Carmen Almon
Octavia Art Gallery is pleased to present Carmen Almon & Emily Farish.
Inspired by classic 17th and 18th century botanical illustration, Carmen Almon endeavors to represent the fragility of a moment in time, creating not botanical replicas of nature but rather her personal interpretation of her memory of a particular plant, flower, branch or bud, from its roots to its fruits. Working with copper, brass, and enamel paint, she conjures all of the delicacy and fragility found in her own gardens by cutting them and forming each leaf and petal by hand. Because each piece takes so long to complete, few are realized each year, which makes them rare treasures.
Emily Farish is inspired by the botanicals she finds on urban hikes in the Bay Area and in the NYC Flower District neighborhood. Through direct observation, she carefully renders the flowers, leaves, and stems just as they are- sometimes rumpled or wilting- with charcoal on mould-made paper from France. Each drawing begins with the concept of wabi-sabi, the Japanese philosophy that celebrates the beauty of things imperfect and impermanent. Emily hopes that her drawings remind viewers to embrace the beauty in their own imperfections and impermanence.
Almon grew up in Barcelona and Washington DC and resides in San Miguel de Allende, MX. Her works have been exhibited at the Chinese Porcelain Gallery, NY; and Octavia Art Gallery, TX and LA, as well as featured at art fairs worldwide. She was recently written up by Frederic Magazine, Architectural Digest, The New York Times, and Martha Stewart Living magazine, and her works are found in prestigious private and public collections throughout the United States and Europe.
Farish currently splits her time between San Francisco and New York City. Her education includes a BFA from Auburn University and postgraduate study at The New York Studio School. She regularly exhibits her work in galleries throughout the Southeastern US and California. Her work has been recently featured in Atlanta Homes Magazine, Luxe Magazine SF and Studio Arts Magazine.