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Kurt Steger: Weight of Time
May 2 – July 5, 2003
Artist’s Reception free and open to the public: Friday, May 2, 6 - 8 PM.
Artist’s Talk: Saturday, May 24, 6 to 7:30pm
Open Tuesday - Saturday, 11am – 5pm and by appointment.
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Special installation by Bay Area conceptual artist David Ireland
>> preview the art of Kurt Steger
Julie Baker is pleased to announce the opening of Kurt Steger: "Weight of Time". In his first solo show at the gallery, Steger presents all new mixed media sculpture. Works range from wall pieces to indoor and outdoor sculpture. Known for his elegant and harmonious sculptures made primarily from wood and paper, Steger's new work incorporates concrete, water, and tar.
In this new series, Steger explores suspension, impermanence and the effects of time and nature. The works intended for outdoors are presented as unfinished. Some will acquire a new patina or perhaps over time collapse or disintegrate. "As an artist", Steger states, "it is impossible not to bring the outside world into your studio. ‘Weight of Time’ reflects the uncertainty and weightiness of the world events we are facing. Though my hands initially create the sculptures, nature and time will change them determining their ultimate outcome."
It was over ten years ago that Steger, a trained woodworker and fine furniture maker, decided to turn his hand to sculpture. His influences are diverse and range from the American Arts and Crafts Movement to Japanese woodworking, from aboriginal, Native American, and African origins to the work of artists Martin Puryear, Andy Goldsworthy and Eva Hesse.
He is also interested in combining efforts with cross-discipline artists. In collaboration with modern dancer Marianne Reagan, Classical composer Jay Sydeman and poet Steve Sanfield, Steger's sculpture was featured in a piece called "Ode to Ogatha, The Healer Collaboration."
Steger has shown throughout Northern California including solo shows at the Sonoma Museum of Visual Art, b. sakata garo Fine Art, and Exploding Head Gallery in Sacramento. In 2002, Steger's work was selected as part of the Crocker Kingsley Biennial Exhibition at the Crocker Art Museum.
His work has been shown in New York, Santa Fe and San Francisco. Steger is also participating in the For-Site Foundation’s grand opening, an artist-in-residency program co-founded by San Francisco gallery owner Cheryl Haines, with a site-specific piece on the foundation’s land in Nevada City.
In conjunction with "Weight of Time" a retrospective of Steger's work will be on view at his studio in Grass Valley. Most recently, Steger designed an outdoor sculpture garden to complement his 3,500 square foot converted dairy barn studio. The studio and sculpture garden is available to view by appointment. To schedule an appointment, please call Julie Baker Fine Art at 530-273-0910.
KURT STEGER
 BORN:
1960, Oakland, CA
LIVES:
Grass Valley, CA
REPRESENTED BY:
Julie Baker Fine Art
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
"Objects of Beauty", Cline Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM, November 15 – January 15, 2003
"73rd Crocker-Kingsley Exhibition", Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, CA October 2002
"Sculpture", Exploding Head Gallery, Sacramento, CA, October 2001
"Mixed Media Sculpture," Sonoma Museum of Visual Art, Santa Rosa CA, December 2000 - February 2001
"Sculpture," b. sakata garo Fine Art, Sacramento, CA June-July 1999, with Donald Farnsworth
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