For Immediate Release: 7/5/17
ASiF 2017 STUDENT & TEACHER SHOW RECEPTION
Opening Reception: Friday, July 14, 5 - 7pm
Featuring Student & Teacher Artwork in Various Media
Contact: Amanda Paoletti, Owner/Director
Artists' Studio in the Foothills (ASiF)
Visual Arts Center of Nevada County
940 Idaho Maryland Road, Grass Valley, CA 95945
530-274-7000 or 530-210-3162
www.asifstudios.com
For JPG images, please email:
ASiF 2017 STUDENT & TEACHER SHOW:
On Friday, July 14th the Artists' Studio in the Foohtills (ASiF) invites the public to celebrate its 2017 Student & Teacher Show. The event will feature a gallery exhibition of artworks in a wide range of media by over 30 students and their teachers. Join the artists at ASiF this Friday for a wine and food reception in the center's main gallery from 5 - 7pm.
Each year ASiF gives students an opportunity to exhibit their art with their instructors in a gallery setting. Many of the students in these shows have been studying with their teachers for several years and are thriving in what has become much like a mentoring program for advanced students.
"It's wonderful to see the progression of our students and to support them as they become more confident and comfortable with the idea of 'putting it out there' for the public to see." says Amanda Paoletti, ASiF owner and director. "I am stunned by the work in the show this year... Our students are creating art that is seriously gallery worthy."
One student artwork in particular, is that of ceramic sculpture student, Patty Eacobacci with her piece, "March Forth". The eight foot long wall mounted figurative ceramic art work consists of a uniformed drum major followed by seven marching children. The piece depicts the famous 1950 LIFE Magazine photograph entitled, "The Drum Major" by Alfred Eisenstaedt. People from around the world know the photo from its feature in the 1955 New York Museum of Modern Art "Family of Man" Exhibition and soft cover catalogue that so many of us grew up with on our living room coffee tables.
Patty Eacobacci first saw Eisenstaedt's "The Drum Major" as an 8 year old child in the "Family of Man" catalogue. She remembers countless hours pouring over the images, and the visceral experience of them. Eisenstaedt's "The Drum Major" was the photo that inspired her in particular and is the one that would continue to influence her work throughout her life as an amateur photographer and videographer, and now as a ceramic sculptor.
It is no surprise that this photo by Alfred Eisenstaedt captured the imagination of a child all those years ago. Eisenstaedt was a photographer known for his uncanny ability to capture candid expressions and moments of sentimentality, passion or dismay - creating some of the most storied photos of all time. The photo caught the attention of many over the years, including former President Bill Clinton, who when offered any Eisenstaedt print as thanks for a sitting he and his wife and daughter granted the then-94-year-old photographer on Martha's Vineyard in 1993, the president reportedly chose this one.
Eacobacci's "March Forth" sculpture perfectly captures the spirit of this timeless photograph... A band of joyous children marching, squinty eyed after the Drum Major toward the sun. Upon further inspection of the sculpture one can see that the she has perfectly captured the spirit of each and every one of the eight marching characters depicted in the photo. And while one may assume that the black, plank-like background on which the artist has chosen to mount the sculpted characters to be an arbitrary decision, it was in fact a careful choice by the artist in an effort to create contrast between the sheer joy of the scene and the darkness from which the characters march. This choice brings the artist's own narrative to the piece and expresses the importance and power the photograph holds for her. "It
speaks of the innocence of children, their bright faith, confidence of true leadership and the beauty the two emote when combined", explains Eacobacci. "Though through a personal witnessing of the healing of one's 'child self', this sculpture is about the beginning of a journey from out of the darkness, into the light".
Eacobacci began her work as a student at ASiF early last year, participating in a day long Mixed Media Art Workshop with Eileen Blodgett. She then joined Claudia Jeffers and Denise Wey in their team taught, "Get Your Clay On" Workshop at which point she realized quickly that clay and sculpture was her "thing". She continued her work in clay with Claudia Jeffers' three part series of instruction on figurative sculpture, a series beginning in the fall with "Sculpting the Male and Female Torso", in the winter, "Sculpting the Face and Head", and in the spring, "Creating Action in the Clay Figure." Through her figurative clay work with Jeffers' at ASiF, Eacobacci has jumped into sculpting whole heartedly and recently began participating in ASiF's weekly Figure Drawing classes offered by Dani Grimes. "It's been a wonderful experience to have teachers and mentors such as Claudia, Dani and the other teachers at ASiF to nurture and encourage me through this never ending process of self expression, healing and growth as an artist." says Eacobacci.
"March Forth" is one of
over 75 artworks by more than 30 featured students and their teachers.
The exhibit showcases works created in ASiF programs such as The Mud Hut & ARTsCOOL, the ASiF Painters' Guild, Figure Drawing and Figure Sculpture and media based classes with resident instructors Eileen Blodgett in acrylic painting, drawing, mixed media and printmaking; Cheri Guerrette in watercolor and mixed media; Dani Grimes in figure drawing; Sharon Griffiths in encaustic painting; Claudia Jeffers in figurative ceramic sculpture and Denise Wey in acrylics, drawing and ceramics. The Student & Teacher show will be on display through August 5th.
ASiF Gallery is open Tuesday - Saturday from 11am - 4pm. Visit the current exhibits page at asifstudios.com for a full list of participating artists.
A VISUAL ARTS COMMUNITY RESOURCE...
The Artist's Studio in the Foothills is a 4000 sq ft fully equipped studio arts center, featuring private and shared studio space, three community classrooms and a gallery to promote resident, local and visiting artists.
ASiF is committed to the support and development of a center for visual artists - offering student artists a place to learn and professional artists opportunity to support themselves as working artists through teaching and gallery sales.
For information on classes, workshops & upcoming events and exhibits, call the art center at 530-274-7000, visit them on facebook or the ASiF website at asifstudios.com
STUDENT & TEACHER SHOW PARTICIPATING ARTISTS...
RESIDENT INSTRUCTORS:
Eileen Blodgett - Acrylic Painting, Printmaking & Mixed Media
Sharon Griffiths - Encaustic Painting
Dani Grimes - Figure Drawing
Cheri Guerette - Watercolor Painting
Claudia Jeffers - Figurative Ceramic Sculpture
Denise Wey - Acrylic Painting and Ceramics
