alameda

Autobody Fine Art (the gallery hosting Matt136’s exhibition this February) will have their first juried show, celebrating the ecology and geographic diversity of Alameda island and opening in conjunction with Earth Day.

The island that Alameda occupies was originally a peninsula connected to Oakland. Much of the peninsula was low-lying and marshy, but on higher ground the peninsula and adjacent parts of what is now downtown Oakland were home to one of the largest coastal oak forests in the world. The area was therefore called “Encinal,” Spanish for “oak grove.” “Alameda” is Spanish for “grove of poplar trees” or “tree-lined avenue,” and was chosen in 1853 by popular vote.

Autobody FA are willing to boost local artists in this show, they’re now soliciting submissions that obviously focus on the ecological and environmental issues that affect Alameda Island (any kind of direct representation, metaphorical or allegorical abstraction, performance or installation, or, perhaps, a more didactic response to preservation, pollution and waste management). It’s up to you, but Autobody Fine Art encourages you to think “outside the box,” and surprise us with your creativity. Also video art, performance and installation concepts are more than welcome (and probably with more chances). The submissions end next March 10th (u have more than 2 months then…. and 15$ to pay).

For more details on the formats & sizes go to their website. Accepted artists will be notified by March 20th. Installation will begin on April 5th. Accepted installation artists will meet prior to installation and will be given a reserved space in the gallery for their work.

Matt Richie (not the famous Britt painter) is a talented American artist who’s getting his first solo show at the Autobody gallery in Alameda. It will feature works from all the mediums and styles he works in & there will be about 300 pieces in this show.

The exhibition will feature a variety of works ranging from minutely detailed drawings that elicit Renaissance comparisons with Durer and Michelangelo, to brightly colored assemblages that carry complicated meaning within their formal arrangement. A cast of recurring characters appear throughout the artwork including a plump little rat, symbolic images of the artist himself, flying toasters, hand grenades and Michael Jackson alongside numbers and text which in their specificity allude to a greater narrative.

repair_Man_two_by_matt136 — Repair man by matt136

For this show Matt136 will be producing a site-specific mural within the space which will tie in with the multiple other elements occupying the gallery walls. As the viewer attempts to take in the installation as a whole, this rhythm will be interrupted as the eye alights on individual art pieces that captivate through charm and idiosyncrasy.

This skate lover’s work is obsessive and extremely focused but retains a playful, almost cartoon-like quality that allows Matt136 to address complicated personal and social issues while still seducing his audience. Drowning drunks, insecure parents and a variety of levels of frustration are all mirrored in his characters, as is a celebration of the diversity of emotions and challenges that face both the artist and his audience.

The exhibition goes from January 8th until February 7th, 2010. There will be an opening reception the day before from 7:00pm – 10:00pm, so if you pass by California … you know what to visit!

Future/Tense @ Autobody Fine Art – Alameda

Matt136 @ Autobody Fine Art – Alameda