In June of 2011, a group of students and recent graduates from the UC Berkeley Department of Landscape Architecture assembled for a figure drawing night with the intention of exercising their drawing skills and sharing their completed artwork with each other. It was at this first gathering that the group named itself Space Open, a name meant to convey the spirit of the group’s artistic attitude - come in, create, and share.



Over time, the group began to meet more frequently and because of their landscape influence the drawing nights expanded into outdoor excursions to paint and draw while fully immersed in the landscape. These model drawing nights and outdoor excursions continued, growing with impromptu haiku recitals, art shows, pin-up critiques and most essentially the convening of people in real space and in real time.

Space Open is a daily practice of seeing and rendering the world in the spirit of the Great Masters. However, this fluctuating group are not yet masters, but contemporary creative explorers and inspired idealists who find a calling in their surrounding landscape and among each other.

We visualize our relationship with the landscape through image, object, word, dance, performance and video. Our united response redefines the practice of landscape architecture as a group of creative individuals whose objectives extend beyond the prevailing office routine, and towards building a community through the making and sharing of art.

This exhibition captures a moment in time when as a group Space Open is questioning the reality of life in the profession: Outside the office, just what is landscape architecture?

spaceopen.org

Opening Reception & Artist Talks

Wurster Gallery, UC Berkeley

7-­9 PM, Thursday, January 21st

Live Figure Drawing in the Gallery

Wurster Gallery, UC Berkeley

7-­9 PM, Thursday, January 28th

Space Open Live!

Wurster Gallery, UC Berkeley

7-­9 PM, Friday, February 5th

Gallery Hours: M - F 10:00am - 8:00pm, Saturday 1:00pm - 5:00pm



This exhibition is made possible by the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning, the Department of Theater, Dance, & Performance Studies, and a grant from Beatrix Farrand Fund.