Play Ground: Group Show June 11, 2002 For Immediate Release Contact Julie Baker 530-273-0910 or julie@juliebakerfineart.com July 5 - August 31, 2002 Play Ground: Group Show Reception free and open to the public: Friday, July 5, 6 - 9 PM. Live music and refreshments will be served Play Ground, opening July 5 at Julie Baker Fine Art, is a group show featuring contemporary work that evoke memories of play as a child. From the capricious to awe-inspiring, the exhibition includes paintings, photography and sculpture by innovative artists from across the country. These artists confirm that play, discovery and whimsy are an unstoppable source for fine arts. The show has been curated with an intentional intergenerational appreciation and features one of the greatest playful artist, Alexander Calder, with his celebrated film of his circus creations. Artists include: Molly Barker of New York, whose paintings and drawings of jungle gyms are thoughtful studies of a place, structure and a time gone by; Don Fritz of Santa Cruz, creates ceramic sculptures and paintings with imagery from1950s children's comic books; Ada Sadler of San Francisco, paints small masterpieces of small subjects - like toys on the rim of a bathtub; photographs by Jocko Weyland of New York explore empty skateboard ramps and Jeremy Dickinson of London contributes his compelling paintings of toy cars. The show also includes works by Emilie Autumn, Brook Caballero, Elizabeth Dorbad, EJ Gold, Dalton Jamieson, Libby Hayes, Menlo Macfarlane, Jason Middlebrook, Mark Oldland, Claude Needham, and Arlene Waxman. The gallery encourages children to see the show. In the "play room," guest curator, Miles Baker, 7, will hang the work at an eye level appropriate for kids. The "play room" will feature a kid-friendly exhibit with interactive art, video including Alexander Calder's Circus Video and art materials for all ages. A 4- part educational and hands-on art class will be held at the gallery on Thursday evenings from 6 - 8 PM on July 11, 18, 26 and August 1. The series will include instruction in finger painting, printmaking and papier mache. The classes are for 1 child and 1 adult. Space is limited . The cost for 4 classes including materials is $100. Julie Baker Fine Art is a new venue for contemporary art in the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas offering cutting edge exhibitions, collector's services & cultural activities. The gallery specializes in painting, photography, sculpture and works on paper by emerging and mid-career contemporary artists. The gallery features an ongoing installation by Bay Area conceptual artist David Ireland and gallery co-founder Richard Baker. "The gallery promises to set a new standard of sophistication for art in the foothills by establishing a dialogue among local, Bay Area and New York artists. It's a coup to inaugurate the space with an ongoing installation by Ireland." Victoria Dalkey, Sacramento Bee, December 2, 2001 The setting is bucolic, the art is sophisticated contemporary. Artweek praised the gallery's launch " Baker's Dozen," last fall, because along with exhibitions at SFMOMA and LACMA, the work Julie Baker is showing proves the vitality of contemporary painting. For artists, collectors, critics and the cultural community, Julie Baker Fine Art is already an important to new addition to the California arts scene. Julie Baker Fine Art offers this delightful summer show to art lovers of all ages. Gallery hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 11am – 5pm and by appointment. For images for reproduction please visit the website or contact the gallery. Julie Baker Julie Baker Fine Art 120 N. Auburn St., Suite 100 Grass Valley, CA 95945 530-273-0910 Fax: 530-273-0690 Mobile: 530-277-2670 julie@juliebakerfineart.com http://www.juliebakerfineart