Paper nOr Plastic

Opening Reception: Saturday, May 9, 2009, 5:00 p.m.
Exhibit remains through June 7
Gualala Arts Center:   Jacob Foyer

"Paper nOr Plastic" will be an exhibit at Gualala Arts Center, opening with a reception on May 9, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. and running through June 7, 2009.

Bag by Lu Arenson

The exhibit, curated by textile designer Harmony Susalla and quilter Jan Carter, challenges the notion of the shopping bag as disposable landfill-fodder.

Public participation is an important part of the exhibit. In advance, participants may purchase a $5 blank organic cotton shopping bag (available at the Gualala Arts Center) to be altered, enriched, embellished and adorned in any way the artist chooses, as long as the bag remains functional. Participants may also submit creations of their own. Entry fee is $5 for Gualala Arts members, $10 for non-members.

A highlight of the exhibit: two pieces by renowned artist Chris Jordan from his series entitled, "Running the Numbers."

These provocative pieces illustrate disturbing environmental findings. "Paper Bags, 2007" depicts the 1.14 million brown paper supermarket bags used in the US every hour. "Plastic Bags, 2007" depicts 60,000 plastic bags, the number used in the US every five seconds.

The shopping bag may seem the ultimate icon of runaway consumerism, but this exhibit assigns it new value. "I dream of living in a place where people carry functional works of art throughout their daily shopping routine," says curator Harmony Susalla.

Participants: Download the Paper nOr Plastic registration form.

The Gualala Arts Center, located at 46501 Old State Highway in Gualala, CA,
is open weekdays 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and weekends from noon to 4:00 p.m.
Please call (707) 884-1138 for more information, or email info@gualalaarts.org.

Serving the coastal communities of northern Sonoma & southern Mendocino Counties.