Sand gardens, the precursor for playgrounds and sandboxes, were popularized in the US in the 1880s. They were essentially giant piles of sand. These spaces allowed children a safe place to free play, creatively engage, and use their hands. For this show, Ian Parlett-Schaefer and Ari Bird explore the power of maintaining an internal ‘sand garden’. Both artists, who are also art educators, are inspired by the creative energy and sense of wonder that children so naturally have.
Ian Parlett-Schaefer received his BFA at California College of the Arts in 2011 with a concentration in painting and drawing. Parlett-Schaefer pulls from his experience and depicts everyday invisible moments rooted in nature. He aims to create a space for reflection where healing can take place. He lives and works in Oakland, California.
Ari Bird received her BFA at University of California Santa Cruz in 2010. Bird distills symbols from her environment to create tactile and soothing self-created worlds. She seeks to elevate everyday objects/actions to become symbols of ritual, transcendence, and connection with others. Bird currently lives and works in Oakland, California.
Oil stick and oil paint on panel
16 x 12 inches
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Acrylic on jig sawed wood
15 x 18 inches
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Oil stick and oil paint on canvas
60 x 48 inches
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Oil stick and oil paint on panel
30 x 24 inches
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Oil stick and oil paint on panel
48 x 35.75 inches
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