natura: mythology, spirit, memory
Pat Gomez • Karen Bonfigli • Andrés Montoya

Opening night reception:
Saturday, April 12, 2008, 7-10 pm
Avenue 50 Studio, 131 No. Avenue 50,
Highland Park, CA 90042
Contact: Kathy Gallegos, Director, 323/258-1435
Duration: April 12 -- May 4, 2008

The Avenue 50 Studio is proud to present a
thematically charged exhibition of art by three Los
Angeles artists: Pat Gomez, Karen Bonfigli, and
Andrés Montoya. These intuitive observers of nature
create a poetic journey reflecting our relationship to
Earth, juxtaposing our contemporary world with one
we’re in danger of losing. Three separate
perspectives towards nature as lost, possible loss and
salvation. Beauty, though, rather than apocalypse is
being honored, holding on to the desire that humanity
does not see itself separate from nature.

Pat Gomez believes that all living things have an
energy force that we can choose to tap into and
embrace, avoid, utilize or ignore. Drawn to nature on
a spiritual level, she utilizes the process of art
making to connect to these unseen forces. Pat imagines
natural forces as icons, totems, or shields, in a way
creating portraits of the elements to empower and give
tribute.

Karen Bonfigli creates personal mythologies through
the exploration of indigenous fauna and flora. She
has created a site-specific narrative installation
interpreting the iconography of the ancient bird, the
Condor, and the Scrub Jay as the sower of future
generations.

Andrés Montoya sees this time as dire, every minute we
loose a part of nature and in some cases, with
irreparable consequences. Will nature become just a
memory? His skyscapes carry a message of personal
connection within all of us to embrace, protect and
preserve for future generations the wonder that nature
as clouds carry through our fragile planet.

Join us in a reflection of the natural world through
mythology, spirit, and memory. In a time of growing
global awareness, we are now often reminded that
humanity affects this biosphere we call home. It
serves us all to take time to contemplate our own
footprint that we leave behind on planet earth.

We will be partnering with the organization, A
Million Trees during our Second Saturday opening, and
giving away 1 gallon, 5 gallon and 10 gallon trees.
Please consider taking home one or more trees to plant
in your garden or give as gifts.

www.avenue50studio.com