Peter Francis Ray
Painter, Sculptor, Art Glass, Printmaker, Performance, Video/Filmaker, Artist’s Assistant
Artist’s Statement:
Art has it’s own life. During the creative process that life will present itself. The artist must pay attention and move with it. One’s intention and motivation is critical. And when a submission process occurs, it’s almost a spiritual intervention with an exaltation. What comes may be beautiful, however not all turn out to be what we initially envisioned. My intention may be one thing yet if I am truly giving to the process I will have no choice but to give in to what happens next. One has to cultivate, hunt, and even battle to coax the medium. You use the lessons of the trade or craft and go from keeping rules to breaking them. Take all your hopes, dreams, aspirations and dive in without reservation. Some truth or beauty may be revealed. The viewers experience finishes the work. This experience is limited only by the viewers willingness to engage arts own life.
Bio:
Education: As a child I was given the opportunity to study with graduate students at Cleveland State University. There my desire to be an artist was born. Later I had the same opportunity with students from Carnegie Mellon College of Fine Arts. I have an AA degree in Sculpture from Santa Rosa Junior College where I studied sculpture, painting, drawing, and printmaking from 1973-76. I transferred to Sonoma State in 1976-78 to study filmmaking and videography.
Studio Experience: 1978-79, apprenticed to master glass artist Jack Ink at J.L Lobmeyr Studio, Baden, Austria, where I learned how to assist a professional working artist. I worked hot and cold techniques, maintained the studio and helped with exhibit preparation. I also helped other glass artists prepare for their new shows.
Theater Experience: 1998, George Coates Performance Works, San Francisco, CA, set builder, prop maker and stagehand for Wittgenstein on Mars and Blind Messengers. My duties also included driving, and theater maintenance.
Artist Studio Assistant 2007 to 2019: Hunter’s Point Naval Shipyard San Francisco, ICB Artists Sausalito, 1890 Bryant Street Studio San Francisco, and Gallery Sausalito; Sculptor Russell Herman, art handling and studio moving; Sculptor Paul Lanier, design, fabrication, tile, grout, installation, and studio maintenance; Sculptor Paula Clark, sculpture refinishing, show installation; Painter Sue Averell, canvas and show preparation, panel surface preparation, installation, lighting, studio maintenance, painting, art handling, packaging, moving; Painter Paulette Long, canvas stretching and preparation, show installation; Painter Dennis Parlante, lighting installation; Painter and Sculptor Laura Lengyel, open studios preparation, art handling, packaging, moving, installation, display, sanding, and cleaning; Clothing Designer Bettina Fahlbush, open studios preparation, painting, and display; Graphic Designer Dianna Jacobsen, art direction, errands, driving, cooking; Painter Younhee Paik, canvas preparation, frame building, crew manager scaffolding, gallery installation and de-installation, art handling, packaging, moving, truck driver; Printmaker Lila Wahrhaftig, show installation and de-installation; Painter Ray Jacobsen, art handling, moving and storage, show installation and de-installation, studio maintenance; Painter Celeste Chin, canvas stretching, art moving and storage, studio maintenance; Painter Bruce Katz, gardening, maintenance, painting; Painter Sherry Miller, studio maintenance, painting, art handling, storage organization; Anna Rockwell, carpentry, painting, spraying fixative, studio storage organization, show installation; Charles Stinson, art handling, painting, show installation, sculpture polishing, studio maintenance; Wynne Hayakawa, canvas stretching, art handling and studio maintenance; Diane Tate Dallaskidd, panel surface preparation, wire hangers installed.
Events: 2008 to 2018, Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, San Francisco, assist various Artists, Engineers, Stage, Lighting crews, and Caterers with load in, load out, crowd control and security. Rolling box building and repair, event assist , manage and supervise, painting, storage organization, shelf build.
Volunteer: SOMARTS, San Franisco, CA, phone advocate, assist show installation; New Langton Arts, San Francisco, CA, assist in gallery preparation and wall building.
Exhibits
2025 Gallery Sausalito, Sausalito, CA
Biggest Small Works Show
Mixed Media Painting
2017 Union Street Salon, San Francisco
Mixed Media Paintings
2007 Harlot Lounge, San Francisco, CA
Murals/decorative painting
2005 Cell Space, San Francisco, CA
GLEAN Benefit (Global Education and Action Network)
Mixed Media Painting
2002 Fountaingrove Inn, Santa Rosa, CA
Mixed Media Paintings
2000 Arts Guild of Sonoma, Sonoma, CA
Small Works
Mixed Media Paintings
1999 Vesuvio, San Francisco, CA
Mixed Media Paintings
1998 George Coates Performance Works, San Francisco, CA
Wittgenstein on Mars, Blind Messengers
Set Builder, Prop Maker, Mixed Media Paintings
1993-97 Fine Art and Frame, Santa Rosa, CA
Mixed Media Paintings
1992 Gallery Q, Santa Rosa, CA
Mixed Media Constructions
1988 Club X, San Francisco, CA
Live Painting/Art Performances
1978-1979 J.L Lobmeyr Studio, Baden, Austria
Art glass