Explore a showcase of fresh art and design from students from the Academy of Art University at the annual Spring Show.

Opening night is May 22 and open to the public from 7-9pm (map).

The show will be on from May 23 through the month of june. The gallery will be open 10am – 6pm, closed Sundays and holidays.

This May Atelier will open its doors to the work of Sophia Ahmed Sattar as part of the fourth installment of its Emerging Artist Series. We had the opportunity to meet with Sophia at her Danville studio and checkout her workspace and learn more about her creative process. Below are a few photos from our visit.

As a working artist and a mother, Sophia’s studio is conveniently nestled at the back of her home in a converted garage space.

The whole space is a testament to Sophia’s work-ethic. The artist spends five hours every morning working in her studio.

Carbon copies that she uses to senticle calligraphy onto her canvas are everywhere in the studio; on the floor, hanging from the walls, and stacked in piles.

Photos courtesy of Doug Birnbaum, dougbirnbaum.com

Golnaz is currently showing her series, Men in Transit at 625 Gallery

In your most recent series, Men in Transit, you photographed young Iranian men in varying environments. How did you come about choosing this subject?

The choice of this subject matter was very personal and relevant to my brought up in Iran. I also, wanted to bring into light the difficulties that immigrant men have to face in the light of cultural extremes. I strive to make most of my fine art effort in bringing to light the social injustices and my work has been a commentary on the issues that we overlook on a daily basis. My last series before Men in Transit was called Forbidden beauty , which was related to the feminine side, so it was a due element for me to think about the flip side of the coin, as I personally observed and studied the issues that these young Iranian men face in this highly competitive and aware society.

You mention that the dreams and futures of these young men are “placed in transit.” Could you elaborate a little on that and how you represent that concept in your work?

Yes, I specifically chose the term “placed in transit” in lieu with my thesis. It is meant to describe the transient nature of goals and thoughts about the future set forth by the subjects I interviewed and photographed in my project. Almost all of them are striving to be the best in this society by attaining more and more opportunities with no end in sight, but they also talk about the idea of going back to their hometown later to have their own home and be close to the culture they were brought up in.

It is a tough emotion to process and represent in a fine art manner, and I tried to make this a very important element of my photographs by adding details like basking in the sun while sitting on a thin side rail of a gate opening to an unknown place.

There is a dreamy quality to the work; the colors are subdued and the subjects appear somewhat removed. How does this build on your theme of “transit” and your overall thesis?

Again, the idea of “transit” is part the cultural dis-assimilation that the subjects feel living in this society. Also, they all had a dream of coming to this society and take care of their financial hardships and the conservative nature of their lifestyle. Whereas, in fact they found themselves longing for that dream after crossing the barriers into this new world. I have tried to encompass these emotions by imagining a dream to represent their current state.

Prior to living in San Francisco, you studied Graphic Design at the University of Science and Culture, Tehran. How did that education experience differ from you experience as a student at the Academy of Art University?

I guess it would be unfair for me to compare the two institutes, as I went for undergrad studies in the former and graduate studies in the latter. I have learned a lot from both these institutes, but the most important change I experienced in my life was just living in San Francisco. Academy was a tough school to go through based on the academics, but in all it was an essential learning experience for me as I found myself challenged a lot and learned a great deal that way.

What are some upcoming projects that you are working and where else can viewers see your work?

I would defer from disclosing my upcoming projects as yet. But, most of my work can be seen from my website “www.golnazshahmirzadi.com”

A collaborative project beween Architecture 609 students and Fashion students at Atelier through 4.12, 2013.

Growing Extreme

Arch 609: Intermediate Design Studio

Instructors: Monica Tiulescu and Alex Neyman

The work is the invention of an aggregate component system that operates as a tectonic textile. The tectonic textile functions as a prosthetic at multiple scales. From the scale of the body, to a landscape and building, the system exhibits structural capacity, surface quality and volume. The logic of design is generated through a rule-based process of growth, that capitalizes on aggregation, variation, and evolution.

The course explored two parallel operations. The first, was research into the philosophical and physical implications of body modification, as it relates to social identity. The second, was the precise development of a building block system that maneuvers like an evolving ecology. This happens through adaption and in result, it exhibits emergent behavior.

The given architectural program, a reality TV studio for body modification, exhibits and celebrates the concept of grotesque and authenticity. The projects capitalize on beautiful deformations, the procedure and process of transmutation, and the cultural practice of extreme adornment to the point of creating multiple identity or indefinable identity.

The building and site program proposes an interactive environment for public spectacle and interactive events. The goal of this work is to create an incorporated form, structure and surface that augments multiple conditions and forms of its host site. In effect, the process and product will expand our notion of performative form, structures, spatial hybridization, and ornamentation/aesthetics.

The project operate more like an opportunistic species then an architectural typology. Form is the consequence of function of the variegated intensification.

Modern Happening, Ah-Young Jeon

Artists Reception: Thursday, March 7 5:30 – 7:30pm

Ah-Young Jeon’s work is as varied as the material she uses. The theme of contemporary culture and how modern society interprets it is the thread that binds together her series, Modern Happening. More specifically, Jeon is interested in how society adapts to culture and how culture can ultimately change society. For her piece, Inessential, she arranged seemingly useless scraps of painted steel such as one would see artifacts presented in a museum, provoking the viewer to consider how society and the space of the museum consider objects and our relationship to them. Job Hunt, a series of three glass frames filled with monochromatic gumballs, in an effective commentary on the hegemony of the hiring process.

A native of Seoul, Korea, Ah-Young came to San Francisco to attend the Academy of Art University where she received both her BFA and MFA in Fine Art, Sculpture.

625 Gallery

Reminisce 1950′s, Abigail VanCannon

Artists Reception: Thursday, March 7, 5:30 – 7:30pm

Abigail VanCannon considers herself both an artist and a storyteller. Paying attention to every detail of dress, décor and place, she transports the viewer back in time with her series, Reminisce 1950’s. By photographing her models in settings where every detail is true to the era, she is able to preserve the authenticity of the period in her work. Like the title implies, there is an underlying tone of nostalgia that is evoked from the simple moments of life that are the focus of the series.  VanCannon earned a BFA in Fine Art, Painting from Iowa State University before receiving an MFA in Fine Art, Painting from the Academy of Art University in 2012. She currently lives and works in Sacramento, CA.

104 Gallery @ the Cannery

Layers of Vanity, Melissa Small

Artist Reception: Thursday, March 7 5:30 – 7:30pm

Contrary to the seemingly trivial subjects of daily life such as lipstick and nail polish, Melissa Small’s series, Layers of Vanity, tackles the much deeper subject of female image and identity in contemporary culture. By focusing on makeup and shoes, Small hopes to urge the viewer to think about the actions that many women take to accentuate or conceal parts of themselves. Working with a colorful palette and keeping her compositions simple, she is able to “keep things lighthearted but promote thoughtfulness.” Melissa graduated with a BA in studio arts from Hartwick in 2008 before receiving her MFA in Fine Art, Painting from the Academy of Art University in 2012

112 Gallery @ the Cannery

Reality & Ideality, Taeil Kim

Artist Reception: Thursday, March 7 5:30 – 7:30pm

Taeil Kim begins his art by thinking, “how will I observe and re-create the figure?” Influenced by his observations of people’s daily interactions with nature, he is able to create moving and unique portraits. Kim is heavily influenced by the work of such masters as Rembrandt and 19^th Century Impressionism. These influences are reflected in the expressive brushwork and heavy use of Chiaroscuro he employs to add drama and depth to his paintings. The result is a beautiful and cohesive body of work. Kim received his MFA in Fine Art, Illustration from the Academy of Art University in 2012.

Tuesday, February 19

Chris Anderson Seminar @YBCA 7PM | $15

Former editor-in-chief of WIRED magazine Chris Anderson’s new book, Makers, looks at how the web and technology have transformed manufacturing. Specifically, Anderson discusses how technological improvements have allowed small companies to compete with large-scale industry. A prominent figure in the emerging Makers Movement, Anderson has worked to spread the word that anyone and everyone can be an inventor.

Wednesday, February 20

Supra Natural Artist Reception: Berkeley Central Arts Passage 6 – 8PM | Free

Kala Art Institute and Berkeley Central Arts Passage present the work of five visual artists and a writer for it’s exhibition Supra Natural, art as it relates to nature.

Thursday, February 21

Gordon Parks: Centennial Opening Reception: Jenkins Johnson Gallery 6 – 9PM | Free

Considered to be one of the most important photojournalist photographers in history, Jenkins Johnson Gallery celebrates what would have been the 100th birthday this past November of Gordon Parks with Gordon Parks: Centennial. The exhibition shares a collection of photographs spanning the 1940′s through the 1970′s. Notable works include prints from the Invisibile Man Series, color prints from Segregation Story, and images of the California-based black panthers.

Friday, February 22

Selected Works, American Photographic Society at 625 Sutter 10AM – 5PM | Free

The Selected Works Exhibition is a collection of 36 images from some of the world’s most creative photographers. Originally part of the APA juried show 100-image Something Personal Exhibit, Selected Works features the judges top three dozen choices.

Closes February 27th, 2013.

Saturday, February 23

Annual San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade 5:15PM – 8:00PM | Free

A San Francisco tradition for over 100 years, the annual Chinese New Year Parade is a celebration of the Chinese-American culture unique to San Francisco. The parade is the largest celebration of its kind and attracts over three million spectators each year.

Parade Route and Travel Information: www.chineseparade.com

Through February 23, 2013

Academy of Art University alum and Fine Art Painting Faculty member David Choong Lee’s solo exhibition, Organic Updates, at 111 Minna Gallery is an impressive feat of artistic skill. Each piece in Lee’s collection is composed of dozens of individual studies built together to create one massive work. Combining figurative skill with his ability to use shading to create a 3D quality in his work, Lee is able to create bold images with beautiful detail.

Lee reieved both his B.F.A. and M.F.A. from the Academy of Art University. He currently teaches figurative art for the Fine Art Department while simultaneously showing his work in galleries in New York and San Francisco.

For more information regarding Organic Updates and directions to the gallery, please checkout the 111 Minna Gallery website.