Brains, Nests, Art: Welcome to the Worth Ryder

Recently I had someone ask me, “Is it possible to get from Evans to Stanley Hall in ten minutes?”

I almost laughed out loud, since walking from Evans to Stanley is like a trip from my room to the laundry facility on the same floor. It occurred to me that some Cal students don’t know campus all that well.

That being said, my favorite building on campus is Kroeber Hall, located at the intersection of Bancroft and College. Apart from housing a museum, gift shop, numerous studios and Practice of Art and Anthropology majors, Kroeber is home to the Worth Ryder Art Gallery. Located conveniently on the first floor at 116 Kroeber, the Worth Ryder features student and faculty work from UC Berkeley and beyond, as well as aspiring artists from the Bay area.

At the time of writing, the gallery is exhibiting advanced sculpture from the likes of Jae Lauren Payne and Meredith Duvardo. Both are California natives and graduates of UC Berkeley, Class of 2009, with Highest Honors and departmental citations for excellence in sculpture. In collaborating, their artistic differences “rather than operating as a limit, work to extend the domain of their individual art.”

When I was at the gallery earlier this week to check out their exhibit, I focused my attention on a large-scale structure of tree limbs and bird nests. I was still staring at it when a student climbed into one of the nests (!), sat himself down and proceeded to flip open his textbook and read. People were supposed to sit inside the installation. Got it. Art, you continue to amaze me.

Stare at art, sit in bird nests at the Worth Ryder, open Tuesday through Saturday, 12-5 pm. The exhibition line-up for Fall 2010 is below. I’m excited for December’s reception, what about you?

SEP 15 to OCT 9
Knowledge Hacking

OCT 20 to OCT 30 NOW SHOWING
Advanced Sculpture / Jae Lauren Payne & Meredith Duvardo

NOV 3 to NOV 13
Faculty Show

NOV 17 to NOV 27
Honors Studio

DEC 1 to DEC 11
Haas Scholar Exhibition: Jonathan Wang / Comics & Graphic Novels

For the latest events from UC Berkeley’s Department of Art Practice, check their blog.

Image courtesy of UC Berkeley Department of Art Practice.