Assemblage structures intrigue and delight
Lamorinda Arts Council invites you to experience Dave Kwinter’s numerous assemblage sculptures, which are not only humorous, but tend to pique curiosity. He is also showing acrylic paintings and digital art through February in the Art Gallery at the Orinda Library. Meet this prolific artist at a reception in his honor on Feb. 7 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. while enjoying light bites with fellow art lovers.
Born and raised in Toronto, Kwinter has lived in the Bay Area most of his life. A retired attorney with two psychology degrees, his work life has been varied, including serving in the Canadian military, being vice president of a bank, working as a miner and delivering mail. Over time, he has pursued painting and digital art. He has exhibited assemblage sculptures all over the U.S. View his online gallery at tinyurl.com/58r8wwk7.
In 2018 he accidentally transitioned to making assemblage sculptures while struggling with a difficult canvas he was painting. He began sticking various items on the canvas and, “Suddenly I was in a new world of artmaking. I have devoted myself exclusively to assemblage ever since,” he said. Unlike collage, art assemblage is a 3D art form, like sculpture, created by combining found objects or everyday materials into a unified whole.
“Collecting is phase one of artmaking. It’s fun for me. I go to flea markets, thrift stores, eBay and that treasure trove in the East Bay, Urban Ore in Berkeley, and even pick things up off the street,” said Kwinter. “But sometimes I have so much stuff I can’t really look for more and have to avert my eyes when I see a thrift store,” he said with regret.
Phase two of artmaking, during which he actually creates his assemblages, is like setting out to explore a new, interesting place for him. He plans nothing in advance.
Three things bring him joy: “The Fit” when two found items fit together perfectly; “Creating a Cluster” when he joins two or three things together that work; and “Aha Moments” when a found piece he wasn’t sure of actually works out, or a when he finds a spot for a cluster piece he’s kept for months.
Kwinter has played with many genres, including realism, abstraction and cartoon imagery. Over time he discovered that his own personal enjoyment mattered more than perfection. Creating without pressuring himself to be commercially viable permits him to continue artmaking his joyful unplanned assemblages rather than following rules. Visit davekwinter.com for more.
Visit the Library gallery from Jan. 31 to Feb. 28 at 26 Orinda Way. Hours are Monday – Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and closed Sundays and Feb. 16. Call 925.254.2184 for more Library information or visit ccclib.org/. Questions about the exhibit or need more information? Email gallery@LamorindaArts.org, visit tinyurl.com/3mk7k9pp or call 925.359.4490.
The gallery is filled with Dave Kwinter’s assemblages, including this 25” x 19” x 16” work, “Cat’s Cradle.” Unlike collages, assemblage is a three-dimensional art form created by combining found objects or everyday materials into a unified whole. There is much more to see in his “Assemblage Structures Intrigue and Delight”” exhibit featured in the Art Gallery at the Orinda Library in February.
Virtual Gallery: Stephenie Bushra Khan’s Richly Hued Paintings
Lamorinda Arts Council invites you to view the artwork of featured artist Stephenie Bushra Khan in their Virtual Gallery through Feb. 28 at tinyurl.com/5n85e68v. Originally from Massachusetts, now living in Lafayette, Khan spent much of her childhood exploring the woods. Nature became both her refuge and her first spiritual teacher.
She began drawing and writing at a young age and later attended the School of the Worcester Art Museum.
“I was greatly influenced by Klimt, Pre-Raphaelite artists and Christian medieval icons with gold leaf. I love the colors of Van Gogh,” she said.
Kahn aims to show her love of nature in all its beauty through her art. After marrying her Bengali husband, she developed an interest in that subcontinent as well.
The Lamorinda Arts Council invites you to apply for a free online one month art exhibit here: tinyurl.com/bdefwr2t. Questions? Email info@LamorindaArts.org or call 925.359.9940.
“As a child in Massachusetts the woods were my place of worship and a place of refuge,” said Stephenie Bushra Khan. Those experiences inspire and infuse her artwork, such as “Embracing Nature,” her 24” x 30” acrylic on canvas painting. View it in the Lamorinda Art Council’s Virtual Gallery at tinyurl.com/5n85e68v.
Art to Take Your Breath Away
“Beautiful People” showcases portraits by guest artist Lorraine Curtis with a twist – they all include handwritten lyrics through February. It’s all at Main Street Arts in Martinez, now celebrating its 10-year anniversary. Visit mainstreetarts.net.
“Bookness,” in collaboration with the CODEX Foundation at the Kala Gallery in Berkeley, presents the book as a dynamic medium for artistic and cultural inquiry with book and printmaking, drawing, sculpture and textiles through Feb. 11. Visit tinyurl.com/4t2urcu7.
“Let the Light In” features paintings by Moraga Art Gallery members Irene Needoba and Elizabeth Kennen, as well as guest photographer Edgar Tumbaga through March 15. Visit moragaartgallery.com/.
“Good Fire: Tending Native Lands” is an immersive exhibition exploring fire-dependent plants, regalia, basketry, videos of cultural burns and artworks to help us understand how “good fire” benefits all life – humans, animals and plants alike through May 31 at the Oakland Museum. Visit tinyurl.com/4c82atx5.