Jenny Lemper - photography exhibit

Firehouse Gallery North
June 4 to July 2, 2013
OPening Night, Friday, June 14
7 - 9pm

1790 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley CA 94709

Jenny Lemper, Photography exhibit
"No Lines Between: The Georgians of Abkhazia and Samegrelo"

With the fall of the Soviet Union, the world’s map was dramatically reconfigured. The collapse set off conflict and turmoil in the Caucasus. Instability and uncertainty continue partially as a result of geopolitical strategizing by outside nations. A more hidden war has replaced the Cold War as East and West vie for influence and control. Access to Caspian oil and gas is of primary importance in the power struggle. Various disagreements block western-bound oil and gas transport except through the Republic of Georgia, a convenient land bridge between Azerbaijan’s Caspian coast and the Black Sea. Whoever has the most influence there can better control the western market. For this reason Georgia is being pressed diplomatically by the West and geographically by Russia. Three of Georgia’s former territories: South Ossetia, Kodori Valley, and Abkhazia are manned with Russian troops.

The 1992-93 Abkhazian/Georgian war pushed 45% of the population out of Abkhazia. Most were Georgians. Many have been allowed to return to their homes in Gali district; however, most live in Samegrelo on the Georgian side of the border. In 2010, I began the documentary project No Lines Between: The Georgians of Abkhazia and Samegrelo. It attempts to represent the people residing along the conflict border who are trying to live as a singular, undivided community despite the twenty year old division line running through it. Though the housing crisis affecting displaced people is key to this project, its scope widened in response to the web-like dynamism of the post-conflict environment. Subject matter has varied through out the process: from displaced people living in abandoned institutional buildings called collective centers, to those selected for new housing, to the larger community and landscape. To photograph in this community requires openness: to the people, to their history, struggles, and achievements. It requires a willingness to absorb all that is there as my own: the beauty, sadness, hope, regrets, frustrations, and determination. I keep my eyes alive, remembering to concentrate on the mood and aesthetic, the angles and shadows, and take the photographs. Each image represents a vast realization. Together, the photographs create an inclusive composite picture, an ever-expanding map of understanding.

Artists Bio:

Jennifer Lemper is a Californian artist experienced in painting, drawing, silkscreen, and film photography. In 2005 she received a BFA in photography from San Jose State University. She photographs in a subjective documentary style, focusing on the social, cultural, environmental, and political aspects of contemporary reality. Her work utilizes both spontaneous and deliberate methods and explores local as well as international occurrences. Previous projects include collaborating artistically with individuals in San Francisco to create images that investigate gender roles and sexuality and photographing New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Since 2010 she has been working on an ongoing project, documenting people affected by conflict on the Georgian/Abkhaz border.

Posted by: Julia Lazar
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YOUNG & LOCAL @ PUBLIC MARKET ART EXHIBIT

The next group of artists are graduates of an AP arts program straight out of Highschool.
We liked their art so much, we presented it to the Public Market marketing team, and they passed with flying colors.
Tom Franco and Julia Lazar have been invited to guest teach and workshop at Hillsdale Highschool in San Mateo, CA. It has been a great learning step for all involved and the Firehouse Art Co is happy to introduce these young  artists to the local community, thus creating a culture of openness and collaboration, in a public setting.
Thanks to the management and marketing team at Public Market Emeryville, there exists a spot where this fresh art can be viewed and enjoyed by locals of all walks of life.

Meet the artists exhibiting in the month of June 2013 at the Public Market in Emeryville:

Jenny Lee

The work in my concentration demonstrates the exploration of my idea by taking pictures of my family and myself. I used Sally Mann’s photos as a starting point to cover complex thoughts and hidden anger inside me. The mood I want to capture is heightened by the people expressing their fear or sadness while having great sunlight and shadows in the composition.

Alex Herzog

developed a love of photography through his other love of riding BMX. Evolving from simplistic action shots of biking and skateboarding, Alex broadened his style and now his photos includes a bit of everything. Photos are contrast and color corrected but never photoshopped. In fact, he doesn't even own photoshop.

Ava Donovan

is a senior in high school and is inspired by the world around her. She is finishing her second year in photography class and plans to major in Fine Arts with a concentration in Photography next year at University of California at Santa Cruz. Ava loves taking photographs of her friends and the little, unseen things in her life. She takes photographs of unique scenes yet captures simplicity too. Not only does Ava enjoy going on strolls in the city or venturing out on hikes and capturing everything seen but also loves planning photography shoots and working with her models.

Posted by: Julia Lazar
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FYLMKID STEVEN CHILLOUS SHORT WITH TOM FRANCO AND FIREHOUSE ART CO

About The Fylmkid Project

"My work has focused on co-creation.To create meaningful services and experiences for people. I am best at finding ways to tell the stories of who you are as an artist,individual or a company. Through the lense I hope to tell these stories in the narrative." Steven Chillous

Here is a short clip of a Firehouse Art Co event @ YBCA in San Francisco. 
Steven Chillous captured the narrative using Tom Franco's voice and own words and illustrating the intent of Tom Franco's work as the executive director of the Firehouse Art Co.

A very big THANK YOU goes out to all the collaborating artists who made this event not only awesome but possible. Sweet Thanks also to our insider friends at YBCA Maureen Dixon, Katya Min and Tommy Lau.

Great to live and work in the Bay Area and this Era with our peeps!

Posted by: Julia Lazar
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MAY ART SHOW @ PUBLIC MARKET EMERYVILLE

Artists Leon Kennedy and Journey Coward each have a unique style. Both self taught and highly disciplined artists, creating cutting edge art, each with their own cultural background.

 Please come and experience this unique exhibit through the month of May 2013, inside the Emeryville Public Market Hall by the Kid's Play space, enjoy the eclectic art in the alcove reserved to dine on your choice of international food, use free wifi, meet and mingle with local folks. A great spot to chill, do some thinking work or just hang out with friends. Public is the new private...?

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:


Leon Kennedy,

is rated one of the top 100 self-taught artists in the country. His works are coveted by prominent Folk Art collectors everywhere – foreign, as well as domestic. Serious collectors take huge store in the fact that Mr. Kennedy’s works appear in the Smithsonian Institute; which in itself adds extreme value to the ownership of a Kennedy original.
A native of Houston, Texas; Mr. Kennedy has lived and worked in Oakland, California for over 25 years. If you are out, about, and alert, you may just run into him on an Oakland street – where he is busy capturing the people and scenes of bay area life – on canvas. And what canvas it is! Kennedy paints on “everything.” Some of his most impressive works have been captured on bed sheets. Yes, they are huge. And the precision and multiplicity of detail is astonishing. Works on wood, glass, and metal (even hubcaps) have been known to grace a thorough Kennedy collection.

Leon Kennedy is inspired by the Spirit, as his works exemplify. In fact, his trademark is the hand. “Hands symbolize my personal testimony. God is the door. Prayer is the key. Hands stand for the power of the imagination and for divine testimony. God sees my heart. He has the master plan; I am his obedient servant. Faith leads. I follow.”

My name is Journey Coward,
and I am a professional doodler. I have been training in the bay area all of my life. My ideas developed by growing up with A.D.D. I usually have a 1000 ideas flashing threw my mind and need somewhere to put them. While growing up in resource class I was permitted to draw during the lectures in school.
In this collection I decided to name them all according to my belief that when you expect Less and get more it becomes a memorable experience. I prefer this style over any other because it frees my mind from the everyday clutter. This is who I am and what I do.
I am Journey Pierce Christopher Coward

Posted by: Julia Lazar
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