Three one-person exhibitions that address the idea of collage and assemblage open the new art season at UC Davis’s Nelson Gallery, beginning on September 25th, 2008 with a reception for the artists from 6 to 8pm. Piece by Piece by New York artist Laura Breitman; Dog Models by San Francisco artist Lauren Davies; External Measures by San Francisco artist Camille Utterback will be on display until December 7th.

“What I love about all three of these projects is their sense of humor and how they play with our need for art to represent reality. We want to believe our eyes but at this point in history we know better than to trust that anything will be exactly what it seems to be,” says Renny Pritikin, director of the Nelson Gallery and curator of the three exhibitions.

Laura Breitman creates large, photo-realistic renderings of landscapes and cityscapes that, upon close examination, reveal themselves to be not drawings or watercolors, but collages of fabric. This eye-tricking work is the result of unusual techniques Breitman has devised over a lifetime. Lauren Davies creates 20% scale dogs—sheepdogs, terriers, et al—out of the fur she gathers from her own pets and from grooming salons and internet-solicited gifts. The resulting models simultaneously capture the charm and personality of the original animals while also embodying a creepy fetishism. Camille Utterback creates video systems that, within a defined square floor space, document a visitor’s path via abstract video projection. Routes through space are marked and then computer programs visually elaborate on those movements. The result is a complex color drawing that succeeds as both a layered video painting and a history of one’s travel through space.

Breitman will present a one-hour demonstration on Election Day, November 4th, in the gallery at 4:30pm; signing up in advance is recommended. Call 530-752-8500 for information.

Also On View:

In the entryway gallery are new large color photo collages by UC Davis alumnus Jimmy Jalapeeno, who graduated from the MFA program 35 years ago and now lives in Austin, Texas. At the Buehler Alumni Center satellite gallery are photographs by campus architect Allen Lowry in celebration of the new Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Sciences opening in September. Lowery’s photographs document the behind-the-scenes construction of the building.

The Nelson Gallery is located in room 124 of the art building on campus, and is open Monday through Friday from 11am to 5pm, and on Sunday from 2 to 5pm. For photographs and further information, contact Katrina Wong at kliwong@ucdavis.edu or 530-752-8500.