New Exhibit Genus Loci" Featuring Paintings, Photography and Sculpture of Judith Anderson at the Thoreau Center for Sustainability

Genus Loci," an exhibit featuring paintings, sculpture, and photography by San Francisco-based artist Judith Anderson at the Thoreau Center for Sustainability in the Presidio, San Francisco November 11th through December 31, 2004. A reception for the artist will be held November 11, 6:00pm to 8:00pm

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (PRWEB) November 10, 2004 -- Genus Loci," an exhibit featuring paintings, sculpture, and photography by San Francisco-based artist Judith Anderson at the Thoreau Center for Sustainability in the Presidio, San Francisco November 11th through December 31, 2004. A reception for the artist will be held November 11, 6:00pm to 8:00pm

Sites and places are never simply locations. They are always sites for someone and of something. Thus the old search for the genus loci, or the 'spirit of the place invokes an unravelling of the subjective meaning that places are endowed with. With the Pacifica Madrona Tree as the subject of her artwork, Anderson finds her genus loci, a central, undefined spirit connecting her art making with the random beauty of nature. Anderson finds inspiration from the Madrone trees palette of vibrant colors and sensual curves. Living harmoniously among many other indigenous plants and animals-with its peeling bark, showy flowers, and brightly colored fruits, the Madrone, as Anderson offers it to us, asserts that random nature is harmony and deserves closer examination.

Through her artwork depicting this fascinating and seemingly unusual tree, Anderson shares her concern of Mans relationship with nature by attempting to draw our attention to space, our surroundings, where we might by chance open up to that random, presiding spirit of genus loci, that touches our humanity. Observing the Madrone tree within its natural environment, alludes Anderson, inviting us to re-consider Mans sense of place among other forms of matter on this planet in hopes of sustaining harmony between man and nature.

Applying several layers of poured oil color to her canvases, Anderson suggests the sensual variation of patterns of the Madrone tree. She avoids exact representation in place of abstraction, where she finds her personal interconnectivity with nature. Her use of color and style convey her reverence for her subject and leave the viewer curious enough to want to examine all the work as a whole.

On first glance, however, Andersons other medium on the Madrone tree can be somewhat startling. Her wood installations deconstruct local trees by removing branches from their natural surroundings and placing their fate in the hands of the artist. One wonders at the harshness of such an act, but the artists gesture leads to questions about Mans interference with natures regeneration, about our negligent acts toward nature, and how weve become too comfortable with artificiality, or falseness. I would favor Andersons argument that in our world where we are consumed with the business of personal and public image making, the Madrone tree, being evolved from truth or nature, embodies a beauty and strength we could only envy.

Located within the Thoreau Center for Sustainability in San Franciscos Presideo, the Galleries at Thoreau provides exhibition space for artists and organizations dedicated to expressing the Centers values of social, economic, and environmental sustainability through art.

CONTACT: Bruce DeMartini, Thoreau Center Programs, at bruce@thoreau.org or 415-561-7823.

WHAT: New Exhibition Opening

WHO: Genus Loci, featuring paintings, photography and sculpture by Judith Anderson www.judithanderson.net

WHEN: November 11 -- December 31, 2004

Cocktail reception for the artist on November 11th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

WHERE: Gallery at Thoreau

Thoreau Center for Sustainability

1016 Torney Avenue

Presidio, San Francisco

http://www.thoreau.org/gallery.html

Gallery hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

DIRECTIONS: http://www.thoreau.org/Location/mapdir.html

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