ART

The exhibition, Everything Has A Story features two artists, Ellen Chong and Diana Herring, and opens on March 24th running through April 25th. With two very different approaches to art, Chong and Herring present prints and paintings that tell stories of everyday objects used in everyday life. The gallery, will host a reception for the artists on Saturday, April 10th from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., in conjunction with Redwood City’s Second Saturday Artwalk—the first of the 2010 season.

Diana Herring depicts animals and the human figure in a graphic, gestural manner. Usually a printmaker, she created works for this show using mixed media techniques such as collage and printing on commercial wallpaper. Ellen Chong does meticulous depictions of still life subjects in oil paint, which she refers to as “object studies.” When, by chance, they found themselves showing together, Chong and Herring decided to explore their differences. Chong's work is “object oriented,” focused on static images, fixed in time. Yet, the paintings themselves are not static but revive memories, so that each viewer may bring their own narrative to the object depicted. The “stories” that Herring develops in her work concern the complicated relationship—the conversation—we have with the "stuff" with which technology has surrounded us.

The artists have put together a show in which two very different approaches to art are presented, yet common ground is readily apparent. We should all be so lucky to be unafraid to address our differences. Come to the opening and meet the artists and enjoy their work. It’s a wonderful chance to ask questions and enjoy hors d'oeuvres.