ATTENTION FRIENDS AND ART LOVERS!!! The closing party for the "It Takes All Kinds" show, at Autobody Fine Art, is on Saturday May 9th...from 7PM-10PM....last chance to see this wonderful exhibit! 1517 Park Street, Alameda, CA 94501 Dear All, If you missed last night’s opening of “It Takes All Kinds,” you missed a great evening, - a fantastic group of creative people all hanging out, making art (we had a live silk screening demo by the awesome Political Gridlock), and talking about why artwork is such a critical component of the drive to rebuild society in a more connected and aware manner than ever before. We probably had over two hundred people of all ages, races and ideologies here last night, - what a fantastic reflection of Alameda’s evolution into a cosmopolitan community. I can’t say enough about the artwork, ranging from Ken Davis’ (big props to him for organizing the show and finding all these artists) beautifully handcrafted riffs on antique signage and social commentary, to Matt Richie’s amazing shadow boxes filled with gorgeous hand drawn figures and pop icon imagery. For everyone who has forgotten the power of hand drawn artwork in a digital age, this work brings all the passion and drama of draftsmanship flooding back into consciousness. Task 1’s dioramas, complete with Alpine cottages in a snow swept scene played out on the surface of an actual snowboard are charming and gritty at the same time, and John Stuart Berger’s fanciful creatures swarm across the surface of his vibrant engaging paintings. Finally, you all know Political Gridlock’s work, - you’ve seen those McCain, Britney, Palin posters on freeway off-ramps and poster strewn walls. Well, they are here at Autobody now, including the newly anointed Nadya Suleman “Octo-mum” print. Pitch perfect, - Fine Art from trash culture, immediate, disposable, cheap and utterly indispensable as a mirror of what is best and worst about ourselves.…………….so for those of you who didn’t make it, I’ve attached some images of the evening and come on by to see this work yourselves. The experience of encountering artwork that reflects, comments and occasionally politicizes an audience cannot be replicated by digital images. Talking of digital, Autobody Fine Art’s website is now live. Many, many thanks to Sunshine Urbaniak of Sun Design Studios, - right here in Alameda. I can’t say enough about how great she has been to work with, she’s more than put up with the luddite questions I come up with, and her aesthetic has shaped and driven Autobody’s look since the moment we teamed up with her. Check us out at www.autobodyfineart.com. …………….and finally. The Fifth Autobody Fine Art Dinner still has a few seats left for Saturday March 14th (oooo, a week away, - better start cooking. Right now!). I’ve attached the menu to this e-mail, and please check out the work of Alexis Berger at www.alexisberger.com, - she’ll be doing a glass blowing demo that evening. There’ll be belly dancing, music and fantastic food as well. An evening not to be missed. As ever, RSVP, but to ur new e-mail address: jacqueline@autobodyfineart.com. That way it gets straight to me, and avoids the pesky little scamming pirated that haunt Yahoo. Autobody is your art gallery, so please feed comments, suggestions, and even complaints to that address as well. As ever, Cheers, Jacqueline Cooper and Colin Herrick Directors, Autobody Fine Art 1517 Park Street Alameda, CA 94501 510.865.2608

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