Special Exhibit: Art at the Dump with Henri Marie Rose and Bessie Kunath

Fri, May 26 - Sat, May 27
Friday: 5 to 9 pm; Sat: 1 to 5 pm
free

Artwork by Henri Marie-Rose and Bessie Kunath will be on exhibit at a
free reception 5-9 pm, Friday evening, May 26 and again on 1-5 p.m.
Saturday afternoon, May 27 at SF Recycling & Disposal's the art
studio at 503 Tunnel Avenue in San Francisco. This exhibit is the
culmination of months of scavenging through San Francisco's refuse at
the transfer station, better known as "The San Francisco Dump."

Marie-Rose's work in metal, wood and glass and has an intrinsically
poetic view of life. His show is titled, Ordures et Joie de Vivre (or
Trash and the Joy of Life). "I worship life through art with the
simple insouciance of the new moss in the crack of the sidewalk, the
persistent weed and the ever-new and surprisingly versatile orchid."

Marie-Rose, 84, was born in Martinique, served in the French Army
during WWII and studied art in Paris and other European cities before
moving to San Francisco in 1953. He has exhibited internationally and
throughout the Bay Area, including a one-man show at the de Young in
1960.

In addition to being an artist, Henri has worked part-time at the
recycling company for the past six years with more than 25 other
artists, assisting them with their work, organizing the studio and
setting up shows. Now he's excited to be the artist in residence -
some previous artists are returning to help him this time.

Kunath's work includes a series of light and shadow boxes, assemblage
sculptures, drawings and paintings. Her work is inspired by the
sentimental qualities behind our waste. "I am especially fond of
other people's possessions that were once very important to them,
such as jewelry, books and mementos. I sometimes think of an object's
importance to it's owner is related to how old it is - by how long it
took to make its way to the trash."

In her show, The Patina of Old Things, Kunath shows how she was
inspired by worn wood, layers of paint, broken found objects, fashion
and even French Colonialism. Kunath is the 8th artist to participate
in the dump's adjunct "student residency program" she started the
residency when she was student at the University of San Francisco.

The residency program was initiated in 1990 by the joint efforts of
artist Jo Hanson, the City of San Francisco and the recycling company
to inspire people to conserve natural resources and to instill in
children and adults increased appreciation for the environment as
well as art. More than 58 artists have completed residencies.

Bay Area artists apply for the very competitive dump residencies.
Those selected by a nine-member advisory board are handed the keys to
a 2,200-square-foot art studio and given round-the-clock access to
San Francisco's garbage and recycling facilities.

Art from the program is displayed in local schools and in public
spaces. Many participating artists also make a permanent piece for
the 3-acre sculpture garden on the hillside above the San Francisco
Transfer Station, where 2,100 tons of landfill-bound trash is dumped,
crushed by bulldozers and top-loaded into 18-wheelers five days a week.

Each day, trucks drop their hauls from San Francisco at the garbage
and recycling complex at Tunnel Avenue and Beatty Road. To residents
and businesses the truckloads amount to rubbish; to artists the daily
deliveries are a tremendous source of art materials.

For more information contact
Paul Fresina
415-330-1414


Deborah Munk
415-330-1415

Venue:

SF Recycling Artist in Residence Program
503 Tunnel Ave
San Francisco
415 330 1415
http://www.sfrecyclinganddisposal.com/AIR

From the Bay Bridge take 101 South to Monster Park Exit/Tunnel Rd.
Exit; go straight on Beatty to Tunnel Road. Take a right on Tunnel
Rd. 503 Tunnel is the grey building with a red dot.

From the Peninsula take 101 North to Monster Park Exit, take a sharp
left onto Alanna St., go under the bridge, turn right on Beatty St.
to Tunnel. Turn right on Tunnel. 503 Tunnel is the grey building with
red dot.

Additional Info:

415 330 1415
http://www.sfrecyclinganddisposal.com/AIR