Julia Couzens
#idigress

and

John Yoyogi Fortes
Feral Re-Cognition

September 7 - October 28, 2017

Opening Reception:
Thursday, September 14 from 5 to 7pm

#idigress
New Work by Julia Couzens

Julia Couzens' ontological approach to art making is predicated on a speculative internal logic and draws from both fine art and craft traditions. Pulling from stockpiles of commonplace materials such as blankets, ropes, wire, and thread, she constructs objects that are an amalgamation of drawing, painting, assemblage, and sculpture.  These new mixed media constructions are introspective contemplations of aspirational consumerism, high and low art, and our sensibilities about what is valued.

Couzens received her MFA from UC Davis. Her work is widely collected nationally and internationally by several private and public collections including the Yale University Art Gallery, Achenbach Foundation of Graphic Art, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, Crocker Art Museum, Equitable Life in New York, Hewlett Packard in Dublin Ireland, Oakland Museum and Weatherspoon Art Museum.

Feral Re-Cognition
New Work by John Yoyogi Fortes

John Yoyogi Fortes' paintings are built by a layering of psychological and physical properties translated through paint. Appropriated images are sometimes used and create a subtle off kilter familiarity. These icons and pop culture references which Fortes employs are transformed into living beings that are human, vulnerable and open. His work breaks down the superficial barriers that corral living things into separate categories. Weakness is strength, everything becomes beautiful and connected.

Fortes studied at California State University Fresno. His work is collected extensively across the United States and abroad including the Asian American Art Centre of New York, Farley Blackman of London, Nevada Museum of Art of Reno, Crocker Art Museum, Kronenberger Bergoyne LLP of San Francisco, The Raley's Corporation, Eric Kent Wine Cellars, Babilonia Wilner Foundation of Berkeley, and many more. In January Fortes will be an artist in residence at the prestigious Bemis Center for contemporary Art in Omaha Nebraska.