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Two Bay Area artists working in different mediums shared a 4-month art residency at SF Recycling & Disposal. During their residency both artists scavenged all of their materials from the public disposal area, aka “the dump”. As a sculptor, installation artist, and furniture maker, Christine Lee stayed true to her practice during her residency, creating a body of work that includes an installation within the art studio, a functional sculpture that doubles as a public seating area, and a series of other three-dimensional works. David King, traditionally a collage artist, was inspired by the assortment of objects available at the dump, and departed into three-dimensional work during his residency. Both artists were interested in collecting large quantities of materials all of which amassed into larger sculptural works. The results were delightfully different and unique while varying off similar themes.
Artist In Residence exhibits at the company's art studio are held for two days only, on a Friday evening (5-9 p.m.) and Saturday afternoon (1-5 p.m.) at the end of each residency period.
Christine Lee, Linear Elements
Christine Lee’s work previous to her residency included the use of construction and surplus materials. Since so many small contracting and construction companies dump at SFR&D’s public disposal area, the residency allowed Lee easy pick-ins. She was interested in collecting multiples of the same material and was able to explore the physicality of the materials beyond their original intended purpose. She practices material exploration through repetitive processes such as folding, bending, weaving, coiling, interlacing and stacking. In using discarded materials and giving them a new function, Lee expresses her concern with “our society’s abusive pattern of production and waste.”
For the final exhibition, Lee’s work will reveal an array of sculptural endeavors. Within the studio, Lee will have a temporary installation that will be dismantled after the art reception. In the courtyard of the art studio, visitors to the reception will be able to enjoy some artful relaxation on Lee’s modular bench sculptures made of reclaimed 2”x 4”s and premixed concrete from construction sites. Lee’s pieces offer the audience an experiential interpretation of art while reminding us of immediate and local environmental issues.
David King, Atoms, Satellites and Other Orbs
Traditionally a collage artist, King deals with the re-interpretation of imagery. However, during King’s residency at the dump, he gravitated towards 3-dimensional objects with his scavenging access. The environments that King once created as cut-out collages come to life in the sculptural work he made during his residency. The majority of his sculptures are non-figurative orb-like forms that are comprised of unlikely materials including industrial chords, sewing pins, plastic bottles and ambiguous hardware. King processes his materials in a similar way to Lee in that he finds multiples of the same material and pushes their physical limits by manipulating them in unexpected ways.
In one “orb”, King chopped up an orange industrial power-chord and created a radial pattern of little arches with the chord covering the surface of a basketball resulting in the appearance of multiple electron paths orbiting the nucleus of an atom. There is a universal language in King’s work that naturally mimics pan-religious, spiritual and scientific forms that everyone can vaguely identify. Overall, King’s optimistic outlook on life comes through in his playful use of materials, bright color schemes and desire to engage the public.
The artist-in-residence program at San Francisco’s dump is a one-of-a-kind program started in 1990 to encourage people to conserve natural resources and instill in children and adults an increased appreciation for the environment as well as art. Over 75 professional Bay Area artists have completed residencies. Applications are accepted annually (in August) from professional artists from the Bay Area.
*In conjunction with the dual art exhibition of the resident artists, there will be a special art exhibition of long-time SF Recycling & Disposal employee, Gill Thornally- on display in the Environmental Learning Center located at 401 Tunnel Ave.
http://www.sfrecycling.com/AIR
Directions:
From the Bay Bridge/ Downtown San Francisco
Take 101 South, exit “Candlestick Park/Tunnel Ave.” Continue straight on Beatty until it dead ends onto Tunnel Ave. Take a right on Tunnel Rd. The art studio is located at 503 Tunnel Ave. (the grey building with a red dot). Park along street or in front of studio.
From the Peninsula
Take 101 North and take the first Candlestick Park Exit, take a sharp left onto Alanna Way, go under the bridge. When you come to the next stop sign, turn right onto Beatty St. and continue until it dead-ends onto Tunnel Ave. Turn right on Tunnel. The art studio is located 503 Tunnel Ave. (the grey building with red dot). Park along street or in front of studio.
