Light/Art: Mystic Crystal Revelation

Patrick Hamilton
Hoses, 2006
Mixed Media
Dimensions variable
Courtesy the Artist

Ann-Veronica Janssens
Red+Turquoise, 2005
300 watt halogen lamp,color filter Dimensions variable
Courtesy 1301 PE, LA, CA

Jake Montefu
Marrow, 2006
Digital Print
Courtesy of the Artist

This November, Santa Barbra Contemporary Arts Forum will present Light/Art: Mystic Crystal Revelation, an exhibition of contemporary artists from around the world who use light as a form, support surface, material, and theme. Employing light in numerous ways, these artists articulate issues that have been the subject of the arts since the 1990s: cultural identity, societal issues, spiritual concerns, and autobiography.

Inspired by such pioneers as Dan Flavin, James Turrell, and Joseph Kosuth, among others who used light and neon as a medium, this exhibition suggests that light is a given support that artists return to when the form best suits their thematic and/or conceptual project.  Like paint, bronze, film, or digital-based media, Light/Art: Mystic Crystal Revelation proposes that light has become an ordinary medium and form for contemporary artistic language.

Light/Art: Mystic Crystal Revelation marks the first exhibition in CAF’s recent history with a truly international scope.  The checklist of featured artists includes Stefan Bruggeman (MEX), Miguel Calderón (MEX), Alejandro Diaz (US), Patrick Hamilton (CHIL), Ann Veronica Janssens (BEL), Luisa Lambri (ITA), Jake Montefu (US), Moris (MEX), Laureana Toledo (MEX), and others.  These artists represent the best and brightest faces of the international contemporary art community—garnering numerous awards and recognitions.  Stefan Bruggeman, for example, was nominated for the prestigious 2006 Beck’s Futures Prize. The exhibition was co-curated by Miki Garcia, CAF Executive Director and Victor Zamudio-Taylor, independent researcher, curator, and critic.  

Santa Barbara Contemporary Arts Forum is non-profit, non-collecting alternative art space dedicated to the exhibition, education, and cultivation of the arts of our time.  Celebrating its 30th Anniversary in 2006-2007, CAF is the premier venue for contemporary art between Los Angeles and San Francisco, presenting 15-18 exhibitions annually. Light/Art: Mystic Crystal Revelation reflects our mission to sustain and encourage contemporary art and artists ensuring that creative expression and appreciation flourishes in and beyond our community.

This November, Santa Barbra Contemporary Arts Forum (CAF) will presentthe third installment of the Salon project series—Austin Thomas, A-Framed Social Space. Over the past several years Thomas has created architectural structures specifically suited for gathering and interaction.  Called "perches,” these sites are functional and artful spaces set-off from the everyday. For Salon, Thomas will transform CAF’s Norton gallery into an A-frame vacation home, complete with screen door and parlor.   In this new perch, the artist will hold host a series of free public events—origami classes, book readings, storytelling, potlucks and more.  Daily tea will also be served at 3PM to gallery visitors.   When Thomas is not there to play hostess, visitors can enjoy and relax within this indoor retreat space. 

Austin Thomas’ perches include people and place as an integral aspect and are not complete until they draw people into them.  Rather than functioning as static objects or sculptural displays, Thomas understands the perches as event pieces that galvanize people.  For A-Framed Social Space, Thomas promotes contemplation and interaction of all kinds, and offers a new point of view from which to take in one’s surroundings. From the perspective of Thomas’s perch, CAF is re-imagined as a place for observation, contemplation and consumption.

This is the third exhibition in the series of artist projects entitled Salon.  Begun in April 2006, Salon artists transform CAF’s Norton Gallery into a moveable feast of programs, interventions, and opportunities for public engagement, as it launches a new series of artist projects entitled Salon.  Artists are invited to create participatory work that blurs the boundaries between gallery, visitor, and artist.  CAF has asked artists to address the tradition, begun in the living rooms of the 18th Century French women, to employ the interaction of a diverse group of literary, artistic and cultural figures to foster an open, transitory, and discursive space. 

Santa Barbara Contemporary Arts Forum is non-profit, non-collecting alternative art space dedicated to the exhibition, education, and cultivation of the arts of our time.  Celebrating its 30th Anniversary in 2006-2007, CAF is the premier venue for contemporary art between Los Angeles and San Francisco, presenting 15-18 exhibitions annually. A-Framed Social Space reflects our mission to sustain and encourage contemporary art and artists ensuring that creative expression and appreciation flourishes in and beyond our community.

Read Austin's blog HERE!

Group Perch. 2002 Wood and metal hardware. 7’-4” x 3’-7” x 3’-2”
Image courtesy of Michael Steinberg Fine Art

Social Climber. Wood (hand-stained, construction grade particleboard and pine), and metal hardware. 2000 15’ x 12’ x 13’
Image courtesy of Michael Steinberg Fine Art

Drawing on Building, 2004 installation at the Drawing Center, New York, NY (with artists in residence selected from the Drawing Center’s slide file). Wood, hardware, pencil sharpeners. 15’ x 6’ x 35”. Image courtesy of Michael Steinberg Fine Art