Ultra-marine—the workshop for alternative aquatic taxidermy
a solo exhibition by Lauren Davies

January 18-February 16
Gallery Hours: Wednesdays-Saturdays, 1-6 PM
Opening Reception: Friday, January 18, 6-9 PM

Ultra-marine, an installation by artist-in-residence Lauren Davies, draws inspiration from photographs found in a do-it-yourself training manual that details each step of the taxidermy process. The book's depictions of a taxidermist's hopeful attempts at creating believable wildlife displays struck Davies as an amusing parallel to the world of the realist artist. In essence, both activities can be viewed as efforts to duplicate some aspect of the world we inhabit and are linked by an unwavering faith in the power of the creative process.

As if through a combination of belief and sheer diligence, it is possible for the artist/taxidermist to produce artifacts and experience that serve up genuine authenticity to the viewer. Working with these training manual photographs as a guide, Davies' installation will take the form of a taxidermist’s workshop specializing in the creation and presentation of fish. Taking a slightly more straightforward approach to the endeavor of taxidermy, Davies substitutes illogical combinations of cast-off household materials, hardware store supplies and upholstery merchandise as the stuff of life. Created during a month-long residency at The LAB, the lively workshop environment of Ultra-marine will feature tables and pedestals stacked with replicas of fish in various sizes and stages of completion. An array of design and construction solutions, ranging from the crude to the complex, will be devoted to the creation of the perfect fin.

Lauren Davies is a San Francisco artist currently working in sculpture and photographic combinations that explore our relationship to the animal world. Her particular interest in taxidermy was inspired by childhood visits to the impressive natural history collection at Pittsburgh's Carnegie Museum. Her work has been seen in the Bay Area at Gallery 16, vitra, the San Francisco Arts Commission, and the Triton Museum.