Axis Gallery 
Sacramento, California
1517 19th Street, Sacramento, CA 95811
info@axisgallery.org 916.443.9900
Hours: Saturday & Sunday 12pm to 5pm or by appointment
“Arrested development” is a term with multiple meanings that has existed for over 200 years relating to the premature cessation of mental, physical or psychological growth. The term “overdevelopment” too has multiple connotations as it may be used in reference to physical and mental growth, but also to the growth of economies as it relates to consumption and real estate development.
The title of the current exhibition, The Bearded Baby… or four examples of what this curator refers to as ‘arrested overdevelopment’ in contemporary art from Los Angeles, examines the juxtaposition of these two terms, “arrested development” and “overdevelopment” to create a third oxymoronic term which, in the context of aesthetic practice, attempts to create a positive out of two words that generally have negative associations.
Although working with distinct materials and processes, what the four artists share in common are bodies of work which possess a childlike and, what some may consider, primitive surface appearance that upon further observation reveal a quite mature aesthetic and discourse. The show explores the tension that is created between these two poles, and how the overall aesthetic serves as a point of entry to explore more grown up preoccupations, fears and desires.
Jean Debuffet, Henry Darger, Philip Guston, Caroll Dunham, and even certain works by Picasso may be seen as predecessors to the work in this exhibition, but what differentiates these artists from their precedents is their historical context. The four artists in The Bearded Baby… are all products of the late 70’s to the present. Their work is thoroughly processed through the lens of popular culture, music, comic books, fashion and sexuality of this era. And unlike Darger, none of these artists could ever be considered naïve or outsider as they all have gone through the art school system and have varying degrees of savviness towards art history, critical theory and contemporary practices.
Furthermore, it seems especially fitting that none of the artists were born or raised in Los Angeles, but that all four now make L.A. their home, considering the fact that L.A. is the place where young men or women arrive everyday to pursue their childhood dreams, only to be confronted by the struggles and temptations of life. Although their work may not specifically be about Los Angeles per se, the four artists in this show seem to transform the energy of the city into work that humorously and playfully acknowledges its own contradictions without falling victim to its trappings.
The Bearded Baby
Extended Title: The Bearded Baby… or four examples of what this curator refers to as ‘arrested overdevelopment’ in contemporary art from Los Angeles
Guest Curator Ichiro Irie
Featuring works by Rochelle Botello, Aska Irie, Jay Stuckey & Megan Whitmarsh
Feb 4 - Feb 26, 2012
Thursday Night Exhibition Preview Reception: Feb 9, 6pm-8pm
Second Saturday Receptions:
Feb 11, 2012, 6pm-9pm
Guest Curator: Ichiro Irie, of Jaus Gallery, an exhibition space in Los Angeles. Axis Gallery is pleased to have Ichiro Irie curate this exhibition. Born in Tokyo and raised in Los Angeles, Ichiro Irie received his B.F.A. from University of California, Santa Barbara and his M.F.A. from Claremont Graduate University. In 2001, Irie went to Mexico City on a Fulbright fellowship, and has maintained an active relationship with the visual art community in Mexico. Irie has exhibited his work internationally in galleries and museums such as Kyubidou Gallery in Tokyo, Museo Carrillo Gil in Mexico City, and CSW Museum in Warsaw.
Megan Whitmarsh “Shining Mountain” 2010, 70” x 55”
embroidery, thread, fabric, spray paint, marker
06. 2009
Anywhere but Here
Patricia Wood
History
Axis Gallery is an artist-run space. This cooperative has been together for over 15 years building a reputation for exhibiting challenging contemporary artwork. The artist members are equal partners and support the gallery through sales of artwork, contribution of labor and monthly dues, thus avoiding the usual constraints of a commercial gallery.
We are dedicated to the highest standards of excellence in our selection and presentation of works of art.
Past Exhibitions
05. 2009
Wonder, Wander
Janice Nakashima
04. 2009
In Search of Chia Seeds
Ray Gonzales & Ron Peetz
02. 2009
Works by Steven J. Miller
01. 2009
Annual Members Exhibition
12. 2008
Sacramento Cross Section
Joy Bertinuson, Ianna Frisby, Gioia Fonda, Liv Moe and David Lane
11. 2008
InForm
Marilyn Heilman, Joni Tanis & Karen Bearson
10. 2008
Fragments: Paintings and Linocuts
Dixie Laws
09. 2008
Curves, Math and Sound
A Collaboration Between Jiayi Young and Shih-Wen Young
08. 2008
Axis Gallery 3rd Annual Juried Competition Exhibition
juror: Phil Linhares, Chief Curator of the Oakland Museum of Art
07. 2008
Monument
A Collaborative Project by Geoff Tuttle & Eddie Stein
06. 2008
The White Creature
New Work by Tom Brockman
05. 2008
The Highway Remembers
New Photograps by Richard Gilles
04. 2008
Movin Feet, Shadows and Snow
Recent Paintings by Birgitta Franzen McCarthy
03. 2008
Recent Paintings
Phil Amrhein
02. 2008
A Spy in the House of Love
Patricia Wood & Pamela Bryan
01. 2008
Off Center
Axis Gallery Members Show
08. 2009
4th National Juried Exhibition
Juror, Janet Bishop, SFMOMA
09. 2009
New Works: Paintings and Collage
Birgitta Franzen McCarthy
& Lisa Lane
01. 2010
"Axis Tilt"
2010 Members Show
03. 2010
"Axis 2010 Invitational"
Pamela Blotner
Kurt Dyrhaug
Stephen Eakin
07. 2010
“Bending the Rules”
Cherilyn Naughton
5th National Juried Exhibition
Juror: Joe Amrhein
artist and director of Pierogi Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
11. 2010
“Forest”
Janice Nakashima
12. 2010
“Verge at Axis”
Youngsuk Suh, Gioia Fonda, Jeff Musser, Patrick Marasso, Andrew Patterson-Tutschka, Liv Moe and many more
Members
01. 2011
“Wrinkle”
Cherie Hacker, Cherilyn Naughton, Joy Bertinuson, Karen Bearson, Phil Amrhein, Ron Peetz, Janice Nakashima, Richard Gilles, Sandra Beard, Dixie Laws, Jiayi Young, Birgitta Franzen McCarthy and new member Shirley Hazlett.
02. 2011
“Lamp & Endtable Project”
Cherie Hacker
03. 2011
“Had Enough? (and other questions of pride)
Photographs from the 90s”
Richard Gilles
04. 2011
“Cybernetic”
GENE OLDFIELD AND FRIENDS
05. 2011
“Shape Shifting and Forms in Motion”
Birgitta Franzen McCarthy
06. 2011
“At the Edge of the World”
a multi-channel video installation by Ruth Eckland
music by Matt DiFonzo
09. 2011
"Reflection Spot"
Photographs by Karen Bearson
10. 2011
"Ron Peetz and Ron Paulat"
11. 2011
"REM Blue
unique prints from the flat files and other works on paper"
by Sandra Beard
12. 2011 - 01. 2012
"The Big Show"
Annual Members Show