50 FACES

September 21, 2019 - November 10, 2019
Opening Reception: September 21, 5pm - 8pm

MarinMOCA, in collaboration with Associazione Naonis and the Italian Film Festival presents 50 FACES.

Experience this stunning exhibit of contemporary mosaic artwork from the Scuola Mosaicisti del Friuli in Italy. In its first US appearance, the collection showcases the work of young mosaic artists who enhance the ancient tradition of mosaic art with innovative methods and materials. Curator Guglielmo Zanette explains: “50 FACES is a unique blend of art, technique, tradition and culture. It is an exquisite innovation in the contemporary art scene.” These compelling artworks use a variety of media including bone, shells, metal and fiber, which are artfully combined with the traditional mosaic material of marble and smalto. Viewers will delight in the expressive personality and character captured in each of these mosaic portraits.

The 50 FACES collection includes Northern California luminaries Robin Williams, Carlos Santana, Sean Penn and Steve Jobs. There are icons of art, culture and music including Frida Kahlo, Yayoi Kusama, J.M. Basquiat and Jimi Hendrix. Viewers will marvel at celebrity super-heros like Angelina Jolie and Robert Downey Jr. and actors like Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Exhibit Admission is $10 for adults and $8 for seniors 70+ and students 18-21

Docent tours every Thursday and Saturday from September 26 through November 9.

The public is invited to the opening reception on Saturday, September 21, 5pm - 8pm. Enjoy live music on the lawn, food, libations and kids activities.

Presenting sponsor: Carson Wealth
Additional support provided by: Fenwick Foundation, Milagro Foundation, Robin Eber, Dimensions In Travel, Servino Ristorante, Cristoforo Colombo Club of Marin.

Transcend

August 10, 2019 - September 15, 2019
Juror Walk n' Talk: August 10, 4:30pm - 5pm
Opening Reception: August 10, 5pm - 7pm

Transcend offers visions of hope in uncertain times. Juried by Amy Owen, Curator at di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art, she explains “Through a diverse range of media, including painting, sculpture, and photography, the Artists of MarinMOCA offer compelling takes on nature, community, spirituality, and more. Taken as a whole, the exhibition prompts us to rise above the tumult of our everyday lives by inspiring moments of magic and escape, reflection and renewal, comfort and calm.” The show includes work from over 45 artists and will engage visitors of all ages.

Download the list of award-winners here.

Image detail “Essence Of Truth” by William Otton.

Hungry Ghosts

August 10, 2019 - September 15, 2019
Curator's Talk: August 10 at 3:30pm - 4pm
Opening Reception: August 10, 5pm-7pm

The Marin Museum of Contemporary Art presents “Hungry Ghosts,” an exhibit that explores the intersection between chronic heartache and prescriptions for resilience. Produced and curated by “A Place Of Her Own” Founder Cynthia Tom and Assistant Curator Maggie Yee, the show includes mixed media works by 14 women artists who examine their ancestral family patterns and stories through their artwork. Ms. Tom explains: “PLACE is an organization with a powerful mission to support and promote the heartfelt aspirations of vibrant women. In order to change, thrive and lead, women must first acknowledge their significance in the world. Out of radical self-care comes a growing sense of power and clarity of one’s priorities. To have a place of one’s own is to proclaim that each and every woman matters.” MarinMOCA invites the public to engage with the powerful narrative and artwork in “Hungry Ghosts.”

Participating Artists: Angela Bau, Frances Cachapero, Grace Hwang Lynch, Irene Wibawa, Julie Anderson, Lisa Rodondi, Manon Bogerd Wada, Natalie Sacramento, Paz Zamora, Reiko Fujii, Cynthia Tom, Maggie Yee, Sue Tom, Tomo Hirai.

Additional Program:
Art Talk: August 24, 1pm - 4pm. Artist Talk and Q & A with the artists who will share their personal journeys and art process.

Funded in Part by: California Arts Council, Do A Little Foundation and individual donors.

Image detail: “Experiment D15” by Irene Wibawa

Figurative Configurations

August 10, 2019 - September 15, 2019
Opening Reception: August 10, 5pm - 7pm

Figurative Configurations is a solo show by Artist Member Judith Williams whose work explores women’s obsession with body image, make-up and clothing. Through her whimsical figurative paintings she draws attention to the female psyche, investigating how it manifests through behavior and in response to our patriarchal society. Encaustic is her medium of choice for its beautiful translucency, which allows her to conceal, or reveal, key areas in her mixed media compositions. Judith explains “A few vague parts add mystery to the image, and it is the hidden layers, or perhaps the subconscious, that intrigues me.” We invite the public to delve into these playful, captivating paintings, on view in the Second Floor Gallery.

Image detail: "Magic"

Content Matters

June 15, 2019 - August 4, 2019
Opening Reception: June 15, 5pm - 7pm

Jack Fischer will present a gallery “walk and talk” on June 15 at 4:30pm. 

Content Matters is an exhibit of 47 artists who use their media to examine and illuminate our turbulent times. The show is juried by well-known San Francisco gallerist, Jack Fischer, who explains: “In an age of non-stop politically-charged circumstances and events, art can help us understand, and make sense of, the world around us.”  From “in-your-face” imagery to more nuanced content, visitors will encounter artwork that is a response to the challenging issues of our time.

San Francisco gallerist Jack Fischer has been exhibiting artists for over 15 years. According to Mr. Fischer, "The work I exhibit is from the heart and the gut.” Jack Fischer Gallery shows work from a diverse group of artists working in many genres including contemporary, visionary, self-taught, and intuitive. As the gallery’s program has expanded, the emphasis has evolved from a strictly overarching interest in narrative work to include both abstraction and conceptual work. The Gallery has two locations in San Francisco.

Download the award winning entries here

Download the list of accepted entries here

Image detail from: “The Bee and Jupiter” by Rachel Kalman

The In-Between

June 15, 2019 - August 4, 2019
Opening Reception: June 15, 5pm - 7pm

Experience the mystery and beauty of Novato’s landscape through the lens of Photographer Alun Wyld. Wyld’s lush imagery captures the sacred places in the natural world, and transports viewers to the realm that lies between reality and spirituality. Alun adheres to the philosophy of “Animism”--that everything has a spirit and a consciousness, from the tiniest microorganism on earth to the planets in the heavens to the whole of the universe itself. He explores this philosophy with his art and seeks to show that there is no distinction between magic and mundane. In the natural world all is magical and all is mundane, simultaneously.  All photographs were taken in the Novato area in the Spring of 2019. This exhibit is free to the public.

Image: “The Eternal”

Ron Collins: Selections from his Collection

June 15, 2019 - August 4, 2019
Opening Reception: June 15, 5pm - 7pm

Catch a glimpse of the mind behind one of the North Bay's most interesting art collections. Philanthropist Ron Collins has a unique approach to collecting art. He has amassed an eclectic collection of artwork, representing diverse interests in ideas, media and style. “I choose art that speaks to me… art that is honest, mysterious, fun, edgy, hopeful, and important to each artist. Art is my pleasure and collecting is my way of acknowledging the artist and honoring visual art forms at every level.” MarinMOCA’s exhibition is a rare public unveiling of some of Mr. Collins favorite examples of portraits and figures.

Mr. Collins’ collection represents a life-long love of the arts. With over a 1000 works of art, he never tires of discovering new artists and their work. His collection is housed at his 24-acre Petaluma property, a 15,000 square foot French Chateau-style residence. Ron has transformed the property into a private display of his personal art collection, which includes an outdoor sculpture garden.

The public is invited to view the collection and meet Mr. Collins during his 4pm art talk just prior to the Opening Reception on June 15, from 5pm - 7pm. This exhibit is free to the public.

10th Annual Altered Book Exhibit and Fundraiser

April 27, 2019 - June 1, 2019

Watch this fun video and get a taste of the exhibit!

The book becomes art at MarinMOCA’s 10th Annual Altered Book Exhibit and Fundraiser. Marin’s most unique art show features over 180 original book art objects, created by artists who combine compelling messages with creative technique. Fans and art collectors will see an innovative display of Altered Books. Mary Austin, Founder of the San Francisco Center for the Book, and Donna Seager, of Seager Gray Gallery in Mill Valley will jury this year’s exhibition for 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, honorable mentions, and a 10th anniversary award honoring event founder and artist, Eleanor Murray. The Eleanor Murray award is a $200 cash prize and will be made to the artist submitting a work which is beautifully-executed and demonstrates a unique and exceptional artistic vision. The artworks are eagerly sought by book art aficionados, who return year after year to see the show.

We invite the public to view and bid on their favorite works during the silent auction from April 27 – June 1. The Closing Party and Live Auction will be held on June 1, 5-8 pm, when all the book art objects will be auctioned to the highest bidder. MarinMOCA is extremely grateful for the artists who are donating their work. This event is MarinMOCA’s biggest fundraiser of the year and all proceeds from the auction support our exhibitions and programming.

This year MarinMOCA is pleased to announce that we have again received a $15,000 challenge grant from the Donald O. and Ronald R. Collins Fund of the Marin Community Foundation. The challenge grant will match winning bids dollar for dollar up to $15,000, effectively doubling each winning bid!

Check out the Altered Book slide show here, then come to the museum to bid on your favorite pieces.

Image credit: “Withdrawn” by Brooke Holve

Body Language

April 27, 2019 - June 1, 2019
Saturday, April 27, 5pm - 7pm

MarinMOCA presents “Body Language,” new work by award-winning Artist Member Kathleen Lack.  “The human figure is my inspiration,” says Lack.  “Painting life is an energizing and spontaneous event for me.” Through her portraits and figurative work she renders body language in an informal, relaxed way, capturing the human spirit. Viewers will delight in Lack’s stunning and colorful paintings. The exhibit is on view April 27 - June 1 with an Opening Reception on April 27, 5pm - 7pm.

Image: Twin Peaks”, oil on canvas, 2018

Special Event: “The Art of Dance” on Friday, May 10, 5:30-7:30pm. Kathy Lack’s portraits of ballet dancers will be paired with a live performance by Marin Ballet dancers in the upstairs gallery at MarinMOCA. The event starts with an art talk with Kathleen Lack at 5:30pm, and the performance starts at 6pm. The exhibit and event are free to the public.

Viola Frey: Her Self

March 2, 2019 - April 21, 2019
Reception: March 2, 4-7pm

2019 marks the 15th anniversary of Viola Frey’s passing, so it’s the perfect time to mount an exhibition honoring her stature in the Bay Area art community and beyond. She is best known for her monumental sculptures, but "Viola Frey: Her Self" will present viewers with a more intimate, down-to-earth point of view. The exhibit will focus on Frey’s self-portraits in multiple mediums, from drawings to oil paintings to ceramics, and includes work that spans over four decades of her career. The artwork on display has personal significance to the artist, and even when life-sized (Ms. Frey was less than 5 feet tall), visitors will be able to look her in the eye.

Visitors will see works created with rich symbolism and iconography, including her work gloves, boots and flea market finds. Says Frey scholar Anita Ellis “It is a rare monographic exhibition that places the emphasis on the artist rather than the artwork. In "Viola Frey: Her Self," that is exactly what is being done. The viewer is asked not simply to examine the art of Viola Frey, but more pointedly to explore Viola Frey exploring her self."

The solo exhibition at MarinMOCA has been curated in conjunction with the Artists’ Legacy Foundation in Oakland, CA, and will be enhanced by loans from private collections. The public is invited to the Art Talk on Saturday, March 2, 4:00pm. Join Artists’ Legacy Foundation Co-Directors Cynthia de Bos and Julia Schwartz as they discuss Frey’s early artistic beginnings, influences in her practice, and bodies of work that inform Viola Frey: Her Self. The Opening Reception follows from 5:00 - 7:00pm. An exhibition catalog featuring an essay by Frey scholar Anita Ellis will be available for purchase.

Docent Tours: Wednesdays at 11:00am and Saturdays at 2:00pm, beginning on March 6.
Admission: $10 for adults, $8 for seniors 70+ and students 13-25.
Free for members and children under 13.

Viola Frey (1933—2004)
Over the course of her five-decade career, Viola Frey created boldly-colored figurative sculptures, paintings and works on paper that reflect on contemporary culture, power, and gender dynamics. While most closely aligned with the Bay Area Funk movement, Frey’s immense creative output delves into many aesthetic directions. She used a distinctive, personal iconography and palette to depict human figures arrayed among objects of antiquity, flea market collectibles, and interior landscapes.

Frey was born in 1933 in Lodi, California. In 1951, she moved to Oakland and attended the California College of Arts and Crafts (CCAC) and completed her BFA in 1955. She pursued an MFA in Painting at Tulane University, and studied under George Rickey, Katherine Choy, and visiting artist Mark Rothko. Frey taught at CCAC from 1964 to 1999. During her tenure, she served as the Ceramics Department chair and continuously championed the ceramic medium as an art form.

Among her many accomplishments, Frey was the recipient of two National Endowment for the Arts fellowships, a Masters of the Medium for Ceramics from the James Renwick Alliance, and an honorary Doctorate from CCAC.

Image: Viola Frey, Double Self, 1978, ceramic and glazes, 64 x 20 x 18 1/2 inches (162.56 x 50.8 x 46.99 cm), ALF no. VF-0291CSS. 2019 © Artists’ Legacy Foundation / Licensed by ARS, New York. Photograph by Michael Tropea.

Terrain

March 2, 2019 - April 21, 2019
Reception: March 2, 5-7pm

MarinMOCA presents “Terrain,” an exhibition of paintings in the Second Floor Gallery by MarinMOCA artist member, Janet Bogardus. Janet’s work invites the viewer to contemplate the earth’s surface from above. At once landscapes and maps, these paintings do not portray specific locales. Instead they examine the way we look at our environment - and consider our tendency to impose order and human aesthetics on nature.

The paintings also celebrate the joys of mapmaking and landscape art, but also hint at their limits. Using collage fragments, flowing washes and sweeping brush marks, Bogardus’ paintings suggest the uncontrollable flow of nature. This exhibit is free to the public.

Open to Interpretation
Artists of MarinMOCA Exhibition

January 5, 2019 - February 24, 2019
Reception: January 5, 4:30 - 7:00pm

A work of art has the power to evoke a memory or story which is different for each viewer depending on their background and life experience. In “Open to Interpretation,” the artists of MarinMOCA have created works with layers of meaning, intent on starting a dialog between artist and viewer. With over 75 exhibiting artists, the show gives visitors the opportunity to study works that span many genres from figurative to visionary, from conceptual to landscape.

Download the list award winners here

Image credits:
"Ascension" by Debra Maddox
"Succulence" by Linda Larsen