Fall Art and Film News

Back from my second residency at Gullkistan Center for Creativity in Laugarvatn, Iceland.   This island nation continues to inspire with its gorgeous panoramic vistas, bubbling “hot spots”, rocks, lakes, horses, sheep, cliffs, sunsets and so much more.   With their current push for tourists (1 million this year for 330,000 citizens), the popular sites are now more crowded with bus tours each day.  Reservations are required where none were 4 years ago.   It is still vast and idillic in many parts but if you are thinking of going - soon will be better than later.

The West Fjords inspire - still pristine as it’s a bit out of the way for tourists. 

PENNY screens in Iceland - and as always Penny Cooper garners new fans.

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Rituals of Remembrance - the art of mourning made with Maggie Simpson Adams over the last 8 years is on the home stretch!   Work-in-progress screening in Iceland was followed by a vibrant discussion of death and mourning practices and ideas - just like we hope it always will.  Watch of upcoming screenings this fall - check Rituals of Remembrance Movie on Facebook for details.

Sher’s short films Too Young and Wash It and will tour this fall in a program of short films curated by Tess Takahashi - Stand By for More Info!

Codex V and Transitions

Codex V at Craneway Pavillion

A Bed of Verbs, 2014.  A collaboration with artist, Brooke Holve. To be shown for its first time at Codex V at the Craneway Pavillion in Richmond, February 8th – 12th.

I travelled to Iceland with artist, Brooke Holve for an artist residency during the summer of 2012. We were awed by what we saw; the geologic wonders and phantasmal forms gave us a glimpse of what the earth might have been like in its beginnings. Iceland was a “land of the verb” with underground rumblings randomly spewing out steam, lava and rocks through pockets in the earth.

A land of forces not seen with verbs to describe it: bhedh, burns, chills, churns, coils, cracks, crusts,  cuts, erupts, oozes, pads, posts, roots, scalds, scrape, spews, sprays, steams

Codex V at Craneway Pavillion, 1414 Harbour Way South, Richmond, CA 94804

Transitions at Marin Community Foundation Offices

Artists typically make several transitions throughout their careers, for example changes in medium, studio space, subject matter, etc. Transitions focuses recent works from "mature" artists representing transitions in their (our) lives both metaphorically and literally.

In my work, I have worked to integrate feelings about nature and the environment with my interest and fascination in the possibilities of digital technologies available to artists. In an effort to integrate my film work with my 2D work, I have also begun to include more specific narrative content, sometimes by a written "story" on the label and sometimes written on the back of the canvas.

Marin Community Foundation Offices, 5 Hamilton Landing, Suite, Novato, CA

January Art Exhibitions

Passages

January 10 - February 1, 2015

Reception: Saturday, January 10 from 6 to 8pm

If you find yourself in Portland, or know folks there, I will be there for the opening.

Verum Ultimum Art Gallery, 3014 NE Ainsworth St, Portland, Oregon 97211

Transitions

January 21 - May 15, 2015

Reception: Wednesday, January 21 from 4:30 - 6:30

Honored to have 3 pieces in the show - hope to see you at the opening!

Marin Community Foundation, 5 Hamilton Landing, Ste 200, Novato, CA

Honored to have a my artwork, “ Arbres arrencats d'ametles,” selected for inclusion in the West Marin Review's Vol. 6, planned for publication in late 2015.

Selections were based on each piece’s particular attributes: its excellent technique, the imagery it evokes, its originality or perspective, and its ability to affect each one of us in some meaningful way.

Watch for updates for Spring PENNY screenings at Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) and several Bay Area Law Schools

November Art Shows

Hope you can see some of these shows which I am proud to be a part of...

Missed the Auction?

You Can Still - COLLECT! Online Shop opens Oct. 29 - reduced prices on all remaining available auction pieces including mine (see image at left).

Collect Store

Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St, Berkeley, CA 94709

HERE! 2014 Artists Annual 

Opening Reception Saturday Nov. 15, 5-8 PM  Exhibition Dates - Nov. 15-December 14 (Part 1)

Berkeley Art Center 1275 Walnut St., Berkeley, CA 94709

Inside Out (canvas with audio) showing in PASSAGES, December 2014-January 2015 Verum Ultimum Art Gallery, Portland, OR

Reception: Stand by for date and time in December

November News, Reviews & Screenings for PENNY

Meet Penny Cooper – trailblazer, celebrated criminal defense trial attorney, art collector, philanthropist and all around “fabulous” (her favorite word) trailbrazing woman.   30 minute documentary by Elizabeth Sher

PENNY reviewed in CineSource ! excepts here CLICK HERE for full review.

Penny: Champion of the Marginalized.  Produced and directed by San francisco Bay filmmaker and artist Elizabeth Sher "PENNY" is a documentary biography of celebrated trail attorney Penny Cooper.  In the films 30 minutes Sher provides and outline of Cooper's life and reveals both her struggles and triumphs....Cooper survived and thrived using her intellect, wit, strong sense of humor - and , in my opinion, her spirit...Sher's film is fun, fascinating, and (with) Cooper's sense of humor, thoroughly entertaining.  Don Schwartz

Upcoming Screening November 6, 4:30-6 PM, 110 Boalt Hall, UC Berkeley, CA followed by Q&A with Penny Cooper and Elizabeth Sher.   Co-sponsored by Berkeley Journal of Criminal Law,  Boalt Hall Women's Association, Board of Advocates, Queer Causuc, Women of Color Collective, Youth Defender Clinic, Post-Conviction Assistance Project, First Generation Professions.   Looking forward to a lively discussion!

Upcoming Screening November 9 - 11:15 AM, OUTrageous Film Festival, UCSB Multicultural Center, Santa Barbara, CA.  Panel following the screening with Elizabeth Sher in person.  There's even breakfast first!  PENNY is an official selection.  So if you're in the neighborhood or have friends who are tell em to c'mon down.

PENNY reviewed on BlogTalk Radio. Listen here. Excerpts from the Show:

"Elizabeth Sher is an amazing visual artist and PENNY is extremely well edited.  The film is like a good book, it's a page turner!  You are glued to it.   She creates a strong connection between Penny Cooper and the audience in the first 2 minutes.  Keep watching thorugh the credits roll or you will miss another great story while they roll."   Carole Dean, From the Heart Productions"

"Penny Cooper's strong sense of humor reminds me of the late Ann Richards, former Governor of Texas".   Don Schwartz, author Telling Their Own Stories: Conversations with Documentary Filmmakers

DVDs and Posters for sale! Only $10 (plus shipping) in our website store, the PENNY Store.

Please visit our Facebook page, Penny the Documentary – like us and tell your friends! Don't do Facebook, visit the website, www.pennythedocumentary.com - you can tell us your Penny story there too.

Upcoming December Events

Dec 5 - Jan 5 - Array at the Berkeley Art Center

Opening Reception: Thursday, Dec. 5 5-8pm

Berkeley Art Center 1275 Walnut St. Berkeley, CA 94709. 510.644.6893

Dec. 4 - 21, on Wed, Fri & Sat from 4-8pm - I'm participating in Canyon Cinema Pop-Up, which will occupy the Kadist storefront starting this Wednesday. Browse and loan up to three titles from a selection of 150 DVDs by over 50 artists that surveys Canyon Cinema's legendary collection of experimental film.

Kadist. 3285 20th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

You can still see BIG IS BEAUTIFUL at the Bay Model in Sausalito through December 31st.

Bay Model in Sausalito, 2100 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 94965, with ART Contemporary Marin.

And YES! the first drafts are finished of my documentaries, Penny (left image) and Rituals of Remembrance (right image) (made with Maggie Simpson Adams)

Upcoming Events (Note revised Dates)

Two Events Coming Up On Saturday

Sat. Nov. 2nd at 1 PM - REVISED DATE - My documentary BELLA BELLA is screening as part of Bella Feldman's 50 year retrospective at the Richmond Art Center.  Q&A to follow.   DVDs available at special discount price.

November 1 through December 31  

BIG IS BEAUTIFUL at the Bay Model in Sausalito.

Sat. Nov. 2nd from 12:30 - 2:30 - Opening Reception

Bay Model in Sausalito, 2100 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 94965, with ART Contemporary Marin. info@artcontemporarymarin.org

Had a great panel last Saturday, but you still have a chance to see the show. New Media Combinations  at Berkeley Art Center, through November 16th.

Summer Highlights

Photos from my 2012 residency in Iceland with Brooke Holve are included in Bread & Wine show in Austria through November 3, 2013.

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Richard Whitaker has posted the conversation, Bella Feldman and Elizabeth Sher at the Berkeley Art Center: Bella Bella, between Bella Feldman and myself at the premiere of my documentary BELLA BELLA at the Berkeley Art Center in 2007. Check it out – still a good read.

BELLA BELLA is screening and Q&A on Saturday, October 19 from 1-3pm, at the Richmond Art Center during Bella Feldman’s retrospective there.  The retrospective will be up from Sept. 14 through Nov. 15. I will also have DVD's of the film for sale.

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UPCOMING SHOW - New Media Combinations at the Berkeley Art Center Berkeley Art Center on Friday, September 6th from 5-8. This exciting exhibition features 9 artists combining handwork with digital imaging in varied and interesting ways. I am showing all new work!

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ANOTHER CHANCE - Evolutionary Processes at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts is over but you can see the work (or buy a catalog) at Blurb.

Exposed (Orange 1) is a book cover

My piece, Exposed (orange 1), is the front and back cover image of the January 2011 volume 27 of Letres & Letres, published in Brazil.   I just received my copy from my friend Tiago Torrent.    The image is on its side but I admit it works for the publication.

Gallery talk with Brooke Holve

Brooke Holve and I had an enthusiastic group for our conversation on April 27^th at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts during my exhibiton, Evolutionary Processes.    We talked about my Icelandic residency as the basis for the works as well as our shared and separate experiences there.  (Brooke was at Gullkistan at the same time I was in summer 2012).   The discussion then expanded to the power of residencies for artists.

Check out Brooke Holve's website.

A catalog of the exhibition is available here.

Falling into Place

Apologies to my email recipients for a non-working link!   Love that technology thang! Fall is here and I am hunkering down with gingerbread lattes - Xmas starts early at Peets.   Work from the summer is on my studio walls to inspire me and film shoots are lined up for my in-progress documentaries Penny and Rituals of Remembrance.

My residency at Gullkistan this past summer was a fabulous experience – “la pura vida”, walking a mile to my studio in the barn at the sheep farm in Laugervatn and watching the gorgeous clouds during the endless days from my apartment balcony.   I hope you will click the links for August to also see my last 2 blog entries and, if you have not read them, check my earlier posts with many photos from this endless photo op of a country called Iceland.

Part of my re-entry transition was editing up 4 more video sketches from my experience. (The first one Learning Icelandic Pronunciation by Elizabeth Sher was posted on Youtube in June). Click the links below to view the 4 new video sketches.

Ducky Hver Broað Tractor Rap Wind and Water

There is still time to see my work in Beyond Landscape at the Marin Community Foundation in Novato through Sept. 28th.

Other news – - Revisiting my Exposed Series with new inspirations from Iceland

- Continuing to film for my upcoming documentary on the “fabulous” Penny Cooper, an extraordinary women, criminal defense attorney and art collector, seen here with her partner, Rena, in front of a Roni Horn piece.

Here’s to fall – with special hopes and rain dances for election results to stem the rip tide to the people who are corporations and corporations who are people. Semantics – gotta love it!

Mommy's Studio

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays a mommy from the drive to get to her studio.

This lightbox resonates as a reminder of my life with young kids. It is the studio of Kendra Dodsworth who is renting my old studio in Berkeley.

New Works on Metal

The End of the World as We Know It from the Reflecting on Reflection is a triptych on metal Each section is 12 x 18". It is a post election meditation on climate change, and the proposed elimination of the EPA and the Clean Air and Water Acts. © 2010 An installation shot with detail from a series of drawings on metal based on those made at Can Serrat residency in Barcelona, Spain last April. The upturned almond roots became metaphors for change, displacement and loss and will be included in Arbres Arencats d'Ametles, my upcoming Artist Book with poems by Maw Shein Win to be completed in 2011.

A few new works

Digital prints on canvas or paper with acrylic paint.

Dreaming of the Dead © 2010

Alone Together © 2010

Love's Labour © 2009

Bars 'n Tone © 2009