CARRYING THE WEIGHT: Fire & Ice. The Art of Zaria Forman and Stuart Palley

February 1, 2020 to March 14, 2020

Climate Change is the greatest threat facing our world.

In this powerful exhibition, two highly acclaimed artists document our earth, in two distinctly different ways, to bring attention to our fragile planet.

Brooklyn, New York based Zaria Forman creates large-scale pastel drawings of glaciers, icebergs and oceans. She travels to the Arctic and Antarctic where she witnesses and photographs glaciers and icebergs and goes back to her studio to create massive pastel drawings. She says “I consider it my life’s mission to convey the urgency of climate change through my work. My drawings explore moments of transition, turbulence and tranquility in the landscape allowing viewers to emotionally connect with a place they may never have the chance to visit. I choose to convey the beauty as opposed to the devastation. If you can experience the sublimity of these landscapes, perhaps you will be inspired to protect and preserve them.” 

The El Portal Fire burns on a hillside in the Stanislaus National Forest and Yosemite National Park on Sunday evening July 27, 2014. Long exposure image. © Stuart Palley

Los Angeles, California based photographer, Stuart Palley has been documenting California wild fires since 2012, working as a photojournalist but also as an art photographer. His 2018 book “Terra Flamma: Wildfires at Night” features long exposure images taken at night. His goal is to “help inform the public of the acute effects of climate changes on forests and the impact on stakeholders affected by increased and more destructive wildfire behavior. I wanted to make pictures with more depth and nuance to help people understand the impact of wildfire instead of just getting into the horserace of breaking news. By taking long exposures at night, I can put a fire in the context of its geography.”

This exhibition is being accompanied by a series of community organized events. Download the event flyer to post and share.

EXHIBITION SPONSORS:
Carl Alberico, Bill Cross & Shelia Legacy,
Mary Czelusniak, Margrit Diehl, Terry Eckert,
Barry & Barbara Gordon, Julie Gozan & Tom Keck,
John Haritatos & Mark Desalvia, Wendy Harris,
M. Russell & F. Marion Lee, Lorraine Morganti,
William & Mary Padgett, Harvey & Dorothy Pearl, and Jill Spellman

2019-20 SEASON SPONSORS:
Bruce & Kathy Coville, Annemarie Deegan, Chris Flynn,
Julia Ganson, Bob Gates & Deborah Welsh,
GEGENSATZ PRESS, Ruth Heller-1199SEIU,
Mary Kuhn & Dave Thomas, Kim & Steve Linkenhoker,
Jeremy McKay, Lauren & Walter Melnikow, Diane Murphy,
Lleni Pach, George Savage, Laurie Gilmore Selleck, Jeff Unaitis,
Shailia Wood & Ramesh Gaonkar, and Amy Zamkoff

SPECIAL BENEFACTORS:
Anonymous, Donald Blair & Nancy Dock, Caroline Cargo,
Therese A. Deegan, Edgewood Gallery, Sandra Hurd & Joel Potash,
Ann Jamison, Lauren & Walter Melnikow,
Anthony Malavenda & Martine Burat,
Shirley & Larry Novak, Robert Sarason & Jane Burkhead,
Vince Sgambati, Rick Olanoff & Susan Wadley,
Dorothy and Marshall M. Reisman Foundation, and Susie Weiss

SUSTAINING SPONSORS:
Walter Putter & Marilyn Smith