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Dollhouse: Art as Serious Play


  • Arc Gallery & Studios 1246 Folsom Street San Francisco, CA, 94103 United States (map)

Untitled by Maribel Guzman, Miriam Munguia, and José Nuñez, with Pilar Olabarria, 2020, tapestry with marker on fabric with embroidery and beadwork, 39 x 55.5 inches

A stunning tapestry created by a group of artists joins prominent Bay Area artists at Arc Gallery

A group exhibition at Arc Gallery features a large collaborative wall hanging by Maribel Guzman, Miriam Munguia, and José Nuñez. Created with teaching artist Pilar Olabarria during shelter-in-place, the tapestry highlights the unique practice of each artist while commemorating a special creative moment between three artists.

The exhibition celebrates art that uses toys, dolls, games, imaginary friends, etc. to explore the serious and playful nature of art-making.

CURATOR STATEMENT

When you were a child you made art, probably lots of it. You, and everyone around you, called that “playing.” Art is part of a child’s normal response to almost any aspect of life. A small child asks an art-teacher what he does at work. “I teach people to draw” the teacher says, and the child responds “You mean they forget?”

Within the bounds of an imaginary dollhouse, this exhibition showcases art that uses the tropes of playtime - storybooks, toys, dolls, games, dress-up, imaginary friends, and secret spaces - to explore the serious and playful nature of art-making. The works compel the viewer to recall the joys of make-believe and to appreciate the unique interpretation of “play” that each artist brings to the dollhouse.

Curated by Priscilla Otani and Tanya Wilkinson

FEATURED ARTISTS

Afatasi the Artist, Glenn Bachmann, Rosalia Baltazar-Schoemaker, Marie Bergstedt, Johnny Botts, Joshua Coffy, Sas Colby, Diana Elrod, Miriam Fabbri, Kathy Fujii-Oka, Dolores M Gray, Maribel Guzman & Miriam Munguia & José Nuñez, Trudi Chamoff Hauptman & Zachariah Hauptman, Dianne Hoffman, Jennifer Jigour, J.L. King, Liz Mamorsky, Michael McConnell, Erika Meriaux, Geralyn Marie Montano, Howard Munson, Tomye Neal-Madison, Kristine Mays, Sean O'Donnell, Priscilla Otani, Barbara Pollak-Lewis, Na Omi Judy Shintani, Liz Steketee, Denise Tarantino, Stephen C. Wagner, Tanya Wilkinson, and Sandra Yagi

Learn more about exhibition programming and see gallery hours at arc-sf.com

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