Material Matters, California Center for the Arts, Escondido

This exhibit of selected work by members of the Allied Craftsmen has been masterfully assembled by the Center’s curators. While craft is certainly in evidence in the skillful construction of the pieces, it is the art that stands front and center, and you will see little that is utilitarian. Though the materials are largely organic, found, sculpted, or molded in the spirit of natural objects, the hand of humanity, whether for better or worse, is usually evident. The show includes several pieces by Kathy Miller. Continues through July 4, 2010. Hours, Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00-4:00 pm, Sunday, 1:00 – 5:00 pm. 760.839.4120

California Fibers: Liminal Spaces, Includes Kathy Miller's Work

Kathy Miller’s work is included in this show of art by members of California Fibers, continuing through May 9, 2010. The gallery is open Tuesday – Sunday, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, free admission. 619.546.4875.

5 from Ledge

The artist group Ledge will host a reception on Sunday, March 14, from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm the Encinitas Library Community Center gallery.  The library is located on Cornish Dr. between D and E Streets.  The 5 exhibiting artists will be present to answer questions and discuss their work.  Ramon Cruz, a solo guitar instrumentalist will perform during the reception.  The Ledge exhibit will be from March 2 through April 18th.  It is free and open to the public during regular library hours.  Handicapped accessible.  Call 760-753-7376 for more information.

Ledge is a group of innovative artists who began meeting in 2005 to exchange ideas, discuss the process of art making, and it’s place in our culture. They seek a better understanding of how to communicate through their artwork, both individually and as a group.

Appropriate for an exhibit in a library setting, Ledge founder, Irene Abraham will show a selection of word paintings from her series “Lost in Translation”. These paintings use Sudoko puzzles as the basis of a code for using letters in place of numbers. These works challenge the viewer to switch from reading to looking and back. Irene has a background as a research biologist, and is now a full-time artist.

Also befitting a library’s gallery space are Kathy Miller’s collages. She uses pieces of pages from books layered with transparent screens of color. Rows of letters and numbers are superimposed on this background. She includes objects such as rulers, maps, thread and drawings as symbols, structuring her pieces as a poet arranges words.

Cheryl Griffiths’ work focuses on the tension between growth, productivity, consumerism and the desire to preserve the natural world. She will exhibit pieces done with oils sticks and collages made from discarded “single serving” grocery items.

Judith Parenio’s work is also concerned with the natural world and it’s demise. Her background in sculpture is evident in her work in encaustic, a medium using beeswax. In her piece “Night Fly” she used many layers of wax and collage to achieve a rich and poetic surface.

Growing up in the world of trucking led artist Pam Calore to give her work a documentary dimension. Her work brings attention to the economic and social issues facing people working in the transportation and global trade industries. Unlike the other ledge artists, Pam often uses the human figure in her work.

Ledge has previously exhibited together at the Solana Beach Library and the Kruglak Gallery at Mira Costa College. As individuals they have shown at a large number of galleries and art institutes around the country and locally at The Athenaeum in La Jolla, Oceanside Museum of Art Biennial, The Escondido Center for the Arts and the San Diego Art Institute in Balboa Park.