Crochet Corset

Crocheted paper, #2 pencils, rubber. 36" x 18" x 3"

Ritmo and Sustancia

Knitted paper, #2 pencils, rubber. 24" round x 2"

Ours is the attempt to capture the moment before or in between the creative process takes place and materializes, when and where the most common and basic elements that are used in Art, like pencils, sketch pads and brushes, play a different role.

For many years we were using these tools as instruments, what we now tried is to turn them into protagonists.

Usually we use blank surfaces and draw or paint as little as possible. We try to catch something that goes beyond the artistic gesture, which may bring some ideas about Art or aesthetic statement, hoping to capture the subconscious mix of excitement and angst that precedes the artistic gesture.

We bring a certain aggression and destruction to the pieces to describe the tension that creation generates and the intensity of bringing chaos into balance. Also the objects we created through the process described above become themselves instruments of creation and unusual or not-thought Art. At the same time these pieces/instruments are capable of acting, in unexpected ways, as drawing tools.

Another way of seeing our work is to not pay much attention to the statements above and let the mystery, excitement, intrigue and similar feelings to come out of the pieces.

We hope emotions will emanate from our work because of unknown and inexplicable processes that are better understood by the making and through the experience of actually standing in front of our pieces, sometimes words are futile and shortcoming when describing a visual event. PS: "the narrative of the instruments".

Artists' biography

Alex, a painter and, Viviana, a designer, began in 1982 working with colorful foam rubber, they started designing a line of contemporary jewelry and fashion accessories. Since 1987 they introduce Club Mersa a line of modern home accessories, mostly clocks and toys along with some lamps and furniture, their work got immediate recognition and Galleries, Museum Shops and Stores throughout the United States started showing and selling their work. Their designs are also featured in galleries in London, Tokyo, Mallorca and Buenos Aires.

The last few years they started showing sculptures featuring art materials as the main narrative element.

For the last 17 years they participated in Art and Craft shows winning many awards. Among others: ACC Baltimore, ACC San Francisco, Gasparilla Art Festival Tampa FL, Las Olas Museum of Art Festival Fort Lauderdale FL, Pacific Northwest Museum Bellevue WA, Kimball Art Center Park City Utah, Contemporary Craft Market Santa Monica CA, KPFA San Francisco CA, Sausalito Art Festival, Sausalito CA, Scottsdale Center for the Arts, AZ. Cherry Creek Art festival, CO. Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, Philadelphia PA.. The Plaza, Kansas City MO.

Awards: First Prize two years in a row Festival at the Lake Oakland CA, Purchase award Las Olas Art Festival, First Prize at San Juan Bautista Craft Fair. Best Of category Tempe Art Festival (MAMA)

Since the time they started several press articles and reviews about their work were published in magazines and newspapers, among others San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco Focus Magazine, The Bay Guardian, Details Magazine, San Francisco Weekly, San Jose Mercury News.

Their work can be found at the finest galleries and museum shops throughout the United States and abroad. In 2004, their work was featured at the Chelsea River Gallery and Sansar Gallery.