Books: A Collaborative Exhibition with Carl and Marie C. Dern
In the Artist Book Gallery
December 2, 2008 – January 15, 2009
Join us for a talk with the artists:
Saturday, December 6, at 6pm
RSVP to art@donnaseagergallery or 415.454.4229

Carl and Marie C. Dern have a rich life in art and in literature.  They share a deep interest in books, sculpture, music and poetry.  Carl, a sculptor and Marie, a book artist came to San Francisco in the early 60s and have a rightful role in the history of artmaking in the Bay Area since that time.  Although Carl works in steel and Marie in paper and letterpress, there is a resonance between them in their love of simplicity and purity of line and a puckish enjoyment in imparting wisdom mixed with a little irony and humor.

Carl Dern was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. He attended the San Francisco Art Institute and received a BFA in Sculpture. He then received an MFA degree in Sculpture from the University of California, Berkeley. Working mainly in welded steel, Dern’s interests lie in the posture of the human figure, balance and imbalance. The figure may itself be portrayed in the human form or in the form of chair, tree, or ladder. Dern shares with his wife a love of storytelling and his sculptures often have a narrative quality.  Many of the sculptures, his trees in particular are like three-dimensional drawings.  Dern is gifted in drawing and you will find his images gracing the pages of Marie’s books.

Marie C. Dern attended the University of California, Berkeley, where she received a BA degree in Classics. She later attended Mills College, Oakland, California, and earned a MA in Book Arts.  Since 1974, Marie has operated Jungle Garden Press, presently in Fairfax, California. She is a letterpress printer and has produced approximately 35 titles over the years. She works with other artists and writers, producing limited editions of hand-made and hand bound books. She also prints and binds one-of-a-kind books of her own work. Among her titles are: Elephant by Raymond Carver, Believe It or Not by Kay Ryan, Duet by William Shakespeare and Hank Williams, Mayhem Pestilence and Disasters by Marie C. Dern, and a story, Muriel, also by Marie Dern on CD.