Over the past 35 years, Oakland-based artist Kerry Damianakes has amassed an extensive body of unconventional and playful works directly informed by her desire to reproduce the everyday. Damianakes remains primarily committed to an ongoing series of velvety oil pastel drawings - faithful tributes to foods that alternately elicit a state of well-being or decadence.
Read MoreVisual Oasis: Works from Creative Growth
We were recently commissioned by the Capital City Arts Initiative to write the following exhibition essay for Visual Oasis: Works from Creative Growth. Visual Oasis brings together a diverse selection of works by Creative Growth artists employing various approaches to drawing, painting, and fiber art at CCAI’s Courthouse Gallery…
Read MoreUntitled, Marlon Mullen, acrylic on canvas, 30" x 40", 2014
Wynn Newhouse Exhibition
Work by William Scott and Kerry Damianakes of Creative Growth, and Marlon Mullen of NIAD, is currently on view at The Palitz Gallery in NYC. The three artists were selected as 2014 Wynn Newhouse grant recipients; for the first time since its inception, this exhibition features the work of several artists represented by progressive art studios. In addition, George Widener, Park McArthur, and Carol Es are also recipients. The Selection Committee for this year included Gavin Brown of Gavin Brown's Enterprise; Domenic Iacono, director, SUArt Galleries; Mia Locks, curator, MOMA PS1; Nancy Rosen, art consultant; and Rusty Shackleford, artist.
Kerry Damianakes (Born 1949, Alameda, CA) has exhibited widely at Creative Growth and other venues, including the California Culinary Academy (San Francisco), Rena Bransten Gallery (San Francisco), Oakland International Airport, and Gyeonggi Museum of Modern Art (Korea).
Marlon Mullen (Born 1963, Richmond, CA) has shown work previously in the traveling exhibition Create, co-curated by Larry Rinder and Matthew Higgs, that originated at the Berkeley Art Museum, JTT Gallery (NYC), the 2014 NADA Art Fair, Lax Studio Museum of Harlem, White Columns (NYC), Jack Fischer Gallery (San Francisco), NIAD, and various other venues.
William Scott (Born 1964, San Francisco, CA) has recently shown in a solo exhibition at White Columns and has been featured previously at Gavin Brown's Enterprise (NYC), The Armory Show (NYC), and the 2011 NADA Art Fair at Art Basel (Miami).
Untitled, William Scott, acrylic and ink on paper, 2014, 36" x 48"
Grilled Cheese Chips Cottage Cheese for Lunch for Labor Day, Kerry Damianakes, Prismacolor and ink on paper, 2013, 15" x 22"
2014 Wynn Newhouse Awards Exhibition
April 14 - June 12, 2015
Carol Es - Kerry Damianakes - Park McArthur - Marlon Mullen - William Scott - George Widener
The Palitz Gallery
11 East 61st Street, NYC