The Slack Sense

Something told me it was time to visit Slack Collective…..actually it was a Facebook reminder for an exhibition on view there through August 18 called The Five Senses. The Slack Collective Gallery is now featuring changing exhibitions in addition to open mic nights, films, improv and other community events.

I snuck in for a peak at photos by David Anthony, mixed media by Joe Shea, and installations by Tim Kopra. I loved the way Kopra’s wonky chair whined at me when I entered “Who’s going to sit on me? No one ever wants to sit on me.” Across the room I noticed Anthony’s lovely black & white photos that recall some of my favorite works by Imogen Cunningham and Ruth Bernhard but in a more modern way.

And then Sheas richly textured paintings. Getting closer I recognized one of my favorite ingredients--coffee beans. Joe Shea incorporates them seamlessly, like an everyday medium. He adds colors, more texture and sometimes broken pieces of mugs and plates. I came to learn that Joe lived in Bolivia as a boy and never forgot the culture which somewhat centers on the production of the world‘s most popular pick-me-up. “Shea strives, among other aspects, to fuse the characteristically colorful soul of South American continent with the distinguished textural, sensual, and olfactory traits of the coffee bean.” I’d would say that he’s been very successful in creating a truly unique expression of both.

You can stop by and see the show next Wed, Thu, Fri at Slack Collective Gallery at 964 Pearl Street. Stick around on Aug 10 for the Open Mic night which is rapidly growing in fame beyond Napa.

Big props to Paul Slack for pulling all these cool artists together and supporting the alternative scene for many years. More images in the photo album "Slack Collective" at the right.

 

Comments

[July Epigrammatist]

Love your artistic eye. That open chalk wall changes all the time when people come inside. I hadn't even seen that poem there!

[Nancy Levenberg]

Ann - would like to contact you and can't find your email address. Please contact me at director@napahistory.org.