Art galleries “Public Works” and “Dream” display at City College
The City College Art Galleries are showcasing exceptional artwork done by student, faculty and Bay Area artists. The galleries are located at the Ocean campus and the Gough administrative offices, all exhibits are free to the public and feature different artist every few months.
By Lulu Orozco and Kevin Brown
The Guardsman
The City College Art Galleries are showcasing exceptional artwork done by student, faculty and Bay Area artists. The galleries are located at the Ocean campus and the Gough administrative offices, all exhibits are free to the public and feature different artist every few months.
Former student Robert Saybolt’s works are on display at the 33 Gough Street gallery until December 2. His collection of four sculptures described as “magical realism” uses traditional woodwork and stone techniques.
“Stone is new to me and represents a new realm of meaning and new range of sensation,” Saybolt said.
His designs explore the unconscious and make the collection come to life as an autobiographical statement.
“It’s about searching and at times being unclear of your direction,” said Saybolt.
His stone sculpture “Weather God” took him five weeks to complete.
“I really respect people who can make a living out of art; it takes about half of your daily life to really dedicate yourself into a project,” Saybolt said.
In contrast with the natural elements of stone and wood, former student Kathy Kleinhans artwork is made with fabric, coated with plaster, and then painted with watercolor. The plaster is then manipulated to resemble mountains and rivers.
It is a process in which timing is everything, an entire sculpture can get lost in the making.
Kleinhans’ ten-piece “Dream” series is on display through October 7.
Her “Dream” series actually came to life through a dream she vividly remembered.
“I knew instinctively what to do as soon as I started playing with the plaster,” said Kleinhans.
Most of Kleinhans work has been seen at the City College galleries and the UC Berkeley Extension.
“I work full time during the day, but give the left side of my brain a chance to relax in my artwork,” she added.
Ocean campus gallery
In September the Ocean campus gallery featured work by John Wehrle, a local Bay Area artist. He’s had a successful art career for nearly half a century painting giant public murals, many of which are right here in the Bay Area.
During a gallery lecture Wherle gave advice to aspiring muralists.
"Find a kind business-owner and pitch a mural for a wall for only the cost of paint, " he said.
After college Wherle struggled to find work as an artist and tried the route often traveled by MFA graduates – teaching. He hated it and after teaching a few semesters he left to pursue other artistic interests.
Eventually he landed a gig painting a public mural for the de Young Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco and found the process appealing.
He continued to pursue other opportunities and scored big time when the City of Los Angeles commissioned him to paint a huge mural in support of the 1984 Summer Olympics on a retaining wall alongside the U.S. Highway 101.
Wherle has painted numerous murals for his hometown of Richmond, and has painted installments at the San Francisco Public Library Ocean View branch, the Berkeley Transit Plaza and many other Bay Area locations.
For upcoming artists check out the City College Art Gallery locations or website.
