Join the John Natsoulas Gallery in Davis for the captivating upcoming exhibit, “California Funk to Figuration: A New Narrative Mythology.”
The exhibition will be open from September 7 to January 7. An opening reception will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, September 9, with live music and free drinks.
This exhibition will feature works by men and women who shaped the Funk movement. “Through their works,” a press release said, “including painting, sculpture, and works on paper, Funk artists have consciously undermined expectations. The colorful works all playfully address narrative themes, some more enigmatic than others.
Funk Art emerged organically in the 1960s in California’s major art schools as a rebellious response to the restriction of Bay Area representational art and the non-objectivity of Abstract Expressionism. While Funk Art has continued to elude decisive definition, its hallmark is a significant degree of absurdity. The artists responded, “when you see it, you know it”, when asked to describe the movement.
Those who uphold the ridiculousness that is the fundamental doctrine of Funk are known for their collaborations and the impressive followings they have inspired among their students. Some of the artists whose works will be on display include Roy De Forest, Robert Arneson, Peter Saul, Robert Colescott, David Gilhooly, Louise Stanely, Patrick Siler, Jim Albertson, Gladyss Nielsson, Jim Nutt and many more.
The Funk movement is often categorized as a West Coast art style, but this show will bring together artists from California and the style’s other major hub, Chicago. This exhibition will highlight the philosophies shared by different generations of artists, all of whom have imbued their works with unorthodox tradition and self-referential humor.
“Visit the John Natsoulas Gallery for the very exciting opportunity to see historic works of art that capture the energy and absurdism of the Funk movement,” the statement read. The gallery is open Wednesday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
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