Ordinary Alchemy
May 9^th – June 14^th, 2008

Exhibition Opening and Artist Reception May 9th , 5:00-8:00pm. 

In the exhibition Ordinary Alchemy artists Cassandra Tondro (Santa Monica, CA) and Christina Yocca (Eau Claire, WI) transform ordinary materials into their artwork. Tondro uses Home Depot's "Oops!" latex paint in her flowing abstract paintings. "Oops!" are house paints that were incorrectly mixed, rejected by the buyer, or simply left behind and are offered at a discounted price. "Everyday the Oops! shelves are full - a whole new palette of colors and finishes to choose from," says Tondro.  "Sometimes the selection is insipid, and other times it is wildly extravagant with colors like hot pink, black, and metallic silver.  With the Oops! paintings, I am reclaiming that which has been rejected.  I take the mistakes, and through alchemy, transform them into gold." Tondro's work is located in private and public collections in the U.S. In addition, her work was selected for the American Embassy in Yaounde, Cameroon in conjunction with the Art in Embassies Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.

Inspired by nature, Yocca borrows building techniques from past cultures and the contemporary natural building movement to form vessels and wall pieces.  Her work derives color from Earth clays that she purchases or digs locally.  "I use down-to-earth materials, agricultural byproducts, and the dregs of the land", explains Yocca.  "Chopping, mixing, and pressing, I transform them into sensuous membranes for organic forms. While my alchemy may not bring a universal cure for global warming, it respects the environment. All my materials can return to the earth." Christina Yocca has received commissions for site-specific works from The City of Philadelphia; the Fairmount Park Commission, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; the Cheltenham Art Centre; The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Council on the Arts; Muriel and Philip I. Berman; and Quad City Arts, Rock Island, Illinois.