As a child I played with a toy called Lincoln Logs. Artist Richard Bassett has recast that childhood toy in cold rolled steel and made it his donation to Arcadia 2007. “The Burden of Myth and Memory” is both a playful and deep expression of Arcadia’s theme: Art of, or inspired by, trees.
Category: zettel
scraps of paper
The Web is a great way to get an idea of how something looks. But in some ways it robs us of the depth and immediacy of direct experience. This is especially true when it comes to visual art. Marcia Stuermer’s contribution to Arcadia 2007, Botanical Barcode must be seen in person to fully appreciate its beauty. Stuermer samples moments in time, capturing them in resin. The artistry is in the moments she chooses.
This is the second time that Barry McGee has contributed to Arcadia. His piece for Arcadia 2005 inspired quite a bidding frenzy. Barry’s piece will be included in the Live Auction this year. If you can’t make the event — you can place an absentee bid. And you can check out Barry’s Untitled contribution and all the other art at the preview — Today (Sunday, 4/22) from 2 to 4pm at California Modern Gallery, 1035 Market Street.
Christine Cariati is a contributing artist and the curator of Arcadia 2007. She selects and coordinates the artists—and hangs the show with SFMOMA curator Janet Bishop. Her contribution “In The Garden” is a beautiful example of her “theater” style work. These pieces are assembled from 5 to 10 layers 300# Arches Cold Press paper to create a substantial three dimensional work. The paintings are gouache, a difficult medium, which Cariati handles with a master’s hand. “In The Garden” expresses the terrible beauty of nature. Her birds are so enchanting, but a closer look reveals a Darwinian context and a hint of nature’s use of beauty.