Olivet University students headed across the Golden Gate Bridge to participate in the Art Works Downtown Exhibition in Rafael, CA. The new “Still Lifes” exhibition in the main gallery coincides with the Fridays Art Walk, which is curated by Jennifer Farris and Rab Terry of STUDIO Gallery in San Francisco. "The gallery showcases the work of Bay Area artists in fine art, crafts and home furnishings. STILL LIFES features artists, working in painting, pastel, photography, textile, ceramics, metals and mixed-media."
The exhibition's them explores the use of still life's in traditional and modern forms. “Traditionally, still lifes have been used to convey status or symbolic and allegorical messages, to display curiosities, and to provide a view of everyday objects. Modern still lifes have evolved from pure representation to an exploration of composition, color, line and form.
One of the exhibitionists at the gallery included Olivet College of Art & Design instructor Patricia Oji, who showcased her painting alongside forty-one other Bay Area artists. Oji instructs graphic design and typography courses at Olivet University’s art and design program. Her other art works were showcased at past events at the Marin Arts Open exhibition.
Art and design students attending the show feasted their eyes on a variety of sculptures, paintings, and photography. Artists' work included sculptured wall plaques, oil paintings of antique toys, mixed media using text from newsprints, architectural blueprints, dictionary pages, and calligraphy, and photography of porcelain figurines and still lifes.
"This is my first time to see an exhibition in the US," said Cherry Zhou, a first year student from China at OCAD. "When I viewed these art works at such a close range, I was amazed that things can be described so beautifully in an image. It was a new and magical world to me."
"And after talking with some artists, I deepened my thought that art is hidden in life and anyone can be an artist if he/she open their eyes and discovers the beauty," added Zhou.
Other participating artists include:
Carol Allen, Joan Ambrosini, Patricia Ancona, Jack Androvich, Georgia Annwell, Ilene Avery, Cary Bailey, Raquel Baldocchi, Kate Barrengos, Patricia Blau, Beverly Brown, Judy Calder, Beth Changstrom, Gary Comoglio, Dusty Divine, Vicky Divine, Pat Doherty, Donna Duguay, Derek Farrocco, Victoria Fernandez, Angela Gonzalez, Griffe Griffiths, Sherreme Gurtler, Jeanne Hauser, Megan Kenyon, Judith Klausenstock, Mark David Manning, Mary Martin DeShaw, Barbara McLain, Sonia Melnikova-Raich, Courtney Michalik, Sherrill Miller, Julie Nunes, Patricia Oji, Elizabeth Saucier, Rose Steiner, Tom Swearingen, Ann Switzer, Mary Valente, Judith Williams, Melissa Woodburn, Stefanie Jules Zimmerman