Signature Gallery
EGRET - MAKING CONTACT captures through photography the striking personalities of egrets at home in cities of the San Francisco Bay Area. They stand gracefully at city entrances, by freeways, lagoons and parks. At surprise moments they perform their courting displays as mating rituals. They encourage us to recognize the parks, shorelines and lakes as masterpieces of nature.
These photographs reveal movement that looks like dance, close-up images of individual birds looking into the camera, and wild feathers caught in a frenzied fraction of a second. This collection echoes centuries of long-legged white bird stories, art, and theatre, cross-cultural myths and folktales, silk scrolls and ancient tapestries. The photographs are an invitation to appreciate the place where art, history and nature convene and to celebrate the wild elegance, practically in our own backyards. Egrets were almost brought to extinction in the early 1900's when it became a fashion trend to wear large feathered hats in Europe and America. The bounty on egret feathers surpassed the value of gold; the lacy feathers adorned hats as did wings and whole birds. The rapidly disappearing egrets awakened a women's campaign of Boston socialites that culminated in state Audubon societies, the first national wildlife protection act, and the groundbreaking Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 and, in turn, our modern conservation organizations. The Frank Bette certer for the arts show dovetails with the annual return of these magical birds to Alameda’s Bay Farm Island. Every spring through summer a joyous ---clatter from a tribe of great and snowy egrets overflows into Alameda, mating, building nests, feeding and teaching their young. Contact: gerrytraucht@yahoo.com www.gerrytraucht.com BIO Gerry Traucht is a Bay Area photographer, focusing on birds and dogs. The City of Berkeley has recognized him by proclamation for his environmental and creative contributions. He frequently contributes to the Golden Gate Audubon blog. His own blog is www.gerrytraucht.com/new-blog Almost daily bird stories and photos at www.instagram.com/gerrytraucht Also published by Golden Gate Audubon Gerry's Egret photographs and story. https://goldengateaudubon.org/blog-posts/egret-nests-alameda-2020/ |
Shows for 2021
February 5 – February 27 DREAMSCAPE Artists: Mel O. and Yarra McClure Opening reception: Friday February 12 • 7-9pm March 5 – March 27 COLOR JOURNEYS Artist: Nancy Roberts Opening reception: Friday, March 12 • 7-9pm June 4 – August 7 EGRET MAKING CONTACT Artist: Gerry Traucht Opening reception Friday, June 11 • 7-9pm Mid-show reception Friday, July 9 • 7-9pm October 1 – November 20 Artist: TBD Opening reception Friday, October 8 • 7-9pm |
Having an exhibit in the Signature Gallery is one of the privileges of being a member of Frank Bette Center for the Arts (FBCA). All art mediums are acceptable. There are four walls for two dimensional work. Three dimensional work is limited to the top of the table storage cabinet and what can be hung safely on the walls. We are looking for artists who will use the room in a creative way
Content of your show must be suitable for family viewing, this includes children. This doesn’t mean it needs to be at a Bambi level, but it does mean nudity needs to be tasteful, discrete and artful.
Graphic violence is NOT welcome.
Artists are selected from FBCA members who apply to have solo or small group shows in the Signature Gallery. All applicants must be a members in good standing of FBCA and remain so during the duration of their exhibit. You may become a member of FBCA any time of the year by paying membership dues. If you have any questions email BZ Meyers: bz@frankbettecenter.org.
Content of your show must be suitable for family viewing, this includes children. This doesn’t mean it needs to be at a Bambi level, but it does mean nudity needs to be tasteful, discrete and artful.
Graphic violence is NOT welcome.
Artists are selected from FBCA members who apply to have solo or small group shows in the Signature Gallery. All applicants must be a members in good standing of FBCA and remain so during the duration of their exhibit. You may become a member of FBCA any time of the year by paying membership dues. If you have any questions email BZ Meyers: bz@frankbettecenter.org.