Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Chronicle 2003

Chronicle
2003
Plastic bags, gaffers tape, mason jar rings, thread, wood, wire.
7' x 11'
.


Chronicle started as a collection of plastic newspaper bags from daily delivery of the San Francisco Chronicle.  My 70 year old cousin, Leta had noticed my love of sewing plastic bags and gave me over a years worth of the bright yellow bags. After quickly realizing that the bags contained a bit too much of the Oakland streets to work with comfortably, we washed and dried them and brought them to Creative Growth in Oakland, a dynamic art center for developmentally disabled adults.

Some of my favorite art of all time was made by artists there and it's virtually impossible for me to leave that gallery without buying something. In 2003, I was honored to have the opportunity to work there for the first time by collaborating with three artists on this piece; Dinah Schapiro, Vera Hollins and Judith Scott. We each wrapped the bags in gaffer's tape, yarn and shock-cording, with Judith focusing solely on the shapes that go horizontally across the top, Vera integrating the mason jar rings and Dinah making the soft forms out of plastics. I combined all the elements and installed the piece in Creative Growth's gallery for a show called "Insider/Outsider", highlighting collaborations. Later the work was chosen for the Northern California Biennial at The Crocker Museum in Sacramento and awarded an Honorable Mention.

Creative Growth is celebrating their 35th anniversary this month and has a show opening October 2 that features the early work that came out of that groundbreaking studio.

Creative Growth Art Center
355 24th Street
Oakland, CA
510-836-2340
creativegrowth.org