Art Exhibit Focuses on Family

A collection of nationally-acclaimed artists will explore the emotional, spiritual and physical expressions of Family through several unique media, including drawings, paintings, sculptures, textiles, digital media, photography, and an interactive installation during the Palo Alto Art Center’s Fall 2014 exhibition.

The thought-provoking exhibition will feature 10-12 artists who will explore the often deeply personal nature of their own sibling, parent-child, partner, and chosen family relationships, inviting viewers to reflect on their own familial ties. Collectively, these works showcase universal themes of identity, love and morality, as well as issues reflected in current social and political debates.

“This exhibition presents traditional and surprising approaches to family portraiture,” said Karen Kienzle, Palo Alto Art Center Director. “I think our visitors will find themselves intrigued, amused, and ultimately gratified to see reflections of their own families in the works in this exhibition. The works provide a view into the lives of each of the exhibiting artists, suggesting not only how individuals connect and relate to each other within a family, but also how we all connect to the contemporary world.”

One featured artist, Los Angeles-based artist Amir H. Fallah, features collage and painted portraits showcasing the role of personal possessions in communicating familial identity. His figures are mysteriously obscured by their own mundane objects, textiles, and personal belongings, challenging the viewer to ask what our possessions reveal. Amir, who received his B.F.A. from the Maryland Institute College of Art and his M.F.A. from UCLA, has exhibited both nationally and internationally at institutions such as the Weatherspoon Art Museum, LA Louver, The Third Line, and Frederieke Taylor Gallery.

Another installation, Holiday Dinner Karaoke, by artist David Sandoval of San Francisco, invites viewers to sit at a table and role play, karaoke-style, prompted by lines from awkwardly funny family dinner conversations. David currently serves as the director of the Artists in Education Program at Southern Exposure, and has worked at several Bay Area visual arts organizations, including MACLA, the Palo Alto Art Center, the East Bay Center of Performing Arts, ZERO1, and the Community School of Music and Arts.

Other artists featured in the exhibition include Hung Liu, Zefrey Throwell, Jamie Vasta, Michael Jang, Lia Cook, Jai Tanju, Kai Margarida-Ramirez, Jo Hamilton, and Josephine Taylor. The wide range of media and materials featured in this exhibition include photography, papercut, glitter, fiber, video, collage, human ash, and acrylic.

The Fall 2014 exhibition will run from Sept. 27 to Dec. 14 at the Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Road, Palo Alto, Calif. The Art Center is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursday, and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free. For more information, call 650.617.3530, or go online to www.cityofpaloalto.org/artcenter.

About The Palo Alto Art Center:
The Palo Alto Art Center is your place to discover art. See, make, and be inspired because everyone is anartist. Created by the community, for the community in 1971, the Palo Alto Art Center provides anaccessible and welcoming place to engage with art. We serve approximately 70,000 people every yearthrough a diverse range of programs.

The Palo Alto Art Center, Division of Arts and Sciences, City of Palo Alto is funded in part by grants from Silicon Valley Creates and the Palo Alto Art Center Foundation. The Palo Alto Art Center Foundation gratefully acknowledges support from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Yellow Chair Foundation, private donations, and members.

--Announcement from the City of Palo Alto