THIS MONTH'S MEETING SPEAKER AND TOPIC

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Speaker:    John C. Rogers, J. Todd Blair and Alexandra Ismerio

Topic:    **SPECIAL HOLIDAY PRESENTATION**

Date:    December 2, 2009

Place:  Spenger's Fish Grotto  

Time:

Social Period: 6:00 - 6:30pm

Dinner: 6:30 - 7:45pm

Guest Speaker: 7:45 - 9:00pm

Cost:    $25 per member or guest with reservations

                $30 without reservations

             $15 per full-time student or member retiree with reservations

                $20 without reservations

**RSVP** (see below)

In 2006, the Oakland City Council approved the project award for artistic enhancements to the 12th Street Bridge Reconstruction, (A Measure DD Project) to the team of John C. Rogers and J. Todd Blair. Both metalworkers, artists and teachers, their vision was to develop artistic enhancements which would play off of the natural environment of the lake. 

The design process was well underway when Todd suffered a traumatic brain injury in an accident while performing with a local arts group (Survival Research Laboratories) in Amsterdam. Suddenly the project, let alone Todd's survival, was in question, and the lives of both artists and Todd's wife Alexandra were turned upside down.

Against all odds, in the two years since, Todd has made progressive recovery that has astounded not only his doctors, but all of their therapists and friends. With Alexandra by his side, he has emerged from several comas and relearned how to speak, eat, walk and write, and is now participating in the artmaking process once again. Throughout this time the Public Arts Commission remained supportive, retaining confidence in the team and in Todd's recovery. Alexandra joined the team early this year, and together they completed a design that was recently approved for production starting in 2010, a series of internally lit metal columns joined by an organic network of forged and bent steel.

The three artists will present their design and discuss their ideas and fabrication strategy, the process of working with the City of Oakland, and the inspiring story of Todd's recovery and reintegration into the project.

More information about the project:

http://www.oaklandculturalarts.org/main/publicartprojects.htm

John Colle Rogers received a Bachelor of Arts in Japanese Studies from Earlham College and a Masters of Fine Arts in Sculpture from the California College of Arts and Crafts. His artistic work has been shown nationally, he produces architectural metal work through his own shop (John C Rogers, Friendly Neighborhood Blacksmith), and has taught blacksmithing and sculpture at CCA and the Crucible.

Todd Blair received a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Kansas at Lawrence. He has coordinated national and international productions for major museum exhibits, art performances and installations, and until the accident was a professor of Sculpture and New Media at the California College of the Arts.

Alexandra Ismerio received a Bachelor of Architecture from the California College of Arts and Crafts. She divides her time between a San Francisco architecture firm and her own firm, Ismerio Designs (a full service firm specializing in residential and restaurants), and is currently working on her architect license.

********Important!!******

RSVP Banquet Policy

We need to conduct our meetings on an RSVP basis to protect the Section from losses.  Please phone Tom Smeltzer at  707-253-3237  or email sfawsdinner@yahoo.com by 6 days before the meeting (i.e., THURSDAY  before a Wednesday meeting).  The dinner cost is increased by $5 if the request is received after this time.