Went to an opening reception last Saturday in San Francisco at Meridian Gallery. A professor of mine, David Linger, from UC Berkeley was showing his new work in ceramics. The exhibit was very good. David creates these very delicate, thin ceramic panels in translucent porcelain. He transfers black and white photographic images onto the panels. He embosses lettering onto some of the panels. His skill at firing these delicate panels, transferring them to a gallery and hanging them without breaking them fascinates me. The images seem to have a memory narrative. They’re emotional – sad and lonely. The images are of boats and courtyards of scenes and recognizable objects in places that seem to be in Morocco or Russia.
The reception was crowded with lots of well-dressed people who appeared to be serious art patrons. I recognized some – artists and professors. I saw David almost immediately when I walked in, but he was surrounded, so I looked around. The gallery is a Victorian-style, 3-story house placed on a typical San Francisco hill, so lots of stairs and rooms and doors. I was never able to talk to David and felt bad about just leaving. I get very shy at these things. I tend not to talk to anyone and feel very awkward and uncomfortable. But I love to go. I love to hear what people have to say. And I love to leave. (David later emailed me that HE was sorry he wasn’t able to talk and that next time, I should interrupt him… helps him break away…) for the love of God…
