Contemplating Her Infinite Disguise, an exhibition of paintings and collaged mixed media by Masako Miki and Chris Russell, opens August 21 at Gallery Extraña

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 13, 2009 – Berkeley, CA

August 21- September 25, 2009
Artist's Reception- Friday, August 21, 7-10 pm
Performance by Loudmouth Yank 8 pm
http://galleryextrana.blogspot.com/

Contemplating Her Infinite Disguise is an exhibition of painting, drawing and mixed media works by Masako Miki and Chris Russell, that explore our connections and incongruities with the natural world. The opening reception is on Friday, August 21 from 7 – 10 pm. Graham Patzner of Loudmouth Yank will perform an intimate set at 8pm on the night of the opening.

Chris Russell’s landscape paintings and drawings evoke the subtle and sublime forces present in the cycles of nature. Evoking a reverence for natural phenomena, Russell uses geometric shapes and a bright color palette to reflect on our perceptions, illusions and disconnections with our natural environment. Masako Miki’s art explores notions of synthesis, incongruity and assimilation. Manipulating spatial elements through the integration of collage and painting, Miki’s compositions suggest a whimsical narrative, tipped slightly on its side.

In Contemplating Her Infinite Disguise both Miki and Russell allude to a personal or collective equilibrium possible through reconciliation with the natural world. The show runs through September 25. Gallery Extraña is located at 2912 Telegraph Avenue (1 block north of Ashby Avenue) in Berkeley.

www.chrisrussellart.com
www.masakomiki.com
www.myspace.com/grahampatzner

CHRIS RUSSELL was born in Boulder Colorado in 1983. He moved to Oakland to study painting at California College of the Arts. While a student at CCA, Christopher exhibited in numerous group shows including The Drawing Show at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, and Awesome: The Contemporary Sublime at PlaySpace. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts with "High Distinction" in painting and drawing from CCA in the spring of 2006. After school, he has continued to live and paint in the bay area drawing inspiration from the Pacific Northwest landscape. His time spent outside--whether it be backpacking, bicycle touring or traveling abroad has become an indivisible part on his studio practice. Since school, he has put together two solo shows and participated in various group shows. He currently lives and works in the East Bay as part of the artists' collective Paper Mill Studios.

MASAKO MIKI lives and works in Berkeley. She received her MFA from San Jose State University. She has exhibited throughout the Bay Area, including Kearny Street Workshop in San Francisco, Pro Arts Gallery in Oakland, Stanford Art Spaces in Stanford University, the San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, and the Creative Art Center in Saratoga. Her work is also available at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Artists Gallery. Recently she has finished artist residency program at Contemporary Artists Center in Troy, New York. Currently, her work is also on exhibit at Root Division Gallery, San Francisco and Berkeley Art Center, Berkeley. She has taught at De Anza College, Santa Rasa Junior College, Evergreen Valley Collage, Ohlone College, City College of San Jose, Mission College, San Jose State University, and University of California in Davis.


ABOUT GALLERY EXTRAÑA
Gallery Extraña was founded by Emily the Strange creator Rob Reger and artist, curator, and filmmaker Aimee Friberg in the spring of 2008. Its first show in July of the 2008 turned the heads of national press with the elegant illustrations of Nicomi Nix Turner. Its mission is to showcase contemporary, emerging, and mid-career artists primarily from the Bay Area. In addition to exhibiting eccentric, “strange”, and off-center work, Gallery Extraña is an alternative screening and performance space. Located in the Cosmic Debris Design house, the open gallery hours are Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 12-6pm. Call 510-845-3645 *290 or email galleryextrana@gmail.com for more information.