Falling Down, 2010
Polymer on canvas – 86x72
Phlem, 2018
Oil on canvas, 80"x60"
From the series "The Four Humors"
Color Blind, 2011
Polymer on linen – 24x24
Blood, 2018
Oil on canvas, 80"x60"
From the series "The Four Humors"
Ollerchock, 2008
Polymer on panel – 20x20
Yellow Bile, 2018
Oil on canvas, 80"x60"
From the series "The Four Humors"
Note for Note, 2014
Polymer on canvas – 24x30
Black Bile, 2018
Oil on canvas, 41" x 60"
From the series "The Four Humors"
Utfart, 2008
Polymer on panel – 70x70
Joy and Misery, 2017
Acrylic and color pencil on paper mounted to board, 29"x21"
From the series "Elegant Collapse"
Running Away, 2014
Polymer on canvas, 50x50
Polarizing, 2013
Acrylic and color pencil on paper, 29"x21"
From the series "Elegant Collapse"
Take That Off, 2013
Polymer on canvas, 50x50
Slogan 151. 2015
Acrylic on paper mounted to board, 15"x22"
From the series "Countless Tounges and Ears"
Slogan 152, 2015
Acrylic on paper mounted to board, 15"x22"
From the series "Countless Tounges and Ears"
Toss and Turn, 2014
Polymer on canvas, 50x50
There Was A Crashing In, 2010-2012
Oil on canvas, 80"x60"
From the series "Elegant Collapse"
Pussy Wiggle Stomp, 2008
Polymer on panel – 20x20
Three Studies: Father, 2014
Acrylic and color pencil on paper, 30"x22"
From the series "Elegant Collapse"
Orange for Cathy, 2013
Polymer on canvas – 40x50
Untitled, 2015
Acrylic, xerox transfer and color pencil on paper, 22"x15"
From the series "Elegant Collapse"
Mark Emerson
After living and teaching in Los Angeles for 3 years I returned to Sacramento in the spring of 1990. In 1991, I curated an exhibition for the Kondos Gallery at Sacramento City College, "SACRAMENTO ABSTRATION". While gathering the content of the exhibition, a colleague and friend, Bill Yates suggested I contact David Wetzl. David's work fit the criteria for the exhibition perfectly, which is how I became aware of the Axis Gallery, which was called 750 Gallery at the time. David was one of the founding members of the 750 Gallery. The original gallery was located in a large private home at 750 Fulton Ave. When I met David, the gallery had recently moved to downtown Sacramento at 17th and I Street. I joined the gallery in 1992, at the time that Michael Prawdzic was the Director and David was the Installation Director. David and I began collaborating on the installations in the gallery every 2nd Friday in preparation for Second Saturday. The gallery space was little more than a barn. It was cold and leaked when it rained in the winter and was hot as hell in the summer. The gallery featured one person exhibitions, member group shows, themed shows and occasionally invited high school students to exhibit their work. As with any cooperative space, working with a group of artists was sometimes a Sisyphean task. However, the 750 Gallery consistently provided Sacramento with a valid, thoughtful and engaging exhibition every month. My 3 years with 750 Gallery, left me with very fond memories, lifelong friends and a tremendous respect for the work and dedication that still exists at the Axis Gallery.
Mark Emerson is a fine artist with a concentration in painting. He received a BA from California State University, Sacramento and an MFA from the University of California, Davis. To date his work has been featured in 24 solo exhibitions and numerous group exhibitions.
Justin Marsh
In 2011 I was working for the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento as an exhibition preparator. I had just put a few roots down, having moved from the South Bay in 2009 to spend the entire spring and summer of 2010 installing the Crocker’s collection in a massive new facility. With a couple years professional experience in the region, I felt seriously motivated to elevate my studio practice and so sought out galleries around downtown. I had heard of Axis through the gallery’s National Juried exhibition which garnished great attention from emerging artists. Well, in fact, I had applied to the Juried Exhibition- maybe the third or the fifth- I can’t remember. When I walked into the gallery in 2011, I met Sandra Beard, an intelligent, tactful, and serious artist. The gallery was located on 19th street in a shared commercial space with the Center for Contemporary Art, Sacramento. The building’s black and white brick façade and large bay windows made for a compelling stop along 19th street. I got to talking with Sandra and she explained to me how the gallery operated as an artist-owned cooperative and encouraged me to apply.
Dedicated artists with complete agency over their work? Check. A reputable operation, partnered with a motivated non-profit? Check. A collective with a rich history of artists and the potential to grow based on the shared knowledge of past and present members? Yeah, I wanted to be a part.
In just over a year, I’d have my first solo exhibition with Axis Gallery and simultaneously welcomed my son into the world. In many ways, I took guidance from former Member President Phil Amrhein and current Member President Richard Gilles. At 28, I had a seat at the table with great artists like Ron Peetz and Joy Bertinuson; all sharing our experience as artists.
Justin Marsh is a California native working between multiple art mediums with a specific interest in comprehending failure. His studio practice explores personal/human tragedy, collapsed structures, and structural collapse. He is an artist member at Axis Gallery, Sacramento and a museum professional at UC Davis.