SEEN September 25, 2012

Through September 30, 2012, 10am-6pm, M-F

How is gender embodied and displayed?

SEEN is a sensual exploration of gender, incorporating diverse works by Bay Area artists and California masters including David Park, Nathan Oliveira, Richard Diebenkorn, Mel Ramos, Theophilus Brown, Annie Sprinkle, Mimi Plumb, Peter Max Lawrence, Elena Zolotnitsky and Forrest Williams (on loan from Marx & Zavattero).

SEEN was curated by Julie Blankenship and includes selections from the collection of the Museum of Northern California Art.

Hung close together, there is a subtle tension exists between works that is alternately serious and playful. The apparent unease of the naked woman depicted seated on an outsized cheeseburger in Mel Ramos' Verna Burger, appears more palpable because the work is situated between two self portraits by Annie Sprinkle that are sly and surprisingly gentle, self-referential comments on body image and narcissism.

Both traditionally-defined and queer visions of gender are represented, from the virile power of David Park's masterful Untitled ink drawing to playful drawings by Peter Max Lawrence that are a gender-queer vision of "hetero-normative" body ideals viewed through the lens of superhero tropes.

Partnering with Visual Aid in San Francisco is a wonderful opportunity to bring works from monca to the Bay Area through a Pop Up experience. I am delighted to continue my long-time association with Visual Aid through this exhibition where works by artists from monca are displayed in conversation with Visual Aid artists and other Bay Area contemporary artists. - Pat Macias, monca Co-Founder

Official Website: http://www.visualaid.org