The Figurative Art Movement of The Bay Area isn’t Dead
When most people think about art and the movements that shaped it in our society, they usually think of places like Paris or New York. Yet few know that one of the most significant art movements was centered right here in the San Francisco Bay Area. It’s called, “The Bay Area Figurative Movement”.
On January 5, Sausalito Center for The Arts (SCA) installed one of largest and most comprehensive Figurative Art exhibits of its kind with over 18 artists displaying up to five pieces each. “Sausalito Center for The Arts has the space for it and we are so pleased and honored to provide it,” said SCA Executive Director Shiva Pakdel.
The exhibit entitled ‘Third Generation: The Bay Area Figurative Movement Today,’ is curated by established artists Susan K. Kirshenbaum and Catherine Merrill. They are also participants in the exhibit. Their individual careers in art span the period from what is regarded as ‘the First Generation,’ ‘the Bridge Generation,’ and ‘the Second Generation.
Both curators spoke about how much the exhibit means to them and the other participating artists. As they explained and as websites like The Art Story, note, The Bay Area Figurative Movement (also known as the Bay Area Figurative School; or Bay Area Figurative Art, Bay Area Figuration, and similar variations) was a mid-20th Century art movement founded after World War II in the 1940s. It was made up of a group of artists in the San Francisco Bay Area who abandoned working in the prevailing style of Abstract Expressionism in favor of a return to figuration in painting.
“The art history textbooks say the movement ended,” said Kirshenbaum. “It didn’t end, it’s still going on!” She exclaimed. “We describe ourselves as ‘The Third Generation’ of the movement because we are the group of Figurative artists that are post-1970 and beyond,” said Kirshenbaum. “We may not be included in the textbooks yet,” she added.
The use of live models is important to this type of artwork,” said Merrill as her work is primarily sculpture and the human form. “People (especially Americans) often get upset over the depiction of the human body in art. I don’t get upset,” said Merrill, I celebrate it.”
Figurative art is basically any art (be it painted, sculpted or sketched) that illustrates real life forms and imagery. A model can be a person or anything that is from actual real life that the artist uses as inspiration to sketch/draw, paint or sculpt.
Figurative art has been going on for centuries,” said Merrill, from the ancients to the Renaissance period and beyond.” Both Merrill and Kirshenbaum chimed almost in unison “It has always been with us!”
Merrill wanted to clarify that the reason the exhibit at SCA is so significant is because as she said. “We as a culture are in the midst of the technological revolution,” she said. “But Figurative art is about working with one’s hands, rolling up one’s sleeves and connecting to the work, it’s not on a screen, added Merrill, it’s live.”
“I’m not interested in the abstract concept art that doesn’t express humanity,” said Merrill. Kirshenbaum agreed, saying “the live interaction between artist and model/scenery builds a story from it.”
This is not to say that artists like Kirshenbaum, Merrill and others shun technology. It’s just that they can see where important skills are being lost or under-utilized. “I use digital technology to help in my art,” said Kirshenbaum. “But I can see were that the basic foundations of art making is are not being taught as much in art schools.” “I consider technology a tool, said Kirshenbaum, but an artist must have learn the basic skills; sketching-drawing, painting, sculpting and so forth.”
In putting together the exhibit, Pakdel, Kirshenbaum and Merrill wanted the works featured to be extensive, diverse and inclusive of as many of the top Bay Area figurative artists as possible, providing each artist with a mini-show within the show. “This type of art takes work, said Merrill, while the hands and the brain are integrated, there’s an intrinsic connection that goes beyond thoughts in the head.” “The human body, said Merrill, and the entire physical world is so alive it thinks on its own apart from what we think and get stuck on just in our heads.”
COVID-19 made a considerable impact as Merrill noted. “The pandemic isolated us from one another and distanced us from the galleries.” “Yet ironically the isolation of the pandemic pushed some artists to do some of their best work.”
The exhibit hopes to express not only the talent of the participants but also the joy at being able to gather and experience art together as a community. The participating artists are: Joseph Abbati ~ Douglas Andelin ~ Madelyn Covey ~ Jane Fisher ~ Mary Graham ~ Isidoro ~ Susan R. Kirshenbaum ~ Catherine Merrill ~ Stephen Namara ~ Diane Olivier ~ Sharon Paster ~ Fernando Reyes ~ Alex Rosmarin ~ Randall Sexton (deceased) ~ May Shei ~ Sandra Speidel ~ Peter Steinhart ~ Charles H. Stinson
‘Third Generation: The Bay Area Figurative Movement Today’ exhibit will be on view at SCA from Jan 5 until 28th, 2024. A Reception will be held on Saturday, Jan 20th, at 2 PM until 5 PM. Refreshments will be served and there will be live music.
A Closing Party will take place on Sunday, Jan 28 from 3–6 PM, including a Book Talk, a Roving Art Model, and Artist Talks. For more information visit the Sausalito Center for The Arts website.
