the Foster Prize – looks like the four finalists have a friendly relationship that extends to karaoke sessions, which reflects itself when they’re interviewed together.

For the ICA’s Foster Prize finalists, it’s all about camaraderie, not competition
They aren’t the Go-Go’s, but the four finalists for the Institute of Contemporary Art’s James and Audrey Foster Prize have got the beat.

Kelly Sherman , Sheila Gallagher , Jane D. Marsching, and Rachel Perry Welty — plus a couple of friends for moral support — have gathered behind two microphones onstage at All Star Karaoke in the Milky Way Lounge . The Nickel and Dime Band strikes up “We Got the Beat.”

I must say I’m glad I attended the Foster Prize presentation at the ICA – it gave me new eyes to view contemporary art.  Hopefully the next time I visit, there will be some presentation that could be equally as interesting.