ART

Can you imagine creating an artwork a day for fifty consecutive days? This is the premise of Sanchez Art Center's first-ever 50/50 Show. Sanchez Art Center studio artist Robert Dvorak had participated in a similar show at 20th Street Art Gallery in Sacramento and felt that the concept would be great for the Sanchez Art Center in Pacifica. Soon Robert and other studio artists began meeting to discuss the possibilities and make plans, and a new show was born.

The 50/50 Show will begin with a grand opening from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, July 24, and will run through Saturday, August 29. The public is also invited on Saturday, August 29, for Sanchez Open Studios from 1 to 5 p.m. and the 50/50 Grand Closing from 5 to 7 p.m. The exhibition will fill all three galleries at Sanchez, providing an excellent opportunity for decorators, designers, and art lovers to find a wide variety of small-format artworks by known and emerging artists.

Sixty-seven artists were accepted from 81 entries, including such well-known artists as Fred Martin and Susan Matthews. Leigh Toldi, curator of Avenue 25 Gallery in San Mateo, juried those artists who had not previously been accepted into a juried show at Sanchez. Each artist committed to a specific theme and medium of their choosing for their 50 panels, which are 6 by 6 inches square. Each artist's works will be displayed in a grid formation and will be for sale. In fact, buyers can take panels with them on the day of purchase. All works of an individual artist will have the same price. On June 12 (midway through the fifty-day process), participants held an Artists' Gathering to show samples and share their experience. All agreed that the diversity of approaches and quality of workmanship were awe-inspiring. As show originator Robert Dvorak said, "This process allows both artists and viewers to see the creative changes that occur over time."