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.

SAVE THESE DATES!

Sat. Oct. 19th at 1 PM - 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.

Sat. Oct. 26th at 4 PM - New Media Combinations Panel Discussion at Berkeley Art Center.  Q&A after.   Come with your questions about integrating digital tools into your studio practice - or just hear how we do it.   

Opening This Week

September 19 – November 8

Art in the Time of Climatological Catastrophes , an exhibit presented by WEAD (Women Environmental Artists Directory) and juried by Suzaan Boettger

Opening Reception: September 19, 5 -7pm

Thoreau Center for Sustainability Gallery Presidio Building #1014, Lincoln Blvd. & Torney Ave., San Francisco, CA, (415) 561-6300

September News

September 7 - November 17

New Media Combinations Showcasing compelling work by contemporary artists investigating multiple solutions to mine and combine the potential of traditional and digital technologies with arresting results.

Participating Artists: Kim Anno, Rebeca Bolinger, Lia Cook, Don Farnsworth, Bella Feldman, Rupert Garcia, Talia Greene, Jeannie O'Connor, and Elizabeth Sher.

Opening Reception: Friday, September 6, 6-8pm

Artists Panel Presentations: Saturday, October 26, 4pm

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

September 19 - November 8

Art in the Time of Climatological Catastrophes , an exhibit presented by WEAD (Women Environmental Artists Directory) and juried by Suzaan Boettger

Opening Reception: September 19, 5 -7pm

Thoreau Center for Sustainability Gallery Presidio Building #1014, Lincoln Blvd. & Torney Ave., San Francisco, CA, (415) 561-6300

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.

Penny News

My work-in-progress documentary Penny now has both web and facebook pages where you can link directly to the Not Exactly a Trailer video and keep up with progress on the edit.   I am thrilled to again be working with the talented Jessica Sison who edited the trailer.   Please visit both pages and be sure to “like” the FB page.  Your feedback is always welcome and now you have a place to put it.

Website http://www.pennythedocumentary.com/

Facebook Page Penny the Documentary.

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.

Upcoming Gallery Talk

Last summer I spent a month at the Gullkistan artist residency in Iceland. I am currently showing work from that experience in my exhibit, Evolutionary Processes, at the Sebastopol Center For the Arts from April 4th through May 10th. I shared the experience with Sonoma County artist, Brooke Holve. On April 27th, 4:30 – 6, we will talk about our shared experiences, the power of residencies and my work and the stories that inspired it.  Come hear more!  It’s free and there will be refreshments!

Sebastopol Center for the Arts 282 S. High Street Sebastopol, CA Hours: Tu – Fri 10 – 4, Sat 1 -4

Upcoming Shows & Publications

Elizabeth Sher - Evolutionary Processes at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts

April 4-May10, HOPE TO SEE YOU at the Reception April 4 6-7:30 PM, 

OR drop by during Gallery Hours Tu-Fri 10-4, Sat. 1-4

OR come hear Sher in Conversations with Sonoma County Artist Brooke Holve Sat Apr 27 4:30-6 discussing the lasting power of residencies on their process and artwork.

3 Books featured in Lark Crafts Publication 500 Handmade Books Volume 2 

I am pleased to announce the inclusion of 3 of my artist books in the upcoming Lark Crafts Publication, 500 Handmade Books Volume 2.  The book will be released to the bookstores in  September of 2013.

Blog, a daily record of my residency in Can Serrat in Spain housed in a handmade wooden box fabricated  by Peter L'abbe.    

Arbres Arrencats d'Amethles is based on images of upturned almond tree roots made at Can Serrat Residency, Barcelona, Spain with text by Maw Shein Win.

Tangled Dreams is one of several projects on which I collaborated with artist Brooke Holve

February Musings and Doings

Had a great time at the de Young Friday with my friend painter Rodney Artiles.   The Girl with the Pearl Earring is a sight to see.   However, when Rodney saw it in Holland it was not under glass and was lit from above through sky lights so the beautiful blue around the edge of her face was actually visible.   Here you had to know it was there and crank your neck this way and that to see it at all.  Still the glass allowed visitors to get up close and personal which was especially great for all the Rembrandt etchings. Well worth the inspiring trip!

Note: When we were discussing the differences between engraving, etching and dry point, a crowd gathered to learn about printmaking. Maybe I should become a docent - heh heh.

Kala Art Institute will be exhibiting some of my artists books at the CODEX International Book Fair.  CODEX is one of the premier Book-Arts fairs in the world and will take place Sunday, February 10th through Wednesday, February 13th at the Craneway Pavilion, 1414 Harbour Way in Richmond, CA.

Codex is an amazing bi-annual book fair and a must see.  Be sure to stop by Kala's table where you will find my books and others by prominent artists from the S.F. Bay area.

The Residents...and a few of the artists we met along the way.... - Gatewood Gallery, Greensboro, NC

If you happen to be in or near Greensboro, NC, please stop by the Gatewood Gallery at UNC, Greensboro, and see my work in The Residency Show there.   I am showing both 2D and video that grew out of my residency at Gullkistan in Iceland last summer.   There the panoramic views, ancient farmhouses, multi-colored lava rocks, winding rivers, steamy streams and slow ice flows presented a myriad of textures and shapes to explore. My plan to starting “fresh” with no plan was well suited to this primordial place which feels like the beginning of the earth.   Daily sketching using both traditional drawing and painting tools and video has inspired paths to new ideas and work – still very much in progress. Thanks Gullkistan!

January 14 - February 1 Residents... ...and a few of the artists we met along the way....

Panel Discussion with the Residents The Inside Scoop on Residencies How, Where, When, Why... Wednesday, January 23, 4-5:30 Cone 103

The Gatewood Gallery at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro 527 Highland Avenue, 138 Gatewood Studio Arts Building, Greensboro, NC 27412

Island Visit

Cuba has a great system for kids and elderly – 99% literacy, good safety net & health, but in between advancement is tough.   Socialism provides but the people are definitely not over burdened by choice (like us) – one kind of each thing - one choice of cookie, one choice of crackers, etc..  But everyone is out and about shopping and eating mediocre food in the gov't restaurants and snack bars and being wonderfully social as only Cubanas can be. Fuster’s Watts-Tower-Nikki-de-St-Phalle’s extravaganza.

The Pink Panther - 1951 Dodge with Mercedes engine, BMW brakes and partial dodge transmission – everyone a mechanic by necessity.

Home of Compay Segundo

Rush Hour

Fidel Clancey and his dad

Everyone has at least two dogs, and very few cats.

No Marketing – just a few Revolutionary billboards

Sunday at Callejon de Hamel with art by Salvador Gonzales

PENNY Wins Roy Dean Film Grant

My film PENNY was awarded the Roy Dean Grant for Film!   The grant organization said "3 tough MALE film industry professionals" loved the trailer and the treatment.   It takes a village - special thanks to editor Jessica Sison and cinematographer Maggie Simpson and her crew and, of course, Penny!  YAY! Here is the winning trailer.

Grant Finalist

I am thrilled to announce that my documentary-in-progress PENNY is one of 6 finalists for the Roy W. Dean Film & Video Grant.    Watch the trailer and cross your digits!

Current & Upcoming Shows

November 6 - December 13 Convergence//Divergence

A world-wide roundtable symposium this Saturday, on 8 December 2012 10 am – 1 pm, PST - time converter to attend online, please click here http://water-wheel.net/taps/view/311 

http://blog.water-wheel.net/2012/11/convergence-divergence-exhibition-6-nov.html     Los Medanos College, 2700 E. Leland Blvd, Pittsburg, CA 94565

November 26 - December 21 Alternative at The LightRoom

Opening reception on Saturday, December 1 from 2-5 pm.

The LightRoom, 2263 Fifth Street, Berkeley, CA

December 6 - December 9 Aqua 12 at Miami Basel with Toomey-Tourell

Aqua 12, Aqua Hotel, 1530 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139

December 6, 2012 - January 27, 2013 Wonder at Berkeley Art Center

Opening reception on Thursday, December 6, 5-7 pm.

Berkeley Art Center, 2263 Fifth Street, Berkeley, CA

WEAD SPONSORED EXHIBITION: “CONVERGENCE / DIVERGENCE”

Women Environmental Artists Directory (WEAD), is pleased to announce a significant contemporary eco-art exhibition at the Los Medanos College Art Gallery in Pittsburg CA.

The exhibition will run from Tuesday November 6^th – December 13^th, 2012 Opening Reception on Thursday November 15th from 4 pm – 7 pm.   Gallery hours are daily from 12:30 – 2:30 pm and 4 – 6 pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

CONVERGENCE / DIVERGENCE features a broad perspective from environmental artists on the theme of water and its global and local roles.    The choice of Los Medanos College as a site for the exhibit is not accidental; the college is the only institute of higher education  in the delta area where the San Joachin and Sacramento rivers merge before entering San Pablo and San Francisco Bays.   The challenges and sensitivity of the eco-systems in the region is one reason for Los Medanos’ Environmental Studies curriculum.  In addition to its Art Gallery, the campus features a native plant preserve and a centralized water re-use pond.

The exhibition, a collaboration between Los Medanos College Art Gallery and WEAD, is  curated by noted intermedia artist Suzon Fuks, co-founder of WATERWHEEL, “a collaborative online venue for artists, scientist, activist, and all water lovers,”   brings together contributions of more than 30 artists from around the world, working in a variety of media–installation, video, and performance arts dealing with the theme.    A world-wide roundtable symposium via WATERWHEEL http://water-wheel.net will feature many of the participants on December 8^th,  10 am – 1 pm, PST.

http://www.losmedanos.edu/art/gal.aspx

Los Medanos College 2700 E. Leland Blvd Pittsburg, CA 94565

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Art worth seeing “Convergence/Divergence” exhibition by @weadartists curated by Suzon Fuks w/ @The_Waterheel at @losmedanos in #Pittsburgh, CA http://weadartists.org/

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Do not miss exhibition! Check out artists from Women Environmental Artists Directory (WEAD) artists “CONVERGENCE / DIVERGENCE”  eco-art exhibition at the Los Medanos College Art Gallery in Pittsburg CA. November 8^th through December 13^th http://weadartists.org/

Kalassal Half-Off Art Sale

Mark your calendar. This year I will be participating in the Kalassal Half-Off Art Sale that benefits the Kala Art Institute.  It will be held at the Kala Gallery at 2990 San Pablo Avenue Berkeley, CA  onNovember 8 – 11 with an opening wingding with beer, wine, food trucks, live music & more on Thursday, November 8, 6 – 9pm.  Please come to support this wonderful arts organization.

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!

Berlin and then Home

Berlin has changed so much since I was there for the Berlin Short Film Festival in 2004.   Actually curator Megan Steinman told me it changes hugely each year!   Lots of construction, lots of action and lots and lots of amazing art.   Saw community gardens enlivening formerly drug infested plazas (including healthy yummy lunch counter),  an old hospital building  turned into a fabulous art center, a performance by one of the many American artists living there, a 5 story warehouse where temporary art exhibits make it worth climbing the stairs.

In addition to the permanent museum exhibits, there were 3 simultaneous shows of the succinct, elegant and profound Alfredo Jaar, the best retrospective of Diane Arbus I have ever seen, and 5 great shows at the Hamburger Banhoff including light sculptures by Anthony McCall, The White Field by Qui Shiuha, Cy Twombly and the School of Fontaineableu, indoor and outdoor neon works by Dan Flavin, a huge Architektonika 2 show of works inspired by architecture.

Lastly the very strange and elaborate Secret Universe III, dolls with hand sewn clothes and a variety of porcelain faces, ears and feet by Morton Bartlett.   He photographed and drew each doll after which he placed all of these materials in individual boxes and never showed them!

Part of Berlin's ongoing healing process is replacing cobblestones with brass plaques in front of buildings where Jews lived.   The plaques list their names, ages, dates of transport and where they were sent.

Days were hot and nights were perfect for eating outside by the Spree and watching all the boating and mobile beer parties.    And watching the Olympics on German TV was much better than NBCs MTV-like montages of event - although not understanding the anchor patter might have helped.

Re-entering with it's obligatory jet lag has been a challenge but getting back to my studio feels good and I look forward to seeing what my Gullkistan residency and subsequent travels will generate in the coming months (and even years.)