The Bolinas Museum is opening wildly creative new exhibitions on Saturday, Feb. 5, also the momentous day of transition from retiring executive director Jennifer Gately to new E.D. Louisa Gloger. The main gallery exhibition, “William T. Wiley: & SO…,” curated by Ms. Gately and Jennifer Wechsler, presents the longtime West Marin resident who was a creative maverick. Wiley (1938-2021) layered societal commentary, witty musings, irony and humor into his complex art. The exhibition illuminates his interest in critical issues of war, politics, economics, the environment, literature, world trends, Zen Buddhism and more. After graduating from the San Francisco Art Institute in 1962, Wiley began an illustrious teaching career at the University of California, Davis. His art is held in collections at the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Art Institute of Chicago and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
The photography exhibition, “Catherine Chalmers: Safari,” presents a multimedia artist who challenges our anthropocentric viewpoint with a creativity that intersects art, science and nature. A Guggenheim fellow, Chalmers earned a degree in engineering from Stanford and an M.F.A. from the Royal College of Art in London and exhibits in museums worldwide. This exhibition surprises us with videos and photographs from her American Cockroach project.
The featured Coastal Marin artist is Alan Giovannetti, who creates unique sculptural jewelry cast in gold, silver or bronze and adorned with gems, carved skulls, taxidermy eyes and beach glass. His rings have graced the hands of icons of rock, jazz and television. He also makes small, sensual cast bronze sculptures. Giovannetti ran his own jewelry gallery in downtown Sausalito, then moved to Bolinas in 2000 to quietly continue creating.
There is a fresh selection of art in the permanent collection gallery, and “Intrigue of Maps” in the history room. Due to Covid, we will not have an official reception, but will be open from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday. As always, entry to the exhibitions is free. You are welcome to come by with masks, distancing and smiling eyes and see the new exhibitions.
Elia Haworth is Curator of Coastal Marin Art and History at the Bolinas Museum.