Gallery exhibition

Pro Arts’ 35th Anniversary Party/Box Art Benefit Auction is coming soon. This year’s challenge was to turn a 5.5″ cube of wood into a piece of art to help raise needed funds for Pro Arts. For various reasons, I didn’t get my block until recently (thanks for getting it to me, Vicky!), and I didn’t get it done until Halloween afternoon—and the preview started November 3! You can see a picture of it here. Click on it for a larger view. Of course, art needs to be seen in person to be fully appreciated, especially three-dimensional pieces.

Unlike last year, I came up with my concept for this piece relatively easily, refining it as I went. I visited Cesar Chavez Park at the Berkeley Marina on a cold night this week, trekked to a high spot so I could see the skyline in every direction, put the block on a tripod, and photographed it from all four corners and from above. I shined my spotlight on it to make the block stand out. Lights from the skyline shimmer in the photos’ backgrounds. Then I applied the photos to the block so it looks like you’re there at night in the park looking at the cube, except each of the four sides has a picture of a corner. I hope it fetches a large sum for Pro Arts.

Night Cube, and dozens of others, will be up for auction this Saturday evening, 6–9 p.m., at 150 Frank Ogawa Plaza in Downtown Oakland at Broadway and 14th St. There will be refreshments, music, and silent and live auctions. Also, sponsorships are available in advance of the event for $50. If you sponsor an artist, you’ll receive reserved privileges at the event. Call Pro Arts for details.

Dropping off my piece Saturday, I got a sneak peek at some of the other pieces, and as always, I’m impressed at what the other artists came up with. The auction is fun and exciting—it’s better than Ebay! The East Bay artist community needs Pro Arts to stick around another 35 years, so please come out, say hello, have a snack, and place your bids. See you there!

Several weeks ago, as I was leaving Pro Arts Gallery, I encountered a volunteer outside. He strongly encouraged me to take one of the hunks of household doors he was giving out. Pro Arts’ annual Box Art Benefit Auction was coming up and this year’s challenge for participating artists was to turn a piece of door into a piece of art to help raise needed funds for Pro Arts. Reluctantly, I selected a door chunk, not knowing what I was going to do with it. Using photography as my primary medium, I hadn’t had the need for wooden substrates. Over the coming weeks, I came up with and rejected several ideas. I eventually figured out what I wanted to do, and my first mixed media piece, Door on Door, was born.

It, and over 100 others, will be up for auction this Saturday evening, 6–9 p.m. There will be hors d’oeuvres by Greenleaf Platters, beer, cocktails, music, portraits, silent and live auctions, and a new auctioneer this year. Also, sponsorships are available in advance of the event for $100. If you sponsor an artist, you’ll receive reserved privileges at the event. All the money goes to Pro Arts.

I had the opportunity to see some of the other pieces and I’m amazed at what some of the artists were able to come up with. I’m excited to see what happens at the auction! So come say hello, have a snack, and place your bid.

Update: Pro Arts’ director bought this piece.