Wildlife Beyond Borders - Exhibition Is Traveling

The glue that binds these artists exhibiting in Wildlife Beyond Borders lies in an evolution of thought and practice. Each has answered the question of what matters, what is important and what is worth doing by looking outside the human condition. One was a lawyer, one a doctor, another one was once a cattle ranch manager, and one was even a hunter - they now share a common goal, concern and love for wildlife.”
 
New location: Keeble and Shuchat. 290 California Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94306
Dates: From April 13, 2016, to May 11, 2016
Reception: April 16, 2016, 2:00 to 5:00 PM (Free Event) 
Artists: Oliver Klink, Wendy Hannum, Diana Rebman, Mary Aiu, Susan Carnahan, and Bruce Finocchio

Come to the April 16 reception and meet the artists personally and hear their stories of inspiration, share their passion for wildlife, and learn more about their creative processes.  

Meet Artist and Photographer: Mary Aiu

Recently artist Mary Aiu gave an interview to Rfotofolio.org. Full text of Mary’s Interview “Into the Woods with Mary Aiu” can be found at http://rfotofolio.org/2016/01/10/in-the-woods-with-mary-aiu/

Here is an excerpt:

What would you tell us about yourself?

I am a California native and live on a ranch in a beautiful part of Northern California with an array of animal friends. My life was greatly influenced by my father, a second-generation cattle rancher, so I grew up around ranching, horses, and the love of the land. After high school, I pursued my dreams of artistic visions and attended the California College of the Arts, receiving a BFA with a concentration in Photography and Ceramics.

Fast forward through the next 20+ years: career, mother, wife, and later, helping manage my father’s cattle ranch, were responsibilities that took precedence over my need to create. Despite my background in the arts, I never felt comfortable being called an artist, as I felt there was a great deal of grunt work yet to do, to master the materials and the connection of the medium with my inner self. So without the luxury of time to devote to refining craft, I just dabbled. However, in the back of my mind, I felt that someday, my time would come – which it did.

What draws you to working with horses?

I have always felt that if you’re passionate about your subject matter, it will show through in your work. A few years ago, I made a decision to choose a subject that would lend itself to becoming a body of work. Having great admiration for the horse and being an owner of a couple of them myself, the subject choice was an easy one. From photographing partnerships and interactions we have with the horse under-saddle, to finding beauty or story within a portrait, this journey has led me to an even deeper understanding and love for the horse. But what really pulls on my heart strings is to be able to witness through my camera the unbridled beauty of the horse in motion. It’s as if I were watching a dance, with each horse displaying their own unique flair of power or grace. It is so pure, watching a horse be a horse!

More of Mary’s artwork can be found on her website at http://maryaiu.com/

                              
·        The exhibit is enabled with a technology called “Augmented Reality” to enhance the user experience. When the viewer point their smart device at an image, behind the scene stories created by the artist starts playing. The viewer gets to know the artist, listen to relevant messages related to conservation, and discover what it takes to be a wildlife photographer. The technology is free of charge and doesn’t require any setups.