This show is all about mom. Works in clay, wood, photography and typography resonate with memories of being a mom or of the artists’ own mothers. Referencing dinner table connections, Josie Iselin uses scanned glass plates as an allegory for family dynamics. Deborah Sullivan shapes ceramic figures of a mom and her many kids. Charlie Sullivan builds sculpture from castoff items that evoke feelings of childhood and Daniel Nevers reflects on his mother by working with text.
The opening reception features special foods that remind the artists of their mothers including box cake and lemon bread. Also included will be FaceTime sessions with the artists’ mothers. Come say hello to Charlie’s mom in Georgia or Josie’s mom in Manhattan. A superhero photo booth will be available so the community can upload images sending a message: “Mom Made Me a Hero” and Charlie Sullivan inspirational necklaces will be available for all moms to wear.
“Motherhood, across race, language, country and culture, is understood to be complicated and powerful: a tsunami of gut and joy and fear and heartache.” -Rebecca Carroll “Surviving the White Gaze”
About the Artists:
Josie Iselin is a fine art photographer, writer and book designer focusing on the seaweed stories of our Pacific Coast. Her newest book is titled, The Curious World of Seaweed. Alongside her fine-art prints she designs her portraits of kelp and seaweed into oversize fabric panels as well as luxury scarves. Her mom lives in Manhattan and used to make box cakes when Josie was little.
Deborah Sullivan has made clay sculptures for a long damn time. She recently started a series of ink paintings and decorative glass. But clay is her favorite. Currently engaged in the question: How can I keep this boat afloat? Her latest work depicts a maternal figure, many children and the struggle for balance. Her mom lives in Walnut Creek and made challah bread when Deborah was young.
Daniel Nevers lives and works in Berkeley, California, where he wonders about where wanting comes from. As part of his practice, he reads way too much self-help and searches for signs of meaning in the hardware store. His work has been seen in solo installations and group exhibitions in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami and Barcelona. He has taught studio art and professional practices for artists at the University of California, Berkeley, and California College of the Arts, among other schools. Nevers holds an MFA from Mills College and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Texas. His mom lives in Houston with her dog Jason. They walk five miles every day, even in the Texas heat.
Charlie Sullivan re-purposes found and discarded items, combining them with lenses and mirrors to create emotionally inspired freestanding sculptures and hangings. Everyday items are rearranged in a playful balance and are built to be viewed in the round to encourage shifting perspectives. In addition to being an artist, Charlie also teaches 2nd grade at Otis School. His mom, Flo Sullivan, has given her children a lifetime of love, encouragement, and creative inspiration. She even sends items from Georgia that Charlie uses in his sculptures, a lot of which are included in the MOTHER show.
About K Gallery at Rhythmix Cultural Works
Rhythmix Cultural Work’s vision builds community by inspiring people to engage in the arts as a way to learn about each other and the world. Voted “Best Gallery in Alameda – 2017,” K Gallery exhibitions reflect the vitality of the Bay Area community.
Banner image: Full Plate, 2019 by Josie Iselin.