Benny Alba's Biography:
California artist Benny Alba is primarily
a painter; with printmaking as a
secondary media. Alba's unique works feature the use of metallic leaf. In the
past this meant true gold, Dutch leaf and varigated Dutch leaf all of which
were combined in different paintings on canvas or paper with brilliant colors
such as thalo blue, cadmium red and cadmium yellow. This artist also uses
more black than white. Older works, mostly a series named "Old and New
World", speak to the interesting interactions between European and American
cultures via symbols from both. Alba continues to be fascinated with the
different cultures within one land mass. These works vary in size from 14
inches on a side to 8 feet.
More recent work is quite different. After a drive trip through the upper
United States, continuing thru Canada and into Alaska, the topic, colors and
type of metallic leaf changed. Landscape, always a factor in the previous
series, became primary. "Silver" (Aluminium) leaf, various blues and
whites
as clouds and water are with silhouetted mountains in saturated blacks. In
the most recent works the view has moved higher -- to the space above the
land -- as cloudscapes. A stint at the Montana Artist Refuge for the month of
January '02 brought big sky country skies to the fore.
Alba will be returning to the Montana Artist Refuge for the months of March
and April in '03. Instead of canvases, the artist will be painting on cradled
wooden panels of very small sizes. Smaller than a piece of typing paper, this
series may continue to depict cloudscapes -- or not, as the situation speaks
to the artist's sensibilities. Perhaps a continuation of the "Road Trapazoid"
series will occur. Prints in the form of linocuts will occupy the evening's
work time.
A full time artist, Benny Alba exhibits extensively in group and solo shows.
An apprenticeship is offered year around with the intention of passing on
information not only on how to create art and to exhibit but also how to
enjoy the artist life. Descended from several generations of artists (and
business executives), Alba firmly believes that apprenticeship is "almost
family". Never having attended art school herself, Alba actively participates
in community gifting via teaching and other donations.
AlbaStudios, this artist's warehouse, is located in Oakland, California.
Worth a visit, it has bare wooden, tall curved ceilings interrupted by large
diamond glass skylights, a show room and an immense work area. There's an
easel for painting, printmaking with a press and even a glass on metal
(enameling) areas to view. Occupied by past apprentices choosing to become
tenants, the artist and Spot the dog, AlbaStudios is open to a knock, an
appointment or during Pro Arts Gallery Open Studios June two weekend event.
A quick perusal of this site and others such as bennyalba.com will show this
artists' works, chronology and statement.by appointment.