Deborah Barr-Brayman: Ten Feet Under and Upside Down by California State Univeristy Stanislaus School of the Arts

D e b o r a h B a r r B r ay m a n Ten feet under and upside down University Art Gallery Department of Art School of the Arts California State University Stanislaus

500 copies printed Deborah Barr-Brayman: Ten Feet Under and Upside Down August 22 - October 4, 2013 University Art Gallery School of the Arts California State University Stanislaus One University Circle Turlock, CA 95382

This exhibition and catalog have been funded by: Associated Students Instructionally Related Activities, California State University Stanislaus

Catalog Design: Kristina Stamper, School of the Arts, California State University Stanislaus Catalog Printing: Claremont Print, Claremont, CA

ISBN: 978-0-9857652-7-9

Cover Image: 2013, They Do, They Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t, oil, mixed media, and resin

Con t e nt s Director’s Foreword. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Deborah Barr-Brayman: Ten Feet Under and Upside Down by Lisa Lodeski . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Artist Statement & Biography. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Résumé . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

D ire ctor ’s F o r e word Deborah Barr-Brayman: Ten Feet Under and Upside Down, represents a chance to view her wonderful work. As an artist, Barr-Brayman works with many medias to create outstanding works of art. Barr-Brayman is also a devoted teacher of other artists. Her teaching at Modesto Junior College brought this exhibition to fruition. Recently, the University Art Gallery’s exhibition of the faculty of Merced College and Modesto Junior College created a new program of solo exhibitions of our colleagues. Barr-Brayman is exactly the artist that this program was created to exhibit. Her works demonstrate the excellence that CSU Stanislaus is looking to exhibit. I have had the wonderful fortune to work with many of the students who receive an excellent education in the arts from the teaching of Modesto Junior College and from Barr-Brayman in particular. I am very excited to be able to exhibit her work for others to enjoy. I would like to thank the many colleagues that have been instrumental in presenting this exhibition; Deborah Barr- Brayman for the opportunity of exhibiting her exceptional work, Lisa Lodeski, for writing the insightful essay, the School of the Arts, California State University, Stanislaus for the catalog design and Claremont Print and Copy for the printing of this catalog. Gratitude is also extended to the Instructionally Related Activities Program of California State University, Stanislaus and the many anonymous donors for the funding of the exhibition and catalog. Their support is greatly appreciated.

Dean De Cocker, Director University Art Gallery California State University, Stanislaus

D e b o r a h B a r r -B ray m a n : T e e n F e e t U n d e r a n d U p S id e D ow n For Ten Feet Under and Upsiide Down, Deborah Barr-Brayman created a series of paintings that serve as an indelible mark left from digging deep into her personal history. With an art career spent primarily on giving voice to children’s issues, this time the artist’s conversation is about her past, present, and future and dealing with issues of time, fear, suspension, and transformation with clowns as the voice box. Deborah Barr-Brayman brings you into her conversation with interesting images, fresh and unusual combinations of mixedmedia, brilliant drawing skill, approachable subjects, and dare I say pretty pictures. As you step closer to view the work, a delivery occurs in the form of a message, a question, a suggestion, a knowing, a surprise or a feeling of discomfort that may cause you to wonder if she is talking to you. She is. When I first saw this body of work, I felt like I was popped by a jack-in-the box children’s toy and delightfully frightened. These figures look like they are smiling, pointing and creating non-sense for fun, but there is something more sinister about their gaze in play. They are intriguing. Is it the clown looking at you or the person behind the clown’s mask? Are they kidding or only half-kidding? Are they mocking you or standing up to your gaze at them? It takes a a few minutes to get comfortable with them, and then you can decide. The artist has something to say and the technical ability to say it; two qualities I seek in a work of fine art. As in all her work, Barr-Brayman’s process of creative production is part of the message. The multiple layers used to create the paintings are referential to the layers traveled to in her heart and soul to excavate the ideas, form, aesthetic, and messages in a way that is congruent with her catharsis and renewal to create the visual dialog you may identify with in an intimate way. Lisa Lodeski June 23, 2013

Lisa Lodeski is an art historian, art appraiser, and private art dealer. She received her M.A., Art History, at San Francisco State University, and has owned Lisa Lodeski Fine Art & Appraisals since 1997.

IMAGES

2013, I Can Slip Away So Fast oil, mixed media, and resin

2013, Beneath the Surface oil, mixed media, and resin

2013, Reeking Havoc oil, mixed media, and resin

2013, I See Through Your Clotes ~ Your Nerve Damage Shows oil, mixed media, and resin

2013, Wait a Minute I Have Something to Say oil, mixed media, and resin

2013, detail Wait a Minute I Have Something to Say oil, mixed media, and resin

2013, detail Let Go oil, mixed media, and resin

2013, Let Go oil, mixed media, and resin

2013, Burn You Up Burn You Down oil, mixed media, and resin

2013, They Do, They Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t oil, mixed media, and resin

2013, It is What it is...Just Saying oil, mixed media, and resin

2013, Same Mistake oil, mixed media, and resin

2013, Seeing Double antique optical eye lenses and steel

2013, detail Seeing Double antique optical eye lenses and steel

Installation - Ten Feet Under and Upside Down University Art Gallery, CSU Stanislaus 2013

Artis t Stat e m e n t & B iog ra p h y My new work references old photographs of clowns from 1890 to the 1940’s. A clown can be ridiculous, pathetic, and demonic, even challenging morality. Clowns make parody of seriousness within a given culture, turning the world and how we perceive it ~ upside down. They represent the paradox between hope and tragedy; the known and unknown; vulnerability and victory; laughter and sorrow. In his poem The Layers - Stanley Kunitz states “I have walked through many lives, some of them my own, and I am not who I was, though some principle of being abides......” Within each clowns expression lies a personal history, an expression of the human condition; now and then. The schematics of children imply any child, any race, past present or future. My intention in my creative process is to catch attention by creating a visual dialog that the viewer can intimately identify with. The clowns are drawn on mylar, acting as a reminder that drawing is the foundation of painting, while the resin creates layers where the images are suspended in space. Oil paint and silver dust rearrange the old image in a new way, while drips and colored lines, textures and transparencies encourage discovery. A discovery of some principle of being beyond social conventions and the internal barriers that separate us from each other. - Deborah Barr-Brayman

Born in Wichita, Kansas, USA on February 7, 1959, Deborah Barr-Brayman holds a Masters of Fine Art Degree from the San Jose State University and a BA from Mills College where she studied with Hung Liu. She has held exhibitions of her work in the USA; Colombia, South America; Nairobi, Africa and Moscow, Russia. She has won sundry awards for her work, including the American Business Women’s Association National Achievement Award. She won a scholarship to study at The National Academy of Art and Design to study mural making and has completed murals at the MJC Performing Arts Center and Kaiser Hospital to name a few. Barr- Brayman has taught art at Colombia College, Merced College, San Jose State University, and is a full time Professor at Modesto Junior College in California, USA. She teaches Beginning Painting, Advanced Painting, Basic Drawing, Art Appreciation and Color and Design. Deborah has also been the US representative (1997-99) for the Bevey-Gate International Youth Programme, Heal The World, a project based in Nairobi, Kenya; US representative (1997-99) for the Russian based project Children’s Dreams, an international traveling art and concert exhibition; and the officially designated U.S. representative (1996-98) for the organization “Wings Of The World”, an idea which originated in Russia that is intended to bring attention and assistance to the needs of children around the world. Barr-Brayman draws on her interest in anthropology and the worlds spiritual and cultural traditions. Her current work references old photographs from the 1910 - 1940 Ringling Brother’s Circus and clowns from Europe 1890 -1940.

D e b o r a h B a r r -B ray m a n EDUCATION 2001 1998 1995 1991

NATIONAL ACADEMY OF DESIGN - New York, NY - Mural Scholarship/training MASTER OF FINE ART - Painting, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA. Academic Honors BACCALAUREATE DEGREE - Painting, Mills College, Oakland, CA. Academic Honors AA DEGREE - Fine Arts, Las Positas College, Livermore, CA. Academic Honors

SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2013 2013 2013 2011 2011 2011 2009 2007 2005 2005 2005 2004 2003 2003 2001 2001 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1996 1995

CSU Stanislaus - Ten Feet Under and Upside Down - Turlock CA Aug. 22 - Oct. 4, 2013 The Barking Dog - Beneath the Surface - Modesto, CA. - April 17 - May 30 Peer Recovery Art Project Gallery - Beneath the Surface - Modesto, CA March 1 - 30 Modesto Junior College Art Gallery - DRAW THE LINE - CA; Oct. 2011 The International House - Davis, CA. Nov. -Dec Dayton Visual Arts Center; DOMESTIC MEDITATIONS 2 Dayton, Ohio; May 12 - June 17 YWCA Student Lounge Berkeley CA. -- Jan. Feb. March Lisa Lodeski Fine Arts Aliso Viejo, CA. May 19 - June 23 Napa Valley College - Napa Ca. Nov 11 - Dec 14 Modesto Junior College - Modesto, Ca. March 3 -24 American River College - Sacramento Ca. Jan -Feb Reed Whipple Cultural Center, Las Vegas, NV - Oct -Nov Merced Multicultural Center - Merced, Ca. - Oct - Dec Stanford University - Stanford, Ca. - July - Sept Cafe Sumatra - Solo exhibition - Twain Hart, Ca. Oct Colombia College - Solo exhibition - Colombia, Ca. Sept Merced College - Solo exhibition - Merced, Ca. - April -May Benicia Public Library, Benicia, Ca. -- Jan 11 - Feb 14 Centro Colombio Americano, Medellin, COLOMBIA, SOUTH AMERICA- Feb. 10 - Mar 13 French Cultural Center, Nairobi, Kenya AFRICA Jan 12 - 23, Danville Fine Arts Gallery, Front Street Danville, Ca Jan 11 - Feb. 22, Phoenix Cultural Center, Moscow, RUSSIA Nov. 1 - 26, 1996 Pacific Bell Corporate Offices, San Ramon, Ca. April 1- 30, Beyond The Bench, Conference, Parcs Hotel; Oakland, Ca.

MURALS & PUBLIC COMMISSIONS 2008 2008 2006 2004 2003 2001 2000 1998 1998 1999

Modesto Junior College; Mural site specific, New Auditorium Entry: August Kaiser Hospital - Murals - site specific for Hospital entry: June 2008 Modesto Junior College - Fireside Lounge mural - 8h’ x 16’ w Lake Don Pedro Elementary School - Mural - 8’h x 40’ w Colombia College - Automotive mural - Colombia, CA Public art mural Community Bus Station - Planada, CA Sobrato Family Living Center - 10” x 15” mural with homeless children 1999, San Jose Arts Council & The San Jose University Foundation - collaboration 1999, San Ramon Marketplace - Art in Public places - Central Attractions San Leandro Ca. - mural 20’ x 40’ collaboration with youth - probation - Juvenile Hall

TWO - FOUR PERSON EXHIBITIONS 2013 2007 2006 2006 2005 2001 2001 2001

Building Imagination Center -Modesto Art Museum Modesto, CA. March 30, - May 30 Irvine Fine Art Center; Irvine, Ca July 29 - Sept. 8 Site specific installation Exploding Head Gallery 924 12th Street, Sacramento, Ca. Nov-Dec Benchmark Mortgage Company Santa Ana, Ca; May 17 - July 10 Artists Resource Group - Corona del Mar, Ca - Sept - Nov National Academy of Design - New York, NY - Sept MATRIX Gallery - Four person exhibit - Sacramento, Ca. - Nov Sinclair College - Three person exhibition - Dayton, Ohio - Mar -April

2000 2000 1998 1995

SOMARTS - Three person Exhibition - San Francisco, Ca. - Mar 7 - 25 Bridge Center Gallery, three person exhibit - El Paso Texas - Feb 24 -Mar 31 INTRODUCTIONS 98 Jernigan Wicker Fine Arts; San Francisco, Ca July 9 - Aug. 5 Pacific Bell Corporation, Corporate Offices; San Ramon, Ca. July 1 - Aug 18

GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2012 CSU Stanislaus, Turlock, CA ~ Full time Faculty exhibition ~ MJC and Merced College - March 8 - April 6 2011 2012 - Flow Arts Space ~ A Show of Light - Minneapolis, Minnesota Jan 5 - 14, 2010 2011 Faculty Exhibit Modesto Junior College Art Gallery Sept. 13 - October 7 2010 CCAA Mistlin Gallery - Modesto Ca May 8 - June 24 2009 Art Faculty Exhibition - Modesto Junior College - Modesto, Ca. Sept. 9 -- Sept. 24, 2009 2009 Group Exhibition - Hollingsworth Gallery - ALCHEMY: OBJECT TRANSFORMED. Palm Coast, Florida 2008 Chico Art Center - All Media 08 - A National juried exhibition -- Chico, Ca 2006 Modesto Junior College Faculty Exhibition - Modesto, Ca. October 1 - 23 2003 Pretty Lies, Dirty Truths BC Space, Jan 24 - April 31, Laguna Beach, Ca 2002 SJSU Faculty and Alumni; Computer Curriculum Corporation; Nov. 1 ‘98 - Nov. 2002 2001 Merced College Faculty exhibition - August 2000 Colombia College Faculty exhibition - Aug 13 - Sept 13, 1999 San Jose State Multicultural Center, RISING a Multimedia Exhibition - Dec 1999 1999 Danville Fine Arts, World View Ethnic Diversity - Oct 4 - Nov 3 1999 1999 Heritage Bank, San Jose Ca. - SJSU Faculty and Alumni - May 6th - July 6, 1999 1999 Center for the Visual Art, Oakland, Ca.; Five perspectives on the Global Child; Mar 4-27 1998 Applied Global University - SJSU Faculty and Alumni - July 15 1998 - Feb 15, 1999 1998 The Center for Visual Art, “The light and the Altar” juror: Enrique Chagoya May 3 -June 7 1998 1997 California Museum Of Art, Ca. SMALL WORKS Oct 15 - Dec. 21, Juror: Catherine Clark 1997 Woman Made Gallery MAKING WAVES Oct. 3 - 24 Chicago Ill. Juror: Pearl Hirshfield 1997 CAL EXPO ... California Works, Juried; State Fair Aug 16, - Sept 2, 1997 South Bay Women’s Caucus, Lynn House Gallery; Antioch, Ca. Juror: Lisa Lodeski 1997 Napa Valley College Gallery, BAY AREA ART, Jurors: Rene de Rosa, John Hannaford 1997 Gallery On The Rim, WHISPERS, 333 3rd St. SF. Ca. April 2, - May 3, Juror Eileen Bakker 1996 Lynn House Gallery, Antioch, Ca Sept. 12 - Oct, 24, Juror, Lisa Lodeski 1996 CAL EXPO .. Juried; State Fair “No Evil” Aug 16, - Sept 2, Juror; Mike Henderson 1996 “I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS, Galaria Tonantzin San Juan Bautista, Ca. May 23 - June 29 1996 1996 Whispers, Gallery On The Rim, S.F., CA April 2 - 25 333 3rd St “Target The Question” 1995 Center For the Visual Arts, Oakland; Aug 6th - Sept. 12th 1995 “THE WOMEN’S SHOW”, July 15 - Aug 26 Danville Fine Arts Gallery 233 Front St, Danville, CA TEACHING EXPERIENCE Full time Professor - Modesto Junior College - Hire date 8/2004 2003 - 04 - Instructor - Modesto Junior College 1999 - 03 - Instructor - Colombia College 2001 - 04 - Instructor - Merced College 1996 - 01 - Instructor - San Jose State University AWARDS 1997 American Business Women’s Association National Achievement Award 1995 Liquitex - International Excellence in Art Award 1995 National Council of Family Relations; Coral Gables, Florida (Feminism and Family Studies) Bibliography 2009 2008 2007 2004

KONK AM - Radio interview ART TECH TALK 7/10/04 Modesto Bee - Special Edition - Kaiser Hospital The Pirate’s Log; Deborah Barr: professor, artist, humanitarian; by Leo Daddario Modesto Bee - Portrait of the artist as a young woman - By Lisa Millegan 11/03/04

2003 2001 2001 2000 2000 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999 1998 1998 1998 1998 1997 1997 1997 1997 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1995 1995 1994

Merced Sunstar - Merced Multicultural Center presents paintings by Deborah Barr 9/27/03 Union Democrat - Artist Seeks Justice through Imagery; Jim Leitzell 9/27/01 Merced SunStar - Paintings by Deborah Dague 4/2001 Solono Times, Artist Draws The Viewer into her Paintings; Cathy Jacobson 1/20/00 Benicia Herald, Artist/Activist exhibit heading to the Holy Land; Richard Solono 1/12/00 Oakland Tribune, Vibrant Mural Helps Teens Express Hopes and Fears; Jeanie Wakeland 6/13 SBAWCA Newsletter; “Five Perspectives of the Global Child” San Jose, Ca.; Ruth Eckard 4/99 Medellin Times - “Activist Painter focuses on Children” Medellin, Colombia 2/16/99 Radio Interview “Heartist Activist works for Children’s rights” Medellin, Colombia Television interview -”Heartist Activist” Medellin, Colombia 2/13/99 Tri - Valley Herald “Activist Painter uses art to inspire action” by Monique Beeler 1/3/99 Daily Nation, Nairobi, Africa “International Children’s Artist” by Tim Gitau 1/22/98 Focus; Nairobi, Africa “From USA with the Lost Innocence” by Kabukuru Gichuki 1/18/98 Daily Nation Nairobi, Africa edition “Standing up for Children’s Rights” By Tim Gitau 1/15/98 Tri -Valley Herald “The World is Her Canvas” By Monique Beeler 1/5/98 San Ramon Valley Times “Artist Bound for Kenya with focus on Children” By Monica Lander San Ramon V T “Artist Focuses Her Work On Threatened Innocence” By Linda Davis 1/10/97 San Ramon V T “Artists Work Draws On Grim Children’s Issues” By Carol E. Robinson 1/6/97 Diablo Magazine “Banned Art - Wake Up and Smell the Violence” by Lisa Trottier: Nightclub News Moscow “Californian Artist/Activist Calls Attention To Children’s “Small World” 11/14/96 Business Daily in Moscow “Artist Represents Brutality To Awaken Compassion” Moscow Times -- Happenings and Exhibits at The Phoenix Gallery Tri -Valley Herald Editorial “Art Should Raise Issues” 11/21/96 Tri -Valley Herald “Artists Message Is Tough To Take” by Doug Campbell 10/24/96 The Ledger Dispatch Antioch “Piece de resistance” By Lauria Orella 5/16/96 San Ramon Valley Times “Danville exhibit of Women’s work” 8/14/95 Valley Times “Social Studies” By David Goll 6/13/95 Tri -Valley Herald “Artist Targets Teens, Family” by Emily Bazelon 4/5/94

WORKS IN THE COLLECTION OF: Mr. & Mrs Carone, Modesto Ca Ailish Brennan - Calgary, Canada KAISER Hospital; Modesto, Ca. Modesto Junior College; Modesto, Ca Kris Pitts - Sacramento Ca. Melissa Wackerman, Santa Ana, Ca Jeannie Diradoorian, Santa Ana, Ca Catherine Konop, Santa Ana, Ca Craig Ratcliffe, Santa Ana, Ca Brett Floyd, Tustin, Ca

Paula Davidson, Discovery Bay, Ca Dr. Jonathan Weidenbaum, San Ramon, Ca Mike and Lisa Archuletta, Warwick, New York Raymond Ashley, San Jose, Ca Lisa Lodeski, San Ramon, Ca Sharon Krause, Danville, Ca Steven Tome Nyang’ate, Nairobi, Kenya Margaret Safari, Nairobi , Kenya MAPP Coalition, Oakland, Ca Dori Sassin, San Ramon, Ca

ART RELATED EXPERIENCE 1997 through 2001 - I was the US representative for the Bevey-Gate International Youth Programme Heal The World, project based in Nairobi, Kenya. Heal The World, is a programme which focuses on creating and promoting awareness on issues surrounding our environment, wildlife, and the lives of street children in contemporary African societies. 1997 -05 I was the US representative for the Russian based project Children’s Dreams, an international traveling art and concert exhibition. Children’s Dreams is a charitable international project to support gifted, orphaned, disabled and homeless children in both Russia and America. 1996 thorugh 1999 - I was the officially designated U.S. representative for the organization “Wings Of The World”, an idea which originated in Russia that is intended to bring attention and assistance to the needs of children around the world. This project involves the transformation of a military plane through the application of children’s art, changing it from an image of military might to a manifestation of world unity and peace through the power of children’s dreams It will focus on the need to guard and protect the world’s children, and to defend their mental and physical health through positive action.

Ack n owledgeme nts California State University Stanislaus

Dr. Joseph F. Sheley, President

Dr. James T. Strong, Provost/Vice President of Academic Affairs

Dr. James A. Tuedio, Dean, College of the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Department of Art

Dr. Roxanne Robbin, Chair, Professor

Dean De Cocker, Professor

Jessica Gomula, Associate Professor

David Olivant, Professor

Gordon Senior, Professor

Richard Savini, Professor

Dr. Staci Scheiwiller, Assistant Professor

Jon Kithcart, Equipment Technician II

Meg Broderick, Administrative Support Assistant II

University Art Gallery

Dean De Cocker, Director