Earth, Wind & Fire at Kaleid

Bay Area artists Dotti Cichon and Jamila Rufaro have a joint exhibition, Earth Wind & Fire at Kaleid this month in downtown San Jose, California. The show focuses on the use of natural and weathered materials, rworn and rusted materials, silk papers and metalics. I was so happy to attend the Aritsts’ Reception which coincided with Kaleid’s fabulous Two-Buck Tuesdays!

Artist Dotti Cichon at Kaleid, 88 S 4th Street, San Jose, California.

Reception

Dotti Cichon’s silk panels have beautiful abstracted patterns printed from her manipulated digital photographs of global architecture. They can be worn as scarves as well  (I’m a proud owner of one not depicted here).

In this gold leafed panel Dotti Cichon  strikes an elegant balance between the organic, “worm-holed” treatment and the sumptuous gold finish.

This copper-leafed textile is another beautiful metallic treatment of an organic feeling surface.

Here is a detail of silver leafed papers, some with remnants of calligraphy from the silver kimono assemblage below.

Silver kimono assemblage.

Kimono Angel assemblage by Jamila Rufaro and Dotti Cichon.

Book art by Jamila Rufaro is inspired by imaginary sea life and Cortez. I have one of here pieces from this series that was exhibited at Sanchez 50/50 2017!

I love the forms that Jamila Rufaro has created manipulating book pages!

Such a Fascinating interactive sculpture with video depicting the origins of the cosmos by Dotti Cichon.

 

Studio Visit with Shannon Amidon

Shannon Amidon Studio Visit - photo Marie Cameron 2015

I was so happy to enjoy a visit with artist Shannon Amidon in her San Jose studio preparing for her upcoming show, Diary of a Naturalist at TechShop 300 S Second St
San Jose, CA 95113  where she is currently artist in residence – the opening reception is Friday, September 4 from 7 -10 pm with live music by Mark Camp!

Shannon Amidon Studio Visit - Diary of a Naturalist prep- photo Marie Cameron 2015

In this series Amidon has used laser cutting tools to create artwork inspired by Victorian naturalists, exquisite silhouettes cut away from the top layer of vintage book covers.

Shannon Amidon Studio Visit - mile's o book covers - photo Marie Cameron 2015

I adore the period feel of these pieces and am quite taken by how environmentally friendly  they are too.

Shannon Amidon Studio Visit - Back Plate - photo Marie Cameron 2015

Here’s a sample of the back  in which a wooden panel has been applied to provide a secure base for hanging hardware.

Shannon Amidon Studio Visit -  insect silhouettes - photo Marie Cameron 2015

I love this array of laser cut insects in front of one of her encaustic paintings featuring a silhouette of a tree. No matter which medium Amidon is working with, there is a strong voice running throughout, a respect and love of nature, of materials and of the silhouetted form – a modern Victorian perhaps?

Shannon Amidon Studio Visit -  entomology - photo Marie Cameron 2015

Here the insects are pinned to a wall like an entomologist had passed through…

Shannon Amidon Studio Visit - butterflies and beetles photo Marie Cameron 2015

…maybe one had.

Shannon Amidon Studio Visit - still life - photo Marie Cameron 2015

Oh, and a biologist too.

Shannon Amidon Studio Visit - etched glass bottles- photo Marie Cameron 2015

These lovely specimen bottles were also laser etched by Amidon at TechShop.

Shannon Amidon Studio Visit - book planters- photo Marie Cameron 2015

So much to discover in Amidon’s studio – like these planters she’s created out of vintage books…

Shannon Amidon Studio Visit - cascades of creative paper work- photo Marie Cameron 2015

…and cascades of printed pages in a variety of different treatments.

Shannon Amidon Studio Visit - Inspiration Wall - photo Marie Cameron 2015

It’s always fascinating to study an artist’s inspiration wall – it turns out someone was a ballerina!

Shannon Amidon Studio Visit - Wall of Tools- photo Marie Cameron 2015

A ballerina with a wall of power tools – my kind of artist!

Marie Cameron visiting Shannon Amidon Studio  - photo Marie Cameron 2015

I’m really looking forward to the reception – I dare say there will be more than a few red dots! the exhibition will run until September 25 and Amidon will be teaching some classes at TechShop too!