The City of Santa Cruz Arts Commission, “ Spanish Language Poetry for Rail Trail Contest” has selected Gerda as one of the poets to provide two of her poems in English and Spanish, which will be stamped in the concrete at ADA ramps and curbs along the soon-to-be-constructed Rail Trail in Santa Cruz. Background information:  the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail Network is a 50-mile bicycle and pedestrian pathway along the coast of ants Cruz County, from the San Mateo County line in the north to the Monterey County line at Pajaro.  The system’s “spine” will be the Coastal Rail Trail within the 32-mile Santa Cruz Branch rail right-of-way, alongside the existing train tracks and co-existing with potential future train service. The two poems are “Las Mujeres,” and Library Surprise/Sorpresa en La Biblioteca,  They are as follows:

​Las Mujeres, "Future Awakes in Mouth of NOW,” Editions du Cygnet (Swan World), Paris, France, 2016.  
Library Surprise, “Oh Where is My Candle Hat?," Asterisco, Editoria de Poesia, Tijuana, Mexico, 2012.

​Also:
Two of Gerda’s poems, Veteran and I Love When were included in Ms. aligned 2, edited by Connie Pan and Pat Matsueda, El Leon literary Arts, Berkeley, CA, November 2017. 
 
Poster Boy was included in "Ice Cream Poems- reflections on the life with ice cream," edited by Patricia Farngnoli, World Enough Writers, Tillamook, Oregon, 2017.

                  Design rendering, and mosaic in progress of Star Streams / Threshold Tessellation    
 
Design and Fabrication for California Center for the Arts Entry Door Mosaic:
Artists: Wick Alexander, Robin Brailsford, Doris Bittar, November 2017
 
Star Streams / Threshold Tessellation exemplifies the community and regional character of Escondido as a cultural anchor for San Diego County, and the California Center for the Arts. It exemplifies broad possibilities for the diverse communities it has attracted for over a hundred years. The hybridized designs and palette honor the cultural and regional influences of Mezzo-American, Spanish-Moorish and Chinese aesthetic into a contemporary resolution. Star Streams / Threshold Tessellation's layered and hidden narratives center on star designs and intertwined nets to suggest streams and flow around and through the stars. It motivates historical curiosity to excavate and reveal underground aquifers, creeks, streams, gold exploration, missions, and migrations.

Once Upon a Body is a project in collaboration with Art Produce, July-Nov 2017. Using ideas, images and stories gathered from community participants during workshops and open studio sessions,Bhavna created paper sculptures and wearables shown in a community celebratory event on November 18, 2017. Thanks to Lynn Susholtz and her incredible team at Art Produce for their support.

To see more of the incredible photographs of this project by photographer Alanna Airitam, visit http://www.bhavnamehta.com/once-upon-a-body.html
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​Below are some images from the workshops.

​Perishables is a visual meditation on (the) “Lettuce Curtain” and other facets of the agricultural tapestry of the Salinas Valley. In this era of vigorous debate over our country’s lack of clear policies on immigration and severe climate factors, many of us are actively wondering, “what is the true cost of our food in this country?" What if we were to compensate these tax-paying workers with overtime and create paths to citizenship? And what if we were to, as a community, vigorously and conscientiously protect the crucial water table beneath our feet?

For More Information:
Denese Sanders, Open Ground Studios Artistic Director 
Tel: 831-241-6919 | Cell: 861-236-8636
Email: [email protected]         
Website: opengroundstudios.com
Instagram: @opengroundstudios
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/opengroundstudio
​

Stay tuned for news of the installation. Coming soon!
 
Making this possible are Robin Brailsford, Wick Alexander, Ron Shaw, Leah Goodwin, John Wills, Paul Taylor, Isaac Garcia and Doris Bittar.
 
View a video at:
https://www.facebook.com/robin.brailsford/videos/1914905718535914/

Sphere II, Stainless steel wire, 68" x 40" x 36"

Spherule II  is currently showing at Quint Gallery and will be included in an exhibit of Mudge's work opening on February 10, 2018.

Quint Gallery, 5171 H Santa Fe St., San Diego, CA 92109

Perishables is a visual meditation on the “Lettuce Curtain” and other facets of the agricultural tapestry of the Salinas Valley. In this era of vigorous debate over our country’s lack of clear immigration policy and severe climate factors, many of us are actively wondering, “what is the true cost of growing food in this country?" What if we were to compensate these (tax-paying) workers more fairly and create honest paths to citizenship? And what if we were to, as a community, vigorously and conscientiously protect the crucial water table beneath our feet?
 
Opening: Friday, November 10, 5:30 – 7:30 pm, with an appearance by the Art Ranger
 
Exhibit dates: November 10 – December 1, 2017
 
Open Ground Studios, 1230 Fremont Blvd., Seaside, CA 93955
​

Doris Bittar writes: “Amazing work by the brilliant Robin Brailsford with Wick Alexander on Star Streams - Threshold Tessellations. Our first accepted work together for the California Center for the Arts front entrance. I love how deep it looks, and the bone-like feel. This is the first of Public Address' project "No Longer Hidden" for the entire museum opening (at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido, CA) in one year.

“And check out the genius inventor, Robin Brailsford at LithoMosaics. All this inspired by our desire to work on a bigger project for the American Embassy in Beirut.”