Mercury 20 Gallery
25 Grand Ave. (at Broadway)
Oakland, CA 94612
Exhibition dates: November 7— November 29, 2008
Please join us for the Opening Reception: Friday, November 7 from 6:00--9:00pm (in conjunction with First Friday/Oakland Art Murmur).
The meditative and visionary work of East Bay artists Tarra Lyons and Anna Vaughan comes together in a joint exhibition of new work titled Reverie.
Tarra Lyons, Cherries for pMoan, 2008, oil on panel, photo by Tarra Lyons
Tarra Lyons is fascinated by imagined conversations and hidden worlds that transpire among fanciful, anthropomorphic animals. Lyons' subtle, tightly rendered works composed of natural imagery—birds, deer, trees, and sky—are inspired by the unadulterated truth she finds in beings untouched by technology, ethic, or status. For this show, the artist presents drawings and oil paintings that vibrate with deeply-felt symbol, rich color, texture and surface to create a resonant visual poetry.
Anna Vaughan, Bee Keepers, 72 inches x 44 inches, gouache and acrylic on wood, 2008, photo by Anna Vaughan
Anna Vaughan's multi-media work responds to memories of childhood summers on her grandparents' Missouri farm. Vaughan's early experience with the complex and delicate relationships between plants, animals, insects and humans gave an insight that continues to inform her work as an artist today. For Reverie, Vaughan will present paintings and sculpture that contemplates and shares some of the profound and simple experience of living close to the land in harmony with nature and with great respect for her smallest creatures.
Mercury 20 also presents an ongoing group exhibition in its back gallery. The artwork changes monthly and features new work from the gallery artists. Mercury 20 Gallery is an artist-run gallery in the heart of downtown Oakland; part of the emerging arts district in the Broadway/Telegraph corridor. Gallery hours are Friday, 4:00pm – 7:00pm and Saturday, 12:00 noon - 3:00 pm, and by appointment.