Local exhibit allows art to create a voice

Photo by Greg Love / Aggie
The Davis Art Center's latest exhibit features the works of Bruce Burris alongside recent pieces by students in his workshops.

By Andrea Lagomarsino

Aggie Arts Writer

Contemporary folk artist and community activist Bruce Burris considers himself -- as an artist -- the equivalent of a minor league baseball player; to find his work, you'd have to look "outside the mainstream."

He works outside of the mainstream not because of lack of experience, but because it is where his interests, or more importantly his priorities, lie. Yet, with an education from various San Francisco art schools, experience studying with other accomplished artists and exhibits featured throughout the U.S. as well as in Europe, he has lots of experience as an artist.

Burris is a community activist. He devotes his time to working with people in marginalized communities. He teaches art to people who are homeless, people with mental disabilities, people who are recovering from alcohol or drug addiction -- people who don't usually incorporate art into their lives, but can use creativity as a voice, a way to speak to the public about their problems.

He said he believes that producing artwork gives people a sense of control over their lives; part of his artistic philosophy is that "art is just the vehicle to express how we all fit."

Burris' art, in turn, reflects the voices of people with whom he works. Through his art, he tells stories about the people that he has encountered, incorporating a large amount of text -- usually quotes and statements that he's heard from those around him -- into his paintings.

An exhibition of Burris' work is now being featured at the Davis Art Center. The exhibition includes pieces that are old and new, pieces that address issues such as rehabilitation from drug or alcohol addiction ("8 years n countin"), a half-comical, half-serious piece that focuses on stereotypes of the "hillbilly" culture prevalent in the Appalachian society where Burris was born ("Trail of Fears") and many other works with varying subjects.

Most of the paintings on display are large and done in bright acrylics, consisting of layers of tiny geometrical patterns, bold pictorial representations and large words scrawled out in an almost childlike fashion.

But these words, which portray a big part of the paintings' messages, do not seem so childlike when read closely. They cry out statements such as "My Angina Is A Radio I Can Listen To Your Tears" and "I'm twelve and drunk."

Despite Burris' concentration on issues such as fatal diseases, homelessness and substance addiction, his work does not convey hopelessness. His paintings, rather, exude a sense of understanding, support, communication and the possibility of improving lives. Perhaps this sense is a direct reflection of Burris' principal goals as a community activist.

During the opening week of the exhibit, Burris conducted several workshops which were coordinated by the Davis Art Center and the Yolo County Care Continuum, a nonprofit agency which provides various programs for people experiencing severe emotional difficulties. Some of the work created by these workshops' participants is also featured in the exhibit at the Davis Art Center.

Burris conducted four workshops: one with Woodland's Teen Parent Classroom, where teen moms can bring their children to classes and attend support groups; one with a group called Sister Friends, a component of a local drug and alcohol rehabilitation group; and two with mental health clients through the YCCC at the East Yolo House in West Sacramento and the Haven House in Woodland.

Burris' work with YCCC was part of an arts project that the agency began two years ago in order to bring artwork of the mental health system's clients into the community. The program aims to increase the community's awareness of the system's clients, as well as to give the clients a way to be recognized for their strengths rather than their weaknesses.

The YCCC clients involved in the arts project are not strangers to Burris' type of creativity; many have had pieces framed, displayed publicly and sold. Like Burris, the agency believes that art has therapeutic value and gives people a way to express themselves to others. Due to this shared philosophy, Burris' workshop with the clients was extremely prosperous.

"It worked out really well, through natural tendencies they have a lot of creativity," said Jim Mansfield, coordinator at East Yolo House. "When (Burris) came in he fed a lot of extra energy. He was a good influence from the art world."

Mansfield commented that the people with whom he works often have very strong and unique individual perspectives to express and that the programs are very beneficial because when they create artwork, there is a big improvement in their self-esteem.

"They had a great time," he said of this workshop's participants. "(Burris) wanted them to be involved in the process all the way through. He had a lot of respect for them and gave them a lot of positive feedback."

Art created by Burris, as well as by the participants of his workshops, will be displayed at the Davis Art Center through March 13, 1997. The exhibition is a unique learning experience; viewers learn awareness through the artists' messages, the artists learn about themselves and others through their own communication. It is this profound relationship between artists and viewers that Bruce Burris, with his community work and his deeply involved art, has sought throughout his career.

The Davis Art Center is located at 1919 F St. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and evenings by appointment. The exhibition and workshop series are funded with a grant from Davis Waste Removal.