By Lindsay Holbrook, Correspondent
Chico Enterprise Record
POSTED: 07/29/17, 4:43 PM PDT
Josh Funk’s stop-motion film “Toy Box” brings to life action figures his 2-year-old son plays with.
What does it mean to have a shared vision? Most would think it is just as it sounds.
People often see things through their own point of view but it is only when these visions are expressed with others that people can share what they see and feel through the world of art.
“Shared Visions,” a new art show at the Chico Art Center, is taking this idea and melding it between both adults and children.
It is an exhibit where both children and adults come together to express their art in more than just a visual manner.
“The concept of shared visions is to connect adult artists with children and to play off of and be inspired by the creativity that children innately possess,” Erin Lizardo, the show’s curator, said. “By including children in the process of making art, we are validating that creativity and exploring an opportunity for connection that is often overlooked.”
Lizardo is a Chico artist and musician. She will be bringing her two sons Solomon and Moses to show how new perspectives can be brought through collaboration and working together.
Last year, she shared an art show with her son, Solomon Sarcona, at the Great Northern Coffee and Gallery.
For “Shared Visions,” her two boys will be making textile masks that reflect their zombie and monster drawings.
With the intuition of a mother and an artist and the open-minded creativity of two boys, something special is bound to be made.
Another Chico artist at the show will be animation movie director and writer Josh Funk and his 2-year-old son, Jonah.
“I decided to create a short film where his decisions in choosing broken action figures determined what and how I would animate the rest of the film,” he said. “Using stop motion animation, I brought his creations to life.”
Funk is a Chico State University fine arts alumnus. A couple of years ago, he created a Kickstarter campaign to raise money to help make his stop-motion film, “The Spaceman.”
He was able to surpass his original goal amount on Kickstarter and built the puppets and set by hand. He also helped Chico band Severance Package make a music video (https://youtu.be/5leMJH_n6zA).
For the art show, he made a stop-motion film, “Toy Box,” starring his 2-year-old son playing with the action figures which comes to life in the film.
The film will be played Aug. 11 at the Chico Art Center.
For more on Josh Funk, go to www.joshfunk.com.
“Shared Visions” runs Aug. 4-25 with an artists reception, 5-7 p.m., Aug. 11.
A “Free Family Art Day,” will be held, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Aug. 12, with hands-on activities such as workshops and craft tables.
For more information, go to www.chicoartcenter.com or call 895-8726.