Gallery 1055
Bishop Marc, with the help of curator The Rev. Bertie Pearson, has turned the walls of Diocesan House into an art gallery, dubbed Gallery 1055. Gone are the portraits of former bishops, and in their stead beautiful artwork by local artists now graces the walls.
Although the work of each artist exhibited at Gallery 1055 has different themes, each exhibit serves as a visual reminder of the diocese’s commitment to both contemplation and action. Bishop Marc believes that showing the artwork of diocesan members at Diocesan House, the administrative center of the diocese, can tie us all together more deeply. He says “bringing these creative works inside on a regular basis helps people understand that this is a house, a home for our hopes and aspirations in the Diocese of California.”
You can visit Gallery 1055 inside Diocesan House at 1055 Taylor Street, San Francisco, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Current exhibit
Previous Exhibits
Understanding Native American People
Sue Reynolds
On exhibit Easter-Pentecost, April 30 to July 24, 2009
RSVP to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Photographs of rarely seen Native American celebrations across the West – from powwows to the Niobrara Convocation of Lakota Episcopalians – tell us stories of diverse tribes and individuals living between two worlds. The exhibit also highlights Episcopal Church outreach to Native people nationwide. Photojournalist and fine arts photographer Sue Reynolds says, “In making the invisible visible, I am working to create an essential connection with the first people who made this continent their home. My aim is to create respect and to inspire relationship building.” Reynolds’ limited edition book, “Proud People: Nations within a Nation,” will be available during the exhibit. She will give a free slide lecture open to the public on Saturday, June 6 at 12:30 p.m. at Gallery 1055 as part of the Ember Day Diocesan gathering.
The Way of the Cross
Kathrin Burleson
(Exhibited Lent, February 23 to April 16, 2009)
"The Way of the Cross" is a series of fourteen watercolor paintings based on the last days in the life of Christ. These paintings, also known as the Stations of the Cross, are usually done in a narrative style, with depictions of the events and people involved. Burleson chose to approach the subject metaphorically, exploring the symbolic and universal themes of the events. The paintings are also available for viewing on the artist's Web site, kathrinburleson.com. Painted over a period of two years, the fourteen paintings are conceptual interpretations of a series of events during the last day of the life of Christ. Traditionally, paintings of the Stations are figurative representations of people and events. These, however, show no specific figures, but rather explore the spiritual and emotional content of the events. Narrative images are important to our understanding of those events, but they are not the whole story. The use of metaphor invites us to a mystical experience of this traditional devotion. This series draws imagery from scripture, and both collective and personal experience.
Ethiopia Calling
Malcolm Young
(Exhibited Advent-Epiphany, December 3, 2008, to February 17, 2009)
As newspapers report on conflicts and unprecedented alliances between African and North American Anglicans, a group of priests and laypeople from the Diocese of California are reaching out and learning more about African Christianity. This exhibit of photographs documents their encounter with the Ethiopian Church, one of the most ancient forms of Christianity. During Timkat 2006 (The Feast of the Epiphany), these California pilgrims traveled to Ethiopia where they met ordinary believers, monks, priests and the Patriarch Abune Paulos. They read icons and prayed in the holy churches of Lalibela, St. George’s Cathedral in Addis Ababa, Debre Berhan in Gondar, St. Mary’s in Axum and in the monasteries of Lake Tana. They looked for what we share in common as Christians widely separated by our culture and daily life. This exhibition, Ethiopia Calling, shares their discoveries. Malcolm C. Young is a photographer, theologian, and Episcopal priest in the Diocese of California. Educated at U.C. Berkeley and Harvard, he currently serves as the rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Los Altos. He is the author of the forthcoming book The Spiritual Journal of Henry David Thoreau (Mercer, 2009).
Faces of the Homeless
Stan Lipsitz
(Exhibited Pentecost, October 2 to November 24, 2008)
An exhibit of moving photographs of homeless people in San Francisco by Stan Lipsitz. Lipsitz writes, "Faces of the Homeless is an attempt to get people to see the homeless and, hopefuly, to see them as human beings. Difficult as this may be, I know it is possible, for they, we are all G-d's children and it is said we are made in G-d's image." The photographs were displayed with accompanying stories of the people photographed.
Synchronicity (a process of letting go)
Lisa Marie Thorpe
(Exhibited Easter-Pentecost, April 24 to July 25, 2008)
The artist writes:
"Carl Jung defines synchronity as "meaningful coincidences." I chose this title because itsuggests th process that I go through to come to a final piece. The process starts long before I ever enter the print studio, it started years ago in fact. Even as a little girl, I cut pictures out of magazines, saved greeting cards & "precious" objects found on a beach or at a yard sale. Through my adult life I have continued this obsession. When I pick up things at a rummage sale or find photos and letters in a box in my parents' attic, I don't usually know what I'll do with them. It's not until later when I'm preparing to go to the print studio do things call out to be together. I'll spread out all my treasures, of lace, feathers, stamps, old books and photographs and see what pops out. Things call to be together and a story begins to emerge. As the artist I combine the objects to suggest a storyline, make an outline, but it is the viewer who makes the process complete. You come to the piece and complete the story, flesh out the meaning. Ther is a part of the collective unconcious at play here that makes these pieces sing. They are more than beautiful works of art. They are a secret whispered, a snippet of song long forgotten, and old joke that still makes you laugh, a line from a poem deeply loved." For more information about the artist and her other work, please visit http://www.bishopsranch.org/artist2.html .
Contemporary Byzantine Icons
Betsy Porter
photography by Richard Anderson
(Exhibited Lent, 2008)
An exhibit of photographs of icons made by St. Gregory of Nyssa member Betsy Porter, in the style of Orthodox Christianity. Icons have been historically revered as equivalent in authority to Holy Scripture, a visual expression of the Word of God. More than just sacred art, icons are treated with great reverence, as part of an active relationship with the holy.
I Am Proud: The Athletes of the Special Olympics
Richard Corman
(Exhibited Advent-Epiphany, 2007-2008)
In 1968, Eunice Kennedy Shriver took issue with the notion that people with mental disabilities are simply too different to belong, to be friends, or to deserve a good education, quality medical care, or a chance in sport and in life. By founding Special Olympics she opened the doors to a world where everyone has a chance to be a champion. Twenty-three years later Richard Corman discovered that world and put his own considerable gifts to work documenting the spirit and courage of Special Olympics athletes. His amazing photographs capture the energy and excitement of men and women, boys and girls from around the world as they display their skills and celebrate their gifts.
Si Dios Quiere
Lyra Harris
(Exhibited Summer, 2007)
These photographs tell the story of the year Harris spent in Honduras working with the Anglican Association for the Development of Honduras, organizing health infrastructure programs in rural villages, leading educational seminars, and listening to people’s life stories. Harris is a young adult member of the Diocese of California and a service corps volunteer. The exhibit was on display through the nationwide Episcopal young adult gathering Camino, which took place at Grace Cathedral from September 21 through 23, 2007.
The San Francisco Bay: Portrait of an Estuary
David Sanger
(Exhibited Spring, 2007)
Photographs of the San Francisco Bay Estuary by David Sanger. These vibrant photographs, published in the book The San Francisco Bay: Portrait of an Estuary, tell the tale of a fragile ecology and inspire a deeper appreciation of the worth and beauty of the estuary.
Stations of the Cross
Eliza Linley
(Exhibited Lent, 2007)
The first installment at Gallery 1055, on display during the season of Lent, was Eliza Linley’s extraordinary and compelling stations of the cross. Her works combine silk painting with photomontage for a contemporary meditation on how Christ continues to be crucified among us today through injustice and oppression.