Celestial/terrestrial April 29, 2011

GROUP ART SHOW
GENERAL RELEASE
Show Title: CELESTIAL/TERRESTRIAL

ARTISTS:

JON CARLING (joncarling.com)
DAVE HIGGINS (dwhiggins.com)
OBI KAUFMANN (obikaufmann.com)
ALEX ROSMARIN (alexrosmarin.org)
DAVID SEILER (victorianrat.squarespace.com)
ALISON THARP (alisontharp.com)

Show Dates: April 29th through May 26th, 2011
Opening Reception: Friday April 29th, 7pm to 10pm
First Thursday Reception and Music: Thursday, May 5th,
Quiet Countries (www.quietcountries.com) 8pm.

Gallery hours
10am to 11pm, Monday and Wednesday
12pm to 5pm, Friday and Saturday
Closed Tuesday and Thursday

Press Contact, Obi Kaufmann, 925-951-7501
oaklandsweetart.wordpress.com

Information

Self described as "Creaturists," these Oakland artists have banded together to present their imaginative illustrations of all beastie things that might soar or crawl. Detailed graphic styles that oscillate between the overtly figurative and expressionist-like, material-mastery define the crew. Themes and subject matter range among the assembled team from the dream-like and the mythological to the rendered figures of observed models. This show is conceived of as the beginning to a much larger project, uniting this group of artists in a soon to be published catalog of works.

Jon Carling graduated in 2002 from Oakland's CCA with a degree in illustration. He aims to balance his art, equally interpreting the way he saw life as a child with the way he sees life today. He has shown at We Artspace and Fort Gallery, both in Oakland, as well as Mendalson Gallery in Pittsburgh, PA. Most recently he was the weekly illustrator for the Berkeley Times.

Dave Higgins has worked as an Art Director for Mattel Toys and began showing his art in galleries in 2005. He has recently showed at Zza's wine Gallery, the Hive Gallery and at Old Crow Tattoo in Oakland. He will be having a solo show of his work at Levende in Oakland in July.

Obi Kaufmann has been showing and curating shows for other artists through www.oaklandsweetart.wordpress.com in the Bay Area for over five years. Recent solo shows of his own paintings include Five Points Art House, Hotel Biron and Bedlam in Seattle. He currently runs Live Art Wednesdays for Levende in Oakland.

Alex Rosmarin has had recent shows of his drawings and paintings at Swee(t)Art Drawing Gallery and at Zza's Gallery. From his website: "Drawing from life is to my art what sleeping, eating, and regular exercise are to my body. I've gone to at least one three-hour life session a week for the past fifteen years."

David Seiler makes paintings that cross genres and speak to hugely able graphic eye. He currently runs Victorian Rat Gallery in Oakland and has had recent shows in LA and is gearing up for two solo shows at Levende and Zza's this summer.

Alison Tharp paints scenes, dramas and characters that seem alive. From her website: "I often hear myself thanking someone for telling me what my painting is about. It's how I work, I love a good mystery. I love the dice roll of two unrelated objects getting married on the page and making us laugh."

QUIET COUNTRIES, performing on May 5th at Five Points Art House. Portland, Oregon singer/songwriter Leb Borgerson brings a full band to begin a small California Tour on the night of San Francisco's First Thursday art event. Donations will be taken for the touring bands.