Aubs' Art Shop
by Aubrey Crilly Tizol
@aubsleighart 

Art Walk regulars in Norman know that my usual dress code rarely strays from slacks and a collared shirt. Last Friday, however, I briefly suspended that protocol in order to step inside an installation at OU’s Lightwell Gallery.
There were several works in the exhibition worthy of attention and recognition, but I decided to highlight Aubrey Crilly’s Residual Wonder, an immersive installation centered around a life-sized figure that pushes needle felting, textiles, motion, steel, and wood into a remarkably cohesive whole.
The piece also incorporates interactive elements, while the entrance itself is framed by a large hand-pieced textile work that functions as a kind of gateway into the space. The installation carries a sense of childhood wonder, yet it is grounded in clear technical skill and thoughtful construction. It evokes the atmosphere of a circus without slipping into caricature or nostalgia for its own sake.
Wearing the collar became part of the experience for me; it prompted thoughts about the many imaginary versions of ourselves we invent as children. For a moment, I wondered whether a younger version of me might have aspired to life as an acrobat.