Bay Area Multi-disciplinarian Melissa K. Smith (Dean) crosses thresholds, transforms.
Prolific artist and multi-disciplinarian Melissa K. Smith’s (Dean) acrylic painting “No Woman’s Land” (not shown) was chosen by jury selection for this year’s Arts & Consciousness Alumni Exhibition at John F. Kennedy University in Berkeley, California. The exhibition “Art as Liminal Space: Threshold of Transformation” runs from November 5th – December 13th. Melissa will attend the reception on Saturday, November 10th, 6 – 9 p.m.
Melissa is an active member of the diverse arts communities of the East Bay where she explores a variety of subjects using different media, mediums and techniques. Painter, inker, actress, producer – artist and dreamer, she’s an avid traveler incorporating the new and the ancient, traditional myths, legends and alternative perspectives into her work as a way of asking and answering questions of examination, introspection and curiosity. She is as comfortable with her trusty feather-weight Holga as her 2lb Nikon DSLR side by side in art and instruction, sales and for hire projects and commissions. Fond of midnight excursions over daylight company, happenstance to planned routines, you’ll find her making places to bring the viewer there or simply as a point of departure and discovery.
Melissa’s Artist Statement for “No Woman’s Land”
..When I find myself in liminal space, looking for something unknown in the unnamed, I see Spirit breezing by in one form or another. Occasionally it’s crystal clear but for my paintings as of late, the images are vague and ethereal. Still, there is Knowing. In this place I am forced to slow down and be aware of what is going on around me even if I can’t see it clearly..
John F. Kennedy University Berkeley, California Juried Alumni Exhibition
Arts & Consciousness Gallery 2956 San Pablo Ave., 2nd Floor, Berkeley, Ca.
Juried Alumni show features the acrylic painting “No Woman’s Land” by Bay Area native and multi-disciplinarian Melissa K. Smith. Melissa lives and works in the Bay Area as a photographer, videographer and independent film and video producer with ties throughout Northern California. Her works includes original art and multi-media creations that are available for sale, commission and exhibition. She is also the blogger in charge of content for From The Everywhere, co-owner and contributing editor of Dissave Pictures – an independent production company by artists and for artists, serving the greater San Francisco Bay Area, and she is also available by appointment for one-on-one and group instruction of photography and art lessons. In addition she is the artist, creator and publisher of the graphic novel series Blood Roses in its fifth print edition.
Melissa earned dual undergraduate degrees in art, form and theory with coursework in liberal studies and creative expression before being accepted into the Arts & Consciousness program at JFK University in Berkeley where she earned her Masters in transformative arts and consciousness. After additional studio work she set out teaching technique and form in Central and Northern California with a summer traveling to the East Coast, New York and Italy where she taught Italian students in Lucca in painting, poetry and photography.
Exhibition: November 5 – December 13, 2012
Reception: Saturday, November 10, 6-9 p.m.
“Liminality has been defined as the “realm of pure possibility.” When speaking in terms of art as liminal space, art becomes a rite of passage, a sensory threshold by which we can traverse shifting levels of personal conscious awareness. In JFK University’s Arts & Consciousness program, the consciousness transforming perspective of art as liminal space is emphasized. Therefore, this exhibition focuses on work by Arts & Consciousness alumni that is liminal in nature.
Show juried by Jeremy Morgan, Associate Professor, San Francisco Art Institute.
-more-
From The Everywhere (Melissa’s Blog): Exhibition Listing w/ Artist Statement
Melissa’s Production Company “Dissave Pictures” with her husband Rory Dean.
Melissa as Producer: Short film Once Beautiful Past
Above the Line 
Great that you are making it for all us lost sheep. You do great things..
I do abide.
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I find myself really drawing again after the move. Maybe it is sunny California or all these wonderful inspirational people I keep finding. I have to get out of Roseville and into Berkeley or else. I’m really liking these articles on Ms. Smith – looking forward to her next show.
Hi there, nothing like a little inspiration! Glad you’re enjoying discovering a truly special artist – you’ll find several articles here and elsewhere. Roseville, yes – Berkeley is closer to everything 🙂 Stay tuned, Melissa has a show coming up in a week!
This is great news!! Keep drawing, keep the art in your life!!
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