BARBARA M. BERK

Two of Barbara M. Berk’s pedestal-supported sculptures – “Oskar Schlemmer’s Dancer” and “Sea Currents” – have been selected for the 100th Anniversary Exhibition at the Pacific Art League in Palo Alto, CA.  Celebrating the centennial of the Pacific Art League, the exhibition features 550 artworks, both 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional, by 270 artists. 

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“Sea Currents” has been awarded Honorable Mention by Judge George Rivera.  This is the first such acknowledgement of Berk’s sculpture practice.

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Barbara M. Berk explores the interplay of metal with traditional fiber techniques and structures.  Using Renaissance stitches she plays with line and pattern, density and texture.  Using industrial metals, she plays with volume and scale, creating pedestal-supported, wall-mounted and ceiling-suspended sculpture. 

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Berk works directly with the metal, making ribbons of bobbin lace with stainless steel or phosphor bronze wire by hand.  She then curves, loops, twists, interweaves, sews or embroiders the flat lace “fabric” into a 3-dimensional form. 

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Located in Palo Alto, CA, the Pacific Art League is “dedicated to the great tradition of promoting art, training emerging artists and enriching lives in the San Francisco Peninsula.  The Pacific Art League currently enrolls over 2,500 students of all ages, backgrounds and skill levels in classes taught by a faculty of 40+ experienced artists.”

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George Rivera, former Executive Director and Chief Curator, Triton Museum of Art and former Director and Curator, San Jose Art League, has served as a juror of art in over 400 exhibitions in museums, galleries and art centers throughout California, nationally and internationally.   He has been a recipient of numerous awards in the field of art, art education, curating, arts administration and community service.  Rivera currently teaches Studio Art and Art History at Ohlone College, Mission College, and UC Berkeley Extension.  He resides in San Jose, CA.

 

The 100th Anniversary Exhibition runs from November 5, 2021 through January 24, 2022.  The Pacific Art League is located at 668 Ramona Street, Palo Alto, CA.  Observing appropriate social distancing and masking, the gallery is open extended hours which are posted on its website.

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Information about the exhibition, Pacific Art League and George Rivera

are courtesy of the Pacific Art League website.

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Visit Pacific Art League’s exhibition page

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About the work in the Exhibition: