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Nature Rules

Gallery Exhibition

A new exhibition of art inspired by the natural world by artists with developmental disabilities from San Francisco’s Creativity Explored

June 22 - August 10, 2006
Opening Reception: Thursday, June 22 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm

SAN FRANCISCO…From the tiniest orbs of pollen to the towering crowns of redwood trees, artists with developmental disabilities from San Francisco’s Creativity Explored investigate all things great and small in nature in a new exhibition of paintings, drawings and sculpture. The exhibition runs June 22nd through August 10th and opens with a reception on June 22nd from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. The gallery is regularly open Monday through Friday 10:00 am to 3 pm, and Saturday from 1:00 to 6:00 pm. All artwork is available for purchase through the gallery.

“Nature Rules” was organized by Instructor Judith La Rosa. Months ago, she got the idea to bring lots of interesting natural materials like leaves, rocks, dried flower parts and seaweed into the studio. She also introduced the artists to a range of tools such as microscopes and magnifying lenses that could be used to examine these things in depth. “I thought it would be interesting for the artists to get really deliberate about looking at something,” she says. “And they’ve really responded – observing details like texture and pattern with the greatest attention.”

Artist Loren King became deeply intrigued by a book of super magnified images of pollen and other natural minutiae. For the exhibition, King labored for weeks on a gorgeous and colorful abstract of the sneeze-inducing disks. “I was really surprised at what it looked like,” says a wide-eyed King.

Raymond Tingley, an artist who tends to use repeat patterns in his work, found a natural ally in nature. Tingley contributes several meditations on rocks and the leaves of prayer plants that bring out the subtle variations between like objects. Another artist partial to the repeat pattern, Isagani Tanyag, created a large and colorful ode to peas in their pods.

Trees were a popular subject amongst the artists. Both King and Tanyag became interested in images of cross sections of trees. Each drew his personal interpretation for the show. John Patrick McKenzie, an artist who uses a distinct style of lettering to create text-based work, pens several tree-related works as well. Abel Pineda contributes a lovely image of a forest remembered from childhood, and artist Steven Geeter, a self-appointed “lover of leaves,” worked with La Rosa to craft a leaf press which Geeter decorated with hand-drawn illustrations.

And while most of the artists were working within the known terrestrial world of flora and fauna, artist Richard Pimental chose to create a sculptural study of a sea anemone all in white like an architectural model of this tentacled denizen of the deep.

Calendar Listing

Nature Rules

GROUP ART EXHIBITION AND OPENING: From the tiniest orbs of pollen to the towering crowns of redwood trees, artists with developmental disabilities from San Francisco’s Creativity Explored investigate all things great and small in nature in a new exhibition of paintings, drawings and sculpture. Artists used microscopes and magnifiers to get up close and personal with natural objects. Loren King contributes a gorgeous and colorful abstract of pollen while Isagani Tanyag draws cross sections of trees. Raymond Tingley, an artist who uses repeat patterns in his work, contributes a meditation on rocks that brings out the subtle variations between like objects. Steven Geeter, a self-appointed “lover of leaves,” displays a leaf press, which he decorated with hand-drawn illustrations.

What

Nature Rules – A group exhibition of paintings, drawings and sculpture inspired by the natural world by artists with developmental disabilities at San Francisco’s Creativity Explored

When

• Opening Reception: Thursday, June 22, 2006 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm
• Exhibit Dates and Times: June 22 – August 10, 2006, Monday through Friday 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, Saturday 1:00 to 6:00 pm

Where

Creativity Explored Gallery
3245 Sixteenth St. at Guerrero, San Francisco

Creativity Explored is a nonprofit visual arts center where artists with developmental disabilities create, exhibit, and sell art.

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# Posted on May 20, 2006