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After the Age of ReasonPost an Event »

di Rosa

November 1 - February 8, 2009

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5200 Carneros Hwy Napa, CA 94559
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After the Age of Reason Barococo, 2008, graphite on paper and books
The di Rosa Preserve: Art & Nature announces After the Age of Reason: New Work by Maria Porges, an exhibition of recent drawings and sculpture showing publicly for the first time. The imagery and content in After the Age of Reason represents a substantial departure from the body of work Porges was engaged in through most of the 90s, but reprises some materials and ideas from her earlier work—namely, the idea of books as a material for sculpture and the combination of modeled and found elements. The exhibition will present drawings, some of which incorporate fragments of actual books; sculpture cast in a variety of materials, including wax backed with plaster, bronze, and cast lead crystal. Through the use of visual devices such as a frame of curtains, Porges’ drawings and sculpture invoke a kind of theatrical narrative. The role of Logic is played by books—containers of things that are believed to be true, while hair, the symbol of disorder, excess and fashion, steps into the role of Intuition. Both are aided at times by small girls wearing astonishingly large, 18th-century-style wigs. And a series of sculpted children’s heads, their expressions and proportions developed out of digitally-altered photographs, evokes the meeting place between cuteness and the grotesque. Porges, who holds a BA from Yale University and an MFA from the University of Chicago, is well known in the Bay Area for her evocative sculpture in a range of different media as well as for her work as a writer and critic. Her art has been exhibited nationally and is included in important private and museum collections, including the di Rosa Preserve. ABOUT THE DI ROSA PRESERVE: ART & NATURE Located on 217 scenic acres in the Carneros region of southern Napa Valley, the di Rosa Preserve: Art & Nature provides opportunities for creative enrichment and enjoyment of art and the environment throughout the year. A gift to the public from passionate art collector Rene di Rosa, the Preserve houses nearly 2,200 works of art in all media by more than 900 artists from Northern California, possibly the largest collection of its kind. The Gatehouse Gallery is open Tuesday – Friday 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM. Guided tours allow visitors to experience the di Rosa Preserve grounds and galleries beyond the Gatehouse, Tuesdays – Saturdays. For reservations or information, call 707-226-5991 or visit www.dirosapreserve.org. Opening Reception Saturday, November 1, 2008, 6 - 8 PM