Peter Ray, San Francisco Artist

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Peter Francis Ray

Painter, Sculptor, Art Glass, Printmaker, Performance,
Video/Filmaker, Artist's Assistant

Artist's Statement:

Art has it’s own life. During the creative process that life will present itself. The artist must pay attention and move with it. One’s intention and motivation is critical. And when a submission process occurs, it’s almost a spiritual intervention with an exaltation. What comes may be beautiful, however not all turn out to be what we initially envisioned. My intention may be one thing yet if I am truly giving to the process I will have no choice but to give in to what happens next. One has to cultivate, hunt, and even battle to coax the medium. You use the lessons of the trade or craft and go from keeping rules to breaking them. Take all your hopes, dreams, aspirations and dive in without reservation. Some truth or beauty may be revealed. The viewers experience finishes the work. This experience is limited only by the viewers willingness to engage arts own life.

Bio:

Education: As a child I was given the opportunity to study with graduate students at Cleveland State University. There my desire to be an artist was born. Later I had the same opportunity with students from Carnegie Mellon College of Fine Arts. I have an AA degree in Sculpture from Santa Rosa Junior College where I studied sculpture, painting, drawing, and printmaking from 1973-76. I worked as a teacher’s assistant under Sculptor Roger Barr and transferred to Sonoma State in 1976-78 to study filmmaking and videography.

Studio Experience: 1978-79, apprenticed to master glass artist Jack Ink at J.L Lobmeyr Studio, Baden, Austria, where I learned how to assist a professional working artist. I worked hot and cold techniques, maintained the studio and helped with exhibit preparation. I also helped other glass artists prepare for their new shows.

Theater Employment: 1998, I was employed by George Coates Performance Works, San Francisco, CA as a stage builder, prop maker and stagehand for Wittgenstein on Mars and Blind Messengers. My duties also included driving, and theater maintenance.

Artist Studio Assistant: 2007 to present, assisted various Hunter’s Point Shipyard Studio Artists, San Francisco, CA and ICB Artists in Sausalito, CA: Sculptor Russell Herman, art handling and studio moving; Sculptor Paul Lanier, design, fabrication, tile, grout, installation, and studio maintenance; Sculptor Paula Clark, sculpture refinishing, show installation; Painter Sue Averell, canvas and show preparation, installation, art handling, packaging, lighting, and studio maintenance; Painter Paulette Long, canvas stretching and preparation, show installation; Painter Dennis Parlante, lighting installation; Painter and Sculptor Laura Lengyel, open studios preparation, art handling, packaging, display, sanding, and cleaning; Clothing Designer Bettina Fahlbush, open studios preparation, painting, and display; Graphic Designer Dianna Jacobsen, art direction, errands, driving, cooking; Painter Younhee Paik, canvas preparation, frame building, gallery installation and de-installation, packaging and moving, driver; Printmaker Lila Wahrhaftig, show installation and de-installation; Painter Ray Jacobsen, art handling, moving and storage, show installation and de-installation, studio maintenance; Painter Celeste Chin, canvas stretching, art moving and storage, studio maintenance; Painter Bruce Katz, gardening, maintenance, painting; Sherry Miller, studio maintenance, painting.

Events: 2008 to present, Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, San Francisco, CA: assisted various Artists, Engineers, Stage, Lighting crews, and Caterers with loadin, loadout, crowd control and security.

Fine Art Handling and Moving: 2009 to present, Golden Art Moving, Mill Valley, CA.

Volunteer: 2009 to present, SOMARTS, San Franisco, CA, phone advocate; 2007-2008, New Langton Arts, San Francisco, CA, assist in gallery preparation and wall building.

Exhibits

2007 Harlot Lounge, San Francisco, CA
Murals/decorative painting

2005 Cell Space, San Francisco, CA
GLEAN Benefit (Global Education and Action Network)
Mixed Media Painting

2002 Fountaingrove Inn, Santa Rosa, CA
Mixed Media Paintings

2000 Arts Guild of Sonoma, Sonoma, CA
Small Works
Mixed Media Paintings

1999 Vesuvio, San Francisco, CA
Mixed Media Paintings

1998 George Coates Performance Works, San Francisco, CA
Wittgenstein on Mars, Blind Messengers
Set Builder, Prop Maker, Stage

1993-97 Fine Art and Frame, Santa Rosa, CA
Mixed Media Paintings

1992 Gallery Q, Santa Rosa, CA
Mixed Media Constructions

1988 Club X, San Francisco, CA
Live Painting/Art Performances

1978-1979 J.L Lobmeyr Studio, Baden, Austria
Art glass

References:

Steve Cho, Production Manager, Yerba Buena Gardens Festival 415-543-1718

Sue Averell, Artist 415-706-5051

Deborah Carroll, Manager, Hunter’s Point Shipyard Studios 415-822-9675

Dianna Jacobsen, Graphic Designer 415-279-9559


© 2010 Peter Francis Ray. All rights reserved.
Site design by Peter Ray and Dianna Jacobsen Design.