NOVEMBER EXHIBIT @ GALLERY NORTH

Curated by TOM FRANCO, Firehouse Art director
The artists of the November show at Firehouse Gallery North:

JULIA LAZAR
KELLI HILL
SCHEHERA VAN DYK
& TERRANCE GRIEBEL all met living in Bolinas for extended times.
Schehera Van Dyk and Terri Griebel still do to this day.

It's time to have a Bo-Show in Berkeley and celebrate the season with art, poetry and music. Tom Franco will also host an artist talk which should be lively considering the peeps involved.

OPENING NIGHT
FRIDAY, November 22, 2013
7 - 10pm

1790 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley Gourmet Ghetto

Kelli Hill and myself Julia Lazar, met at Brighton Beach in Bolinas, when Kelli clad in her blue wetsuit, with blonde hair down to her butt, with her classic longboard was heading out to the 'patch' where her peers, some of them famous surf stars back in the day, caught those long slow waves. It was winter, so no naked surfing that day, but we met and became friends over the last 30 years. It's such a blast to have an art show with Kelli.

Schehera Van Dyk has lived on Brighton, where she now has her art and ceramics studio, living the life of her passionate dreams, with husband, son and mom. We've known each other for about 30 years now and I so appreciate Schehera's art style and exuberance. Her dinner ware is highly collectible, and
I can't wait for the Berkeley crowd to fall in love with it, as the Marin folks already have.

Terri Griebel is a force of nature, besides being the radest artist I knew in Bolinas, he also shreds on the surf board and was one of the first mountain bikers in the world. When I met him in the 80s, he was sporting a 'Cunningham' prototype and carving new trails down Mt Tam, chased by rangers.

Terri has several painting on exhibit, one of which was a gift to Kelli, a portrait of Michael Sims, aka Saint 11:11, not because he was pious, but as rad as any free spirit ever will be.


Michael Sims died at the age of 32, on Kelli's sofa one afternoon, and we all keep magical memories of him we shared as friends. Here is a video he did with Jimo Thomas and Martin Matzinger: "Dogs in Bolinas". Michael also was the first white hip hop artist we all knew. May he rest in peace and join up again anytime.

Posted by: Julia Lazar
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RASA CAFFE

Revolutionary Roast Redefined: 

Famed Activist Son to Open Chai & Coffee Shop at Firehouse Adeline Arts Spot.

Rasa Caffe Launches Kickstarter Campaign in Partnership with Firehouse Art Collective to serve South Berkeley's most authentic cup of Indian Chai and Locally Roasted Third Wave Pour Over Coffee.

There’s a new cafe brewing in South Berkeley - Rasa Caffe - which recently launched a Kickstarter campaign to help purchase equipment and inventory for it’s planned opening in October.

The word Rasa is Sanskrit for flavor, and Rasa Caffe founder Rasa Sun Mott is aptly named. A formally trained chef and professional taste tester, he has honed his culinary skills in celebrated kitchens across the country; from New York City's Windows on the World to celebrity chef Tanya Holland's Brown Sugar Kitchen and B-Side BBQ.

An Oakland native, Rasa has deep roots in the Bay Area as the son of two high-profile members of the Black Panther Party, educator Ericka Huggins and James Mott of the Black Panther singing group The Lumpen. "Growing up I was always surrounded by people movements , though I'm more of a culinary activist. I was profoundly impacted after attending Slow Food conference in Italy twice and will incorporate some of these principles of building community through good, clean and fair food into Rasa Caffe. It is going to be about Coffee, Chai, Community and Flavor.”

Rasa Mott has traveled globally developing his palate and collecting recipes. In addition to select locally roasted pour-over fair trade coffee, Rasa Caffe will offer authentic Indian chai – a recipe Mott learned as a child in India and perfected over the years while volunteering in ashram kitchens.

Rasa Caffe plans to open a Micro Caffe Cart at the intersection of Martin Luther King and Adeline Street this October and will work in collaboration with the award-winning Firehouse Art Collective to serve the local community. “We are excited to work with Rasa Caffe on food-related and other large capacity events after their opening,” said Firehouse Art Collective Co-Director, Tom Franco.

The company is hoping to raise $15,888 by September 22nd to meet its goals.
Donation options range from $10 up and feature rewards ranging limited edition Black Panther T-Shirts, to a catered five-course meal.

For more information and to donate to the Kickstarter campaign please click here.

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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TOM FRANCO SHOW INITIATES NEW ART COLLECTIONS

Three new art collectors aquired Tom Franco paintings during opening week in April 2013.

A beautiful success for a working artist whose work is cutting edge and counter 'art world' culture. 

"We believe that Tom's work is going to be very well known and valuable in time, and are truly happy about these folks starting a private collection with such big future winners. " JL

Firehouse Gallery North will be open on Saturdays and Wednesdays 5 to 8 pm through April, there are still pieces ready for a home, come and view, meet and mingle with the artist and some other Firehouse art collaborators.
Here are some photos from opening night, which also served as Tom Franco's birthday party night...one of them...with DJ Patrick Lotilla painting perfect soundscapes, singer songwriter Jordan Epcar, Will Crum guerilla crashing, Tom Franco giving a talk about his process as an artist and vision for an art retreat spot in the country...another wholesome current culture art event with Firehouse collaborators.
Here are a few photos of opening night:

Artist talk...

Bannwart family in one of the new art collectors!

May the art collections grow and increase in value for the families who started them. 

Feels great to live Art Now.

A Big thank you also to Firehouse Harmon Street Studios friends, who organized a surprise party on Tom's proper birthdate April 14...love you guys!

Posted by Julia Lazar
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APRIL 2013: 33 YEARS OF BEING TOM FRANCO

An annual tradition, April, the birth month of the Executive Director of the Firehouse Art Collaborative marks the emerging of new art evolution by Tom Franco.

Working Title: Tropical Joy

In Tom's own words:

“Art has become an obsession on leisure and comfort. To find the little niche of an object of beauty, that radiates these qualities, is a fascination of a life time for me. The way that my hands mold material that once were left as having no value, then becomes worthy of display. It goes beyond the mere conceptual statement that something is worthy as art. The mystery lies for me in the conscious act of infusing the particles of meaning directly into the raw material at hand. The fact that such things as odd wood chips and springs and plastic paint can hold meaning is stunning amazement. The fact that my pure conscious dreaming mind can be manifest into such materials is a miracle of this natural world we live in. I find that meaning in life comes directly from this experience, the act of sitting still enough to listen and see, and the act of creating that vision to share with others. This is true modern magic.” Tom Franco 2013

Please join us for Opening Night at the Firehouse Art Gallery North on 1790 Shattuck Avenue in the Berkeley Gourmet Ghetto on Friday, April 12.  Tom will be present 7 pm to 9 pm for open dialogue, friends will be playing live music and reading poetry, a promise of laughs and leisure, celebrating art, friendship and our current culture of collaboration we all live and work for.

Your gifts and donations are welcome, you can use the button on this website, your gift support the continued evolution of the art and artists comprising the Firehouse Art Colab in a non profit setting.

Here are some photos of art pieces in the process of evolution, and the final works will be on exhibit at Firehouse Gallery North April 12 through April 30, 2013. We will do our best to have the door open for you on Wednesdays and Saturdays to come in, visit and purchase. We do accept credit cards and personal checks besides cash.

Posted by julia lazar, let us know what you think, your comment counts.

ART ATTACK VIDEO BY DORIAN COHEN

FIREHOUSE ARTISTS @ PUBLIC MARKET IN EMERYVILLE

MARCH 2013
5959 Shellmound Street, Emeryville, CA 94608
Inside the Public Market hall by the Kid's Play Space
Open to view everyday, 8am to 8pm

Curated by Tom Franco and Julia Lazar
Featuring Firehouse artists
Luka Dziubyna and Phillip Ng

PHILIP NG - Artist Statement

Philip is a local Asian American artist, originally from Hong Kong and imigrated to the Bay Area. Although his life story may be unconventional, Philip believes in fundamentals when it comes to his art. Like the Chinese culture, Philip believes in tradition and incorporates it into his work. He says that it is important for an artist to build a strong discipline and foundation of basics to learn how artists before have progressed the arts so that you can continue to progress it further.

All the figure paintings in the show are done from live models. He prefers live references to paint from, which allows him the chance to capture the emotion of the subject and light of the environment. His favorite medium is oil but has begun exploring into acrylic.

His work has been shown in group shows in San Leandro Library, Senior Center, and the San Leandro Museum & Art Gallery. He has been a member of the San Leandro Art Association for 30 years. Recently, Philip has joined the East Bay Figure painting group and the East Bay Landscape Painters group couple of years ago.

Luka Dziubyna - Artist Statement

I don't set out to produce art about one subject or another. What I do set out to do is exhibit whatever subject I am painting in its very own light and atmosphere. My paintings are like a timeline of my life and very personal to me.

I must admit that there has never been a piece of my own art that I have liked, at least not for long, and if I ever produced one, I may stop painting entirely. There is a constant struggle and love/hate relationship with my paintings. I go through immense moments of pleasure on working on a piece and may become easily frustrated with it and hope to never see it again, here lies the balance in my creative process. But regardless of how much frustration each piece may bring me, I always return to work more.

My work tends to focus on either abstract forms that are composed in such a way that a realistic image can appear, or reactionary strokes that are directly related to the topic at the time it is being painted

I began painting since age 14 with my grandfather who was classically trained in Europe. Currently I am attending AAU in San Francisco, pursuing my Masters in Fine Art.

Some of my subject matter is about people that I come into contact with, my most recent pieces stem from my 6-week, 500 plus mile walk on the Camino De Santiago in Northern Spain. it was there that I would encounter everything from people who were terminally ill and dying of cancer but chose to make the pilgrimage, to random animals such as massive bulls and steer that would pass us on the journey each day.

I believe my style is a mixture of Expressionism and Impressionism, which I like to call "Reactionary". I am always asking myself, "Am I being true to a piece if I paint someone who is a terrible person in a good light? or vice versa, take a beautiful person and represent them on a canvas with heavy strokes and gloom?"

Posted by julia lazar, let us know what you think, your comment counts.

Firehouse Gallery North March 2013 Exhibit and event

San Mateo—Hillsdale High School art students showcase their work, 

March 2013, at Firehouse Gallery North, 1790 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CA 94709

The exhibit, “Aspiring Artists Showcase” on view from March 8th through March 31st 2013, features 50 paintings and photographs by twenty-eight Hillsdale High juniors and seniors. 

Opening Night:Friday, March 8, 7-9pm

Live music by Chloe Little

Forum conversation with the artists and Tom Franco

Poetry readings

A collaboration between Hillsdale art teacher Cindy Lynch, and the Firehouse Art Collaborative curation team, Tom Franco and Julia Lazar.

“Our collaboration presents a unique learning environment for our students to explore their own work and their potential future as an artist,”Hillsdale Visual Art Teacher Cindy Lynch said. “We are grateful to the Firehouse Art Collaborative for making this possible.” 

Students featured in the exhibition are Haley Amoroso, Kyle Okano, Camila Benavides, Jean Ma, Philip Thomas, Kylan Wong, Christopher Hernandez, Jenny Lee, Jazmin Bustamante, Kelly Wang, Brian Spiekerman, Noam Margalit, Ava Donovan, Julia Yarak, Elise Phillips, Michael Yan, Kelly Lemons, Chang Liu, Emily Pichel, Travis Abrams, Kathryn Ullrich, Ricky Gonzalez, Danielle Gaggero, Lisa Raimondo, Shannon Song, Alex Herzog, Eric Newgard, Jordan Smith and Allison Lee.

“We met Cindy Lynch last year and her passion and enthusiasm for teaching art inspired us to develop this opportunity,” Executive Directors Tom Franco and Julia Lazar said. “These students are extremely talented and we hope this show inspires other organizations to support high school art education.”

For open door times please check our Calendar page.

For more information contact
Cindy Lynch,650-558-2699, clynch@mail.smuhsd.org
Or email Julia Lazar:  firehouse.art.collective@gmail.com

To find out more about Hillsdale High School of San Mateo.

For the Facebook event page, please click here: https://www.facebook.com/events/235259859943348/

Posted by julia lazar, let us know what you think, your comment counts.

All about perspective and rhythm, video art by Dorian Cohen

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Art commentary by Molly Walls

I don’t know at what age art became untouchable. In my early years, art was about passion and making mistakes—messy blurs of paint and crayons, wildflowers bleeding and blooming out of watercolor and ink. But at a certain point, some separation occurred, a layer of self judgment and discrimination between myself and the work, like looking through frosted glass.

The world around me seemed to confirm this criticism—art had a distinct stigma, sets of unspoken rules on how to view it, how to experience it, and how to create it. Gone were the days of childlike wonder, where everything beautiful and everything ugly could be transformed.

Since interning at Firehouse, art has begun to shed this layer of pretension and division, and become an experience again—something to be excited about, a way to ask a question or receive an answer, a way to release and to give. 

Tom Franco’s Art Attack at the YBCA embodied this playful collaboration. 

Performers experimented and communicated through their work; the line between the viewer and the artist blurred until every guest was participating in some larger piece, a sustained and pure moment of beauty and expression. 

I began to notice this collective experience with Sha Sha Higby’s moving sculpture performance, her intricate costume and the ambient sound filling the room melded together to create a lyrical and captivating narrative—a conversation between the audience and the artist. 

The absence of a stage and the inclusive seating encouraged this creative progression, and each consecutive artist used the space to converse and to give, without the removed or condescending aura that contemporary art can sometimes emit. In short, the evening brought me back to the art of my childhood—sidewalk chalk kisses on the knees, every living thing as moving, breathing sculpture—but with the maturity and artistic acumen of adults. 

Art can fill a moment, give time a heavy ripeness, sound, light, and movement rushing together in eloquent freedom, and the Art Attack took full advantage of this possibility for collective experience and collaboration.

Posted by Molly Walls

From Portland, Molly studies liberal arts in Vermont at Bennington College

To view Mollie's photography click here.

Comments are always welcome, let us know what you think.

TOM FRANCO'S ART ATTACK

Celebrating a new year 2013!

At YBCA's ConVerge program, a monthly open door event, bringing artists and peeps of all stripes and disciplines together...more in their own words here*. How to find it here.

Tom Franco and Julia Lazar host the January 17th ConVerge afternoon, 4-8pm, in celebration of a New Year of Art, the victory of collaboration over competition, value over profit, and have invited several close artist friends and collaborators to co create an experience of current culture only live art can give.

Posted below are the performance artists in order of their appearance:

A big shout out to our intern Molly Walsh, who created the slides for this post!

Performances start at 4 pm in the Grand Lobby by the 'Small Room for Big Ideas Gallery".

Get directions here.

Live event support

 Live video projection and recording

 Hosts

 Audio and eclectic sounds all around

 Culinary artisans par excellence!

*The YBCA:ConVerge series is a free monthly public gathering featuring creative and generative social art practices. ConVerge is where community and innovative multi- and inter-disciplinary arts practices come together in our free and public spaces in a fluid, interactive, experimental format designed to engage audiences. YBCA's Grand Lobby and Room for Big Ideas will come alive during ConVerge events with social art, live music and inspiring curated performances, as well as drinks prepared by YBCA mixologists.
Posted by Julia Lazar and Molly Walsh

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LIVE ART EXHIBITS & EVENTS

Continue at Public Market in Emeryville 

curated by Firehouse Art Collaborative co directors 

Tom Franco and Julia Lazar

The winning combination of local emerging artists exhibiting stellar work in a public space, live music and art making workshops hosted by various east bay groups invited by FAC is whats up this year every last Friday of the month.

Next to the "Kid's Play Space", the area is coming alive as a meet and greet, mingle and create your own fun art card or pieces to take home. Public Market's new ownership has indicated an interest in FAC's continued presence and we are making plans, proposals and time to create the best outcome for everyone involved.

Our best interest is the larger Emeryville community, peeps living in the area, to have a swell spot to eat, meet and experience community and culture live, every time they visit Public Market. A place we can go to chill and stroll, eat and some of us creative types even do some online work outside our own pajama lounge called home. 

Opening nights are listed on our facebook events page.

Next up are two artists who complement each other with completely different styles. View their visuals below.

Be sure to come by, Friday, January 25, 6-8pm and say Hi!
Tom Franco will be your Emcee and there will be an art making table with the supplies donated by "Sticky Art Lab" of Berkeley fame hosted by the lovely Pollyanna Lee.

Posted by Julia Lazar
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CURATED ART EVENT "FEATURE FRIDAY"

...at Public Market in Emeryville
5959 Shellmound Street, Emeryville, CA 94608
Featured artists:

• ANNE LOURIE*
• LEO ZUBRITZKY*

Opening night Friday, December 14, 5-8pm
Hosted by Tom Franco.
Free collage making table hosted by Leslie Cologne and friends.
Face painting offered by Tammy Artis.
Friday, December 14th, 5 – 8 pm

Stellar Live Music cast for Public Market scheduled by 'The Marketing Method Group".
5 pm – Tara Linda, Jazzy Blues
6 pm – Owen Plant, Jamaican-born California Folk
7 pm – Spidermeow, Psychedelic Folk Rock

This promises to be a swell, fun and easy event, perfect to meet, mingle and get your local art on. If you have been waiting to come to one of our art openings, this is the One for 2012.
Feature Fridays, ongoing evenings of celebration, with live music and art at Public Market in Emeryville, were a great success through 2012 with the local patrons and owners.

We are happy to know, that the New Ownership at Public Market is continuing the vision of making the Public Market into a destination for the experience of community, culture and art as part of our daily lifestyle in Emeryville.

*ANNE LOURIE

paints every day and is her 90th year of life. We are so honored to have such a soul in our midst.
Anne Lourie, was born in Philadelphia 90 years ago and studied art at the Philadelphia College of Art, Tyler School of Art, University of Pennsylvania and many other places throughout Philadelphia.
In 1949, Anne lived in Paris for two years, doing portrait and figure studies with live models. 

Here is a story in Anne Lourie’s own words:
“....of a portrait I did in Wildwood, NJ. In the 1940s, I was working as a portrait artist on the beach and the boardwalk was above me.
Ella Fitzgerald came, still in costume, from her performance, with her 2 huge Bodyguards standing on either side of her. She stood above me, watched me work, and then asked me to do a portrait.
She was wearing a huge long, pink-feathered boa around her neck, which trailed on the ground. I drew her and then refused to accept any money for the drawing.” 

Anne moved to Berkeley 26 years ago and has been an artist for over 70 years, painting portraits, landscapes and abstracts.
She now has an art studio space at the Firehouse Gilman Street location and still paints every day.

*LEO ZUBRITSKY

born in Detroit Michigan, his family steered him onto the path of colorful cultural landscapes. He was drawn into the art world at an early age with influences such as Vincent van Gogh, Diego Rivera, Salvatore Dali, and Pablo Picasso. In 1964 he traveled to the New York World’s Fair and was touched by Michelangelo’s Pieta.

At Eastern Michigan University Leo earned a BFA and became interested in multimedia artwork.

Leo Zubritsky works as a consultant to Bechtel Corporation as an Art Director on projects like development of photo database for USAID, top level presentations, trade show displays and many successful proposal efforts. Projects include: corporate board game metrics, caricatures for gifts, multimedia projects using animation and video. Leo works primarily with Marketing Communications and Corporate Communications groups.

In 2004 he took assignment in Baghdad, Iraq with AECOM-PADCO and SBH working for USACE creating multimedia presentations in English and Arabic language, video, DVD production, website design, display exhibits, poster campaigns, Corp logo design, briefings, reporting, media events, and conference coordination. Leo worked directly with the Public Affairs Office out of GRD headquarters in the International Zone. He provided support to media projects and presentations in a war zone for 5 years.

As a promotion he was able to create a video of the theme park ride called, Titanic – the Experience in Sydney, Australia. His role was to art direct; create the storyboard, title introduction, and ending title animation. Another of his key contributions was developing a second version of the iceberg sequence, in which the Titanic smashed right thru the iceberg, and continued into the sunset. The legacy of that ship goes on forever by way of this theme park ride.

During the 2001 winter semester he taught a multimedia Portfolio Development class at Berkeley College, CA. Leo lives in Berkeley with his family and is a principal artist in the Firehouse Art CoLab.

His artwork has been exhibited in: Ann Arbor Art Fair, Art Gallery’s in Berkeley, Awarded 2 murals in Detroit Michigan

Contact : Leo Zubritsky

Phone 510-527-6269

e-mail:  lzubrit@ix.netcom.com

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Feature Friday in Emeryville hosted by Tom Franco

Friday, November 30, 6-8 pm at the Public Market in Emeryville
Art exhibit opening for Carol Jenkins and Ellen Zucker 

Curated and hosted by Tom Franco.

Meet: Ellen Zucker

Ellen Zucker's artist statement:  I arrived at painting late in life, through a mysterious process more like grace received than like a decision made. But of course there were also many decisions, seeking teachers, workshops, painting groups and finally a studio space to foster my painting practice.
I spend hour after hour lost in blue, wondering whether it's Prussian blue I'm after or is it really Payne's gray I want, or will a bit of white be just the thing that makes me say ah, it's finished. I wonder if the quinacridone burnt orange is way too thick in that corner? I must answer only to a visceral aesthetic, no other "reasons" make sense. I'm in the world of seeing not thinking, of silence not words. I love the painting one afternoon and hate it the next morning, and sometimes, happily, the other way around.
I am drawn, endlessly, to paint the human figure, sometimes seemingly against my will when I'm imagining I really want to paint abstractly. Lately I've been inspired by several of Michelangelo's famous statements:
"Carving is easy, you just go down to the skin and stop."
"The sculptor's hand can only break the spell to free the figures slumbering in the stone."
Since I've been thinking about Michelangelo, piles of stones have begun to appear at the base of my figures. At rare moments, with paintbrush instead of chisel, I find the figure rather than create it. And then the hours and hours of false starts and blind alleys vanish and I am at peace.
(Caveat: the next morning might produce an utterly different response)
I am drawn to mystery, to the unknowable, to the place before words. Cause and effect don’t answer my questions. I cannot fathom birth, death, breathing, love, forever, sunshine, an ocean, an elm tree, a woman crying in pain, a child shrieking with glee.
Philip Guston says
“I don’t know what a painting is; who knows what sets off even the desire to paint?”
Without knowing what or why, I am engaged for hours on end. No reason why I paint, no reason why this mark and not that one, no reason why the human form today or the feel of the sea tomorrow. Just the mysterious pull to have brush, rag, stick, knife dipped in color, to say no to one mark and yes to another. On a bad day I can’t tolerate not knowing what I’m doing; on a good day that mysterious uncertainty seems like life itself.
Since I'm not sure how I arrived at this wordless intersection of inner and outer experience, I can only hope that I get to stay for a long time to come.

Carol Jenkins: "Ellen and I have been work partners for 35 years, and now, as of March of this year, we are also studio partners at the Firehouse Art Studios on 1000 Gilman Street in Berkeley."

"We are planning to have materials available for an art project at the opening at Emeryville Public Market, November 30, 6-8 PM. Anyone ages 3 to 103 can make a collage. We will provide materials and examples of collages by Matisse for inspiration!"

Meet: Carol Jenkins

In my paintings I explore the awe and mystery embedded in our relationship with the spiritual as well as the natural world. Using acrylic paint, charcoal, pastels, ink and oil stick, I try to convey the way light breaks open along the horizon, glows quietly in dark spaces or shines from within. I am drawn to abstract painting because it so clearly reveals the visual language of contrast, texture, movement, color and form. It challenges me to live with uncertainty, to trust something within that exists before knowing: the risk of putting paint on canvas without knowing what will follow. 

In the rest of my life, I am a practicing psychotherapist, and my medium is largely words. I love finding words that open new perspectives to life’s experiences. But I also love expression without words. When painting, I am thrilled when words drop away and I find a visual depiction of the emotions, the longings and the sense of wonder that reside within the human heart.





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Holidays! Back to celebrate Art and Peeps

Time to count all blessings of the year closing, to celebrate family, neighbors, connections made, losses and gains, friends and frenemies, our East Bay environment, collective accomplishments and collaborative learning. The whole gamut it takes to make up life at the cutting edge of authentic artist living.
Tons of gratitude to all the currency it takes to stay sustainable, even thrive, and those who manage to continue to support in every large and smallest way.

Gracias = graciousness and gratitude to Youz.
Big Holla out to our interns and volunteers across the entire bay!
Go Cal students and thanks a bunch to help put our events on the map.

At the Firehouse Art CoLab we like to THANK ALL our collaborators, for a year full of healthy growth, some healthy pruning, tons of creative nourishment, stellar food supporting our events and artists artists artists everywhere we venue. You are such an inspiration, we've listed you all year and look forward to showing you off to what's next to come.

Here is what's up for the last weeks of 2012:

Friday, November 30, 6-8 pm at the Public Market in Emeryville
Sparkling live jazz and DJ music, art exhibit opening for Carol Jenkins and Ellen Zucker curated and
hosted by Tom Franco.

Gallery North Open Door hours for the holidays, on 1790 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley CA 94709.
Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays 4-8pm hosted by exhibiting artists Robert J Knight and Julia Lazar extended show through December 31, 2012.

Friday, December 14, 6-9 pm at the Public Market in Emeryville
Holiday celebration made easy, with an FAC curated Feature Friday event, hosted and curated by Tom Franco and Julia Lazar. Featuring artists Annie Lourie and Leo Zubritsky who have a lifetime of awe inspiring art to show, live only- no website peeps, gotta come see their awesomeness in person.

Holiday Art Gifts will be available by some of our best diy Makers and Artisans coming to show & sell that day only. Experience a stellar line up under the coolest roof in Emeryville to date. Let's celebrate.
Also, bring your tiny peeps, as we will have our all time favorite face painter Tammy Artis on board again.
Located by the popular kid's play space ball pit by the back entrance.
Tip: Back entrance is also a great spot to park and enter.

ELLEN ZUCKER: Showing November-December

CAROL JENKINS: Showing November - December 2012

ANNIE LOURIE, in her 90s paints in her studio every day. Really. Showing December - January 2013

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November show open through December 1st

Thanks to everyone who came to the opening on Friday November 9th, Art Attack...we were packed to capacity at 9pm...Cool!
Stay tuned for the video, you can subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Betsy Franco read poetry from her book "Metamorphosis", Tom Franco debuted his live singing and guitar playing skills, Jimmy Dillon sang "Hold on to your dreams..." friends, neighbors, cal students, artists, live punk rock, DJs, peeps from our of town...made this the kind of party you smile for days about...we did.

Robert J Knight's sculptures resonate, especially with the men folk, in a big way. Every time we open the gallery door people stream inside and marvel at the symbolism, craftsmanship, tactility and authenticity of the Heart in Wood sculptures.

"To facilitate the Open Door times for the gallery, the exhibiting artists volunteer to host on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 4pm to 8pm through Saturday. 

December 1st, is closing night with refreshments, music and hopefully You."

Updates about daily and weekly events are easy to find on our facebook page.

ARTISTS
Julia Lazar
"Picture the Art of Life"
Photography

Robert J Knight
"Hearts in Wood and mixed Media"
Sculptural wall hangings

Tom Franco CoLab
"2012"
Sculpture and paintings

• Photography exhibit chronicles the art of life...in nature, travel, current culture and surroundings captured by Julia Lazar. 
• New exhibit of Bob Knight's amazing heart sculptures carved of wood with symbolic renderings in metal and found objects.
• Experience two new paintings from Tom Franco's Art Lab 2012

Robert J Knight "Hearts in Wood" sculptures

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