Women unite for show at Bird Dog Arts

In the world of local art, women are front and center this weekend with the debut of a new show highlighting female artists.

At Bird Dog Arts at the Outlets at Tejon, a show opens Saturday featuring five artists, including two from Bakersfield.

David Gordon, managing partner of the art gallery and retail space, said the collection came together serendipitously when he became aware of an oversight in the show programming.

"I don’t think I've even had one reception for a female artist and thought I needed to change that."

Bird Dog, which opened in 2021, has hosted solo shows as well as others with a pair of artists but nothing like this new summer show.

"Instead of one or two artists, I wanted to put together a bigger show," Gordon said. "I decided that it was 'the more, the merrier' for that space."

With more than 120 artists on display at Bird Dog, Gordon had plenty to choose from when selecting his lineup, which includes four current participating artists — Marjorie Dow, Lori Pollack, Monica Rickler Marks and Casandra Tondro — and one new addition, Alisyn Palla.

"This is the first time I've done a show with five artists," he said. "With five different artists coming off the wall, there are five different energies coming out at you. ... It's impactful."

"They all just come together. It doesn't look like (the work of) one artist, but it looks like they might have all talked together."

The show includes 13 to 15 pieces by each artist.

Palla, who describes herself as a "recovering lawyer," has taken her passion for metal sculpting to new heights in recent years.

You may have seen her work — metal grapevines — at the new Frugatti's in west Bakersfield.

Along with commissioned pieces, she has created work for herself including pieces that play with floral imagery.

Pollack is also a fan of florals, depicting hers in the vivid hues of watercolors.

In a statement about her work, she said her signature style is "to 'push the colors' just past reality for an eye-catching and unique result."

"I find that watercolor paints let me capture the intensity of colors seen in light, shadows, and reflections."

Like Palla, Dow came to her art later, with more than three decades focused on her career as a hairstylist. She not only uses social media to connect with her peers and art enthusiasts but also to provide inspiration for some of her work depicting lively scenes of friends and community.

Marks has said that her work as a licensed family therapist and registered art therapist have played a big role in her work.

Some of her pieces make use of upcycling and found materials in interesting ways.

Gordon said she's passionate about a number of causes — supporting women and the LGBTQ+ community — but doesn't overtly reference those in her work.

"She leaves it up to the viewer. ... She doesn't spell it out. She lets them find her own way."

"I find people standing in front of her work for a long time."

Although Tondro's fiber work has been featured at Bird Dog Arts, she has something new on display for the show.

"This time, we have her abstract paintings that we’ve never had before," Gordon said. "These diptychs (and triptychs), paintings that go together. They're intense, soothing."

Gordon said he is excited to see all the work together and looks forward to sharing it at the reception.

After Saturday's opening, which will feature light hors d'oeuvres and beverages, the show will remain on display through Sept. 22. But Gordon cautions that you may not get to see it all after this weekend as he expects some works to sell very quickly.

He encourages art lovers to brave the weather and head out for the free event.

"I know it's going to be hot Saturday, but we live in a hot place so we deal with it."

'Girl on Girl'

Art lovers out on Saturday may consider a stop during the day in Old Town Kern to catch the last day of the female-driven exhibition at RAM.

Opened in April, the show "Girl on Girl" features a collection of paintings, drawings and ceramics by an intergenerational group of female-identifying artists.

Participating in the show are painters Vikki Cruz, Linda Christensen, Marjorie Dow, Frida Herrera, Laura Krifka and Rebekkah MacKay and multidisciplinary artist Loriann Stevenson.

Before the opening, RAM Director Rachel McCullah Wainwright shared that each artist used the body "as a focal point for exploring identity, self-image, gender and desire."

"Each artist uses the body as a focal point for exploring identity, self-image, gender and desire," RAM Director Rachel McCullah Wainwright wrote in a news release. "For each artist whose principal subject matter is themselves or other women the

For these creatives, the female gaze offers a powerful lens to view and better understand the world.

Remaining viewing hours for the show are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the gallery, 614 Kentucky St. Admission is free.