MarinMOCA Fall National Juried Exhibition August 25, 2012

The Marin Museum of Contemporary Art presents its Fall National Exhibition, juried this year by Renny Pritikin, Director of The Richard Nelson Gallery and The Fine Arts Collection, University of California, Davis. Pritikin selected 40 artworks from hundreds of entries to design an exhibition that reflects the strongest offerings from American artists. The juror requested an open theme, which gives artists the opportunity to enter their best work, and the diversity of artworks will impress any visitor. Several Bay Area artists will be included in the exhibition. Two mixed media artworks by Oakland artist Monica Lundy explore the ways in which mug shots identify their subjects as criminals long before the due process of law. Titled only by the visible portions of their booking numbers, 0-3559 and 0-3082 represent two women convicted of prostitution in the 1940s. As Lundy explains, the use of both gritty, pulverized charcoal and glittery mica flakes in the artwork represent the “dualities of seduction and ruggedness inherent in the lives of the subjects.” A mysterious and sublime landscape by photographer Michael Strong, of Santa Cruz, depicts and is entitled Point Lobos, a location on the California coast. The sepia toned silver print captures a combination of haze and sunshine breaking through a maze of barren tree limbs over a patch of ground crackling with dry twigs and leaves. The image is simultaneously breathtakingly beautiful and eerily calm, suggesting a type of isolation some would welcome, but others would fear. Konstantin Zlatev, of San Francisco, makes peaceful music out of instruments of war with Chifte Kavali (Double Barrel Flute). Zlatev describes the artwork as the “transformation of a shot gun into a harmonious flute that plays music as a symbol of our intellect and humanity. The programmable robot charts and musically depicts the rise and fall of US arms exports.” The artworks will inspire awe with their beauty, and productive discussion from their content and subject matter. Don't miss the opening reception on August 25 from 5-7pm. At 6pm the juror will discuss his selections for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. Museum hours: Wed - Sun 11am-4pm