November 21 – February 16, 2002. Open Wednesday - Sunday, Noon – 5pm and by appointment.

Special installation by Bay Area conceptual artist David Ireland

"Baker’s Dozen" is a treat for the eyes, the spirit and the imaginative mind. 13 paintings by 13 contemporary artists. 13 distinctive talents unified by the vitality of their work.

Why these 13 artists? Julie Baker visits studios all over the country. Her tutelage is New York, but her interests cover the world. The launch of "Baker's Dozen" features painters from across the country, England and Scotland. The paintings reveal the fascinating range of artistic expression in painting today. Erin Noel from Nevada County offers powerful abstract color fields. Alexandra Eldridge creates vivid narrative paintings inspired by William Blake. She has been called the heir to Georgia O'Keeffe in Santa Fe because both painters explore a spiritual landscape. Tracy Miller's food paintings suggest a sumptuous and humorous evolution of Wayne Theibaud’s studies of cakes and other delectibles in her painterly mix of abstraction and representation. Nellie King Solomon paints blood red rivers on translucent mylar. Her work was praised in a San Francisco Chronicle Datebook front page review by Art Critic Kenneth Baker as "pleasures in her rich pools of color and sheer unforced lushness", comparing her with Helen Frankenthaler and Morris Louis. All 13 painters have received strong critical praise and public enthusiasm.

"Baker’s Dozen" is organized to build a connection between the paintings, the artist's process and the viewer. "Baker’s Dozen" reveals the artist's "ingredients" in a section of the gallery that showcases video interviews with each artist, and photographs from their studios. "Baker’s Dozen" displays this background to bring the viewer closer to the artist's intentions, methods and individuality. Each artist has selected examples of the visual salvage - from Japanese Kimonos to Dutch Still Lifes and Hans Hofmann, the richness of each painting will reveal a radiant, historical and sometimes surprising story. These photos are evidence of a passionate investigation behind every painting, transforming ideas and feelings into fresh work. "Baker’s Dozen" displays this background to bring the viewer closer to the artist's intentions, methods and individuality. These devices are tools for the viewer to begin their exploration of these 13 dynamic artists.