Create(d) Equal

There is currently an exhibition at the Berkeley Art Museum / Pacific Film Archive which is near and dear to my heart. The exhibition entitled “Create” features artworks from three pioneering art programs in the San Francisco Bay area: Creativity Explored in San Francisco, Creative Growth in Oakland and NIAD in Richmond.

All three programs were founded by the amazing couple Florence Ludins-Katz and Elias Katz, who shared an unorthodox vision of what an art program could be. Each center facilitates the making, displaying and selling of art by people with developmental disabilities.

The exhibition, which is curated by BAM’s Larry Ridner, along with Matthew Higgs takes art from this oeuvre and elevates it from “outsider” art to significant museum work.

My connection, of course is with Creativity Explored. I wrote a post about CE as part of our “Local Treasure” series when I had started volunteering in earnest back in 2009. Since then, I have joined CE’s Board of Directors, and now have the privilege of actively advocating for these amazing artists and this crucial program.

The nine studio artists from Creativity Explored whose work is featured in “Create” are Mary Belknap, Daniel Green, Michael Bernard Loggins, John Patrick McKenzie, James Miles, James Montgomery, Berta Otoya, Evelyn Reyes and Lance Rivers. Information on all of CE’s artists can be found here. The work of these artists, as well as the others participating in the show may just change the way you look at art!

The exhibition runs through September 25, 2011 at the Berkeley Art Museum / Pacific Film Archive at 2626 Bancroft Way Berkeley, CA 94720. More information on the show can be found here. A national tour of the show is currently being organized.

David J. Hansen

Images from top:

1) “Watches On Orange” by James Montgomery © 2007 Creativity Explored

2) Image of Berkeley Art Museum via dailycal.org

3) “Port of Oakland Landscape” by Lance Rivers © 2010 Creativity Explored

4) “Garbage Cans” by Evelyn Reyes © Creativity Explored

5) “Bitter, Butter, Batter” by John Patrick McKenzie © 2011 Creativity Explored

6) “Untitled” by Mary Belknap © 2010 Creativity Eplored

A New Resource From an Old Friend!

Creativity Explored, our wonderful local art program has become like an old friend. My involvement with them has escalated to a position on their Board of Directors, of which I am honored to serve.For those of you who don't know about Creativity Explored, they are a local organization where people with developmental disabilities make, display and sell their art. I was even moved to write a blog post about them back in 2009 here.

In the past few years they have joined forces with the likes of Recchiuti Confections and the retailer CB2 (the off-shoot of Crate & Barrel) to use some of the artists works as powerful images on rugs, pillows and chocolates. This is all done through a licensing program, which has become an essential component of CE's art sales.

Another program which has gained momentum over time is CE's Art Services Program. This program allows clients to commission, rent, exhibit or consult about art from CE artists. This program, although available to anyone has been geared toward design professionals. There has been a significant interest in CE art by designers of commercial interiors, in fact our Board President Amy Eliot of Tom Eliot Fisch discovered CE through working on a project for her firm. My mission has been to bring the message of Creativity Explored's Art Services program to professionals working primarily on residential interiors. To that end, we have organized a reception for designers and architects on February 9th (this coming Wednesday) from 5:00pm to 8:00pm. If your in San Francisco, please come and experience this program first hand. More information can be found here.

David Hansen

Photos from top:

1) Artwork by Diane Scaccalosi in Avalon Mission Bay III lobby. 
Interior Design: Tom Eliot Fisch, Building Architect: Arquitectonica, Photography: Tom Seawell.

2) Lobby at Avalon Bay. Artwork by various artists. Interior Design: Tom Eliot Fisch. Photography: David Wakley.

Local Treasure Part 2: Creativity Explored

As a designer I am always on the lookout for ways to stimulate my creativity. It’s not often you find an organization that not only promotes creativity, but helps the community, and Creativity Explored has been doing just that for over 25 years.


"Yellow and Orange Abstract" by artist Taneya Lovelace for the Avalon at Mission Bay project.

Creativity Explored is a non-profit arts organization in San Francisco where artists with developmental disabilities create, exhibit and sell their art. This is a simple concept with high impact implications. This remarkable organization was founded by Florence and Elias Katz in 1983 (the year I graduated from high school). They saw the potential for a program where individual artists are encouraged to express themselves while providing the community with a new understanding of what art means.


Artist Walter Kresnik makes a larger version of a smaller art piece in the Creativity Explored studio.

My relationship to Creativity Explored goes back many years. Back in the early 90’s I lived in the neighborhood around the corner from the original and present studio space on 16th Street. I used to pass by the building on my way to the BART station and admire the art in the windows as I passed by. This was in the days prior to program having a wonderful gallery space (which officially opened in 2001) so I never took the time to stop in and see the art in any depth, but always admired the spirit in which the pieces were done.


The entrance to the Creativity Explored gallery and studio on 16th Street in San Francisco.

Inside the Creativity Explored studio on 16th Street.

My awareness of Creativity Explored changed considerably in about the year 2000. I was at a friend’s house who was an avid art collector. He had wonderful pieces of (mostly) photography from all the notable galleries in San Francisco. He had an incredible eye for art and I had always admired his vast collection. On one my visits to his place I saw that he had an amazing piece (not photography) hung on the wall in his hallway. It was done in bright orange and cobalt blue and had been painted on the back of a piece of Lucite and depicted two hands. I can remember having a visceral reaction to seeing something so special and distinctive. Of course I had to know where it came from and he said it was from Creativity Explored.

"Chinatown" by artist Kevin Roach.

Artist Evelyn Reyes working in the studio on one of her "Carrots" pieces.

"Red Carrots" by artist Evelyn Reyes.

I was sold, and knew I had to take a closer look at this incredible organization. I attended a couple of openings and loved what I saw, but in 2008 when business slowed I decided to volunteer my time and started helping with the gallery show openings. The shows which happen about every other month are curated by studio staff and usually have a theme which highlights the work of a few artists. I always leave these openings full of delight and inspiration.

Artwork used to promote the "Repetitions" show by artist John Patrick McKenzie, who uses words as his medium.

An image for the upcoming show entitled "Science" Fiction by artist Douglas Sheran.

"Utensils" by artist Steven Geeter used as the image for a food themed show entitled "Tasty".

In 26 years Creativity Explored has managed to propel itself into the twenty first century, while becoming a San Francisco institution. Their web site is an amazing source of information and features profiles on most, if not all of the studio artists and shows multiple examples of their work. The site also fully outlines the many events that Creativity Explored partakes in to promote its program and artists.

Artist Diane Scaccalosi in front of one of her large scale works to be used at the Avalon Mission Bay project.

Here in San Francisco, Creativity Explored has become well known through a series of collaborations. Some of the more notable and recent collaborations are with a local chocolatier, a national retailer and a new luxury rental project.

CB2 chairs transformed by Creativity Exlored artists.

For three years running now, local chocolate legend Michael Recchiuti has featured art by Creativity Explored artists on a series of chocolate tiles, with proceeds assisting the Creativity Explored studio program. This year’s artist was Vincent Jackson, whose graphic images work brilliantly in this capacity.

Recchiuti chocolate tiles for 2009 with the artwork of Creativity Explored artist Vincent Jackson.

A few months back CB2, the off-shoot of national housewares retailer Crate & Barrel, introduced a limited edition (2700 pieces) tote bag adorned with illustrations of San Francisco houses by Creativity Explored studio artist Antonio Benjamin. Some of the studio artists also painted limited edition CB2 chairs as well.

Limited edition canvas tote by CB2 with San Francisco houses artwork by artist Antonio Benjamin.

A notable commission for Creativity Explored artists was proposed by a developer of a group of properties on King Street in the Mission Bay neighborhood, near the new ballpark. The artworks were commissioned for the luxury housing project called “Avalon at Mission Bay ”. The artist’s work, which was primarily larger scale pieces were framed and hung throughout the property.

A lobby at Avalon at Mission Bay showing artwork by Creativity Explored artists. Photograph by David Wakely.

I look forward to my own collaboration with Creativity Explored in the future. Barbara and I have talked about using some of the artists work in some of our projects, and we will certainly let you know when we do. In the meantime, I will continue to support and cheer on this amazing organization. I hope you will take some time to check out their web site, or if you are in town attend one of their openings, and see for yourself a true exploration in creativity.

Creativity Explored is located at 3245 16th Street San Francisco.

David Hansen