OUTDOOR OBSERVATION: Land and Sea

An Exhibition by Alexander Rohrig & Oliver Hawk Holden

The Bay Area is known for its immense landscape. The ocean as well as the mountains meet in such a unique way here that encourages both plants and animals to thrive. It is a rich and rewarding place for the observant viewer- birds, small rodents, snakes and turtles become visual rewards for the patient observer.

Much like the varied landscape, Oliver and Alexander came to San Francisco in very different ways- Oliver originating from coastal Maine and Alex from Fremont. Although we had many things in common including a shared studio and both being professional art handlers, the friendship really solidified over their shared love of the sea. Oliver purchased a small inflatable boat on Craigslist on a whim and needed an adventure buddy. Alexander gladly volunteered. After a maiden voyage that just barely ventured out into the Bay, Oliver and Alexander decided to try their luck and motor out across the bay to Alameda on their very lightly tested new watercraft. They made it, but only barely as they started taking on water near Yerba Buena island.

This show was conceived in the same adventurous spirit. Maybe a little too over ambitious, but propelled by a shared sense of “we got this.” Both artists responding to the observed nature around them through various mediums both collaboratively and individually. Pelicans, osprey, fish, coyotes all manifest themselves in the work both as visual models, but also with individualities all their own imbued by the artist.

Oliver Hawk Holden is a San Francisco-based artist whose work takes a satirical, yet deeply intimate look at the world and pulls mostly literal interpretations of distinct moments into semi autobiographical figurative collage. His practice includes kinetic sculpture, video, painting and installation.

Alexander Rohrig paints compositionally complex paintings that draw upon a wealth of spiritual, intellectual, and natural sources for his inspiration. There are visual and tactile elements to all his work along with a focused narrative of animal life. His paintings depict a relationship element between human interaction with the natural world and our place in it.