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March 2020 | Furlandia

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*Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the gallery was closed March 18th. Please take a virtual tour below and enjoy the exhibit online.

March 7 - May 29, 2020

If you love whimsical art and animals, this exhibit featuring zany portraits and 3D pop-out paintings by Ana Nelson & Phil Dynan is for you. Chico Art Center recognizes longtime members and dedicated animal rescuers, rehabilitating over 400 animals in our region.

Reception: Saturday, March 7, 2-4 pm

Bring the kiddos to the daytime reception for sweet treats and pose with a cut out of a furry friend!

Article in Chico News & Review by Carrie Wilson   |  Feature in Action News Now by Lorraine Dechter 
Donate to Accidental Animal Rescue Center

"Bunny" was left tied to a tree on a one-foot chain. She was abandoned and it took about three weeks before she was found. She had been eating tree bark and was severely dehydrated. She now lives with the artists.

Most of the animals that show up at the Rescue Center have been badly abused, abandoned, or both.

They usually have some emotional baggage and it takes months for them to develop trust. But eventually most do get to a happier place. These two found each other and that made a difference for them.

Spot had been badly abused and took some “sorting out” - mainly love and patience.

He has been re-homed and has become a trusting and loyal companion in his new home.

Nugoro is a miniature Mediterranean Donkey who is in charge of the fire break around our studio. A very happy guy who loves bananas as a treat.

Not really a smoker and not really a goat, she is a Barbados Sheep who likes the glue in cigarette butts.

"Gertie" is a mule, long-ago retired and happy to supervise the chickens!

Contact Gallery Director, Cameron Kelly to purchase artwork ckelly@chicoartcenter.com, text/mobile (415) 823-4418

"The Free Clinic", Acrylic on canvas, 60x20", $1800. Based on the Haight Ashbury Free Clinic, the artists have converted it to a Free Clinic for animals. Nugoro (the donkey) is one of the animals from the artists’ Accidental Animal Rescue Center. Alberta (the cat) is another rescue, frequently seen in paintings by Phil & Ana. Every animal has their own story of how they got to the Rescue Center.
"Blanco Bronco Bad Boy", Acrylic on canvas, 36"x12", $595 Blanco is all dressed up with no place to go. This mischievous goat is always getting into trouble, so his new obsession with "fashion" is probably a good distraction for him.
"Alberta's New Pink Heels", Acrylic on canvas, 36x20", Sold. Alberta is wearing the latest in plaid leisure wear under her luxurious fur coat. But it is her new pink high heels that has the town talking. In the background, the Sacramento Delta and in the far distance, Mt. Shasta.
"A Sheep Can Dream, Can't She?", Acrylic on canvas, 36x20", $595. "Bunny" is a Barbados sheep. She came to us pregnant from a neighbor who didn't want her. She has a lovely personality, but we suspect that she has other plans for her life. She frequently climbs to the top of the chicken coop or the grain storage shed.
"Ronin on a Starry Night", Acrylic on canvas, 36x20", $595. Inspired by Magritte and Van Gogh, Ronin is depicted floating in his dream.
"Mouse House", Acrylic on paper, 20x30", $675. The architecture in Furlandia is based on the work of Gaudi. Nugoro (Mediterranean Donkey) stopped in Spain on his way ro America and fell in love with the shapes of the building. The poor mice that live in the house sandwiched between a Galerie and a Disco have a very rough go of it.
"Galerie Marcel DuChat", Acrylic on canvas, 48x24", $900. An original painting featuring mini versions of the Mad Cat series.
"The Blue Queue", Acrylic on paper, 25x19" framed, image 17x13", $475 A Group exhibit at the Blue Line Gallery in Roseville features the work of a renouned cat portrait painter, Felix Van Dyke. The animals have painted themselves blue in honour of Felix’s famous “Blue Period” and are queued for the opening Artist Reception, eager to meet the artist. Each secretly hopes to be the next subject of one of Felix’s portraits, but alas, Felix only paints the mad cats from his local pub.
"Beach Hotel", Acrylic on paper, 25x19" framed, image 17x13", $475 Cats and dogs flock to the French Riviera in the summer and swimwear is important. Mimiana, the dachshund, is definitely thinking in terms of fashion this year. Frida and Kozo are more into “functional” swimwear and find “Mimi” slightly irritating. She seems to be taking forever deciding whether she likes this year’s red and green striped attire.
The Catfe", Acrylic on paper, 25x19" framed, image 17x13", $475. Little Frida is standing outside the Catfe, wondering if she might be allowed to buy a Cat-A-Chino. But are dogs allowed? Judging from the ferocious looking doorcat, it is a legitimate question! But after a very polite request, Frida was allowed into the Catfe where her friend Alberta treated her to a dawg lotte.
"The Gift Shop", Acrylic on paper, 25x19" framed, image 17x13", $475. In Furlandia the gift shop is essential! Birthdays and holidays are important to everyone and gift giving is a well-established ritual. Toys are for the young and old - they stimulate thought and creativity. In this original painting, Kozo, the black cat, is seriously considering a wind-up car - a gift to himself?
"Shady Rest Full Gospel Church on old Highway 99", Acrylic on paper, 17x20" with red enamel frame, $285. By Phil Dynan
"Happy Donkey", Nugoro is a miniature Mediterranean Donkey who is in charge of the fire break around our studio. A VERY happy guy who loves bananas as a treat. He is a very social guy and follows us constantly. If I am working on fencing in the pasture, I have to keep an eye on tools. He will pick one up and taunt me til I chase him down. Acrylic on board, 16x20" $245. 8x11" Acrylic on canvas, in pink enamel frame, $225 5x7" print framed, $25
"Smokin' Goat", Acrylic on board, 16x20" $245. Not really a smoker and not really a goat, she is a Barbados Sheep who likes the glue in cigarette butts.
"Kiss the Sky" One of our goats listening to Jimi Hendrix.
The lovely "Alberta" is one of the most popular rescues at the Accidental Animal Rescue Center. 5x7" print framed $25 12 x 18", print on canvas $95.
"Ella - A Chico Dog", Acrylic on canvas, 30x24", $395, Ella was seen sitting in a parked car. She seemed to be begging to be let out, but windows were half down and there was a dish of water beside her, so she was well cared for by her owner, who turned out to be a clerk at the hardware store Phil & Ana were shopping in.
"Gertie" is a mule, long-ago retired and happy to supervise the chickens!
"Talented Cow", Acrylic on board, approx. 18x20", $245. One of the cows on the range near our studio who shows promise as an entertainer or possibly a Facebook “influencer?
"I'm Listening", Acrylic on board, 14x11", $195. Inspired by a sheep living near Ely in the UK. Phil saw the goat while at a running event - 30 miles across the fens in Northern England.
"Talking to you" , Acrylic on board, 14x11", $195. A friendly goat that lives in Sweden. He is especially sociable and has a lot of friends in his neighborhood.
"Baby Horse", Acrylic on canvas, 36x24", $395.
"Ronin, A Pig's Best Friend", Acrylic on board, approx. 12x18", $195.
"Cow 223", Acrylic on board, approx. 18x20" $245. Also known as the hot chocolate cow because the ranch hands milk her into cups of Cocoa on Sunday mornings.
"Ice Cream Dog", Acrylic on canvas, 36x24", $395
"Cogburn", Acrylic on canvas, 18x30", $295.
"Spot", Acrylic on canvas, 25x30", $395. Spot had been badly abused and took some “sorting out” - mainly Love and Patience. He has been re-homed and has become a trusting and loyal companion in his new home.
"Bunny", Acrylic on board, 16x20", Sold. Bunny was left tied to a tree on a one-foot chain. She was abandoned and it took about three weeks before she was found. She had been eating tree bark and was severely dehydrated. She now lives with the artists.
Smokin' Cow who don't really smoke...
"Happy Sheep", Acrylic on paper, 17x21" in purple enamel frame with black matting, $395. Most of the animals that show up at the Rescue Center have been badly abused, abandoned, or both. They usually have some emotional baggage and it takes months for them to develop trust. But eventually most do get to a happier place. These two found each other and that made a difference for them.

This exhibit is very unusual because it includes their new 3D, Reverse Perspective, painted sculptures they call “viewer interactive art”.

The concept behind the sculpture is the brainchild of London artist Patrick Hughes, well-known, world- wide for his amazing sculptures. Dynan and Nelson have been working with Hughes for the past three years and this will be the first time showing the sculptures in an exhibition. “The art has motion and also morphs as the viewer changes positions,” explains Dynan, “and the more the viewer gets into the art, the more they appear to be dancing. They want to figure out how it is done. They will twist sideways, jump up and down, walk back and forth and try to approach the art (which is a little disorienting).”

“But it is impossible to understand the concept completely. It is a combination of geometry, math, science and a little bit of magic. “ Dynan adds.

There are several videos on Youtube showing the work that Dynan and Nelson have done, but the artists both quickly point out that a video only gives a viewer a “feeling” for what the sculptures are like. Seeing them in person is the only way to get the full effect.

All of the art in the exhibit is related to the Rescue Center that the two artists have had for the past ten years. Portraits include goats, dogs, cats, cows, a donkey, a llama, chickens and other animals.

“People started dropping off animals at our art studio (rural) about eleven years ago”, Anastasia says, “at first it was just a few kittens, then goats, llamas, dogs, and, well, it just turned into a zoo.”

To support the animals (food and vet bills) the two artists started painting pictures of the animals. It proved to be very successful and popular and they expanded into selling notecards as well. There is a section within the exhibit where people can pick out a card or print with their favorite animal. Proceeds from the exhibit will go to the artists' Accidental Animal Rescue Center.

For more information about the artists, visit http://www.blueoaksarts.com/