From oil and gold leaf on linen to deactivated grenades studded with diamonds, the upcoming Tradition of Mayhem art exhibit protests a culture of violence and hostility through pieces from eleven Californian artists.

On Sept. 16 the “Tradition of Mayhem” art exhibit, curated by Marna Hill, opens to the public. The sculptures, prints, photographs and paintings of the eleven artists are brutally honest about modern politics and conflicts. Gathered from galleries around the state and from the artists themselves, the exhibit is a “witness to a world perpetually on the brink of destruction.”

The exhibit is comprised of a few different forms of art, starting with paintings and prints. Elyse Pignolet and Sandow Birk collaborated on three pieces for the gallery. “The 99 Names of God (AK-47 Mandala)” presents the image of an AK-47 rifle over a sandy golden background. The title is taken from the Qur’an’s “The 99 Most Perfect Names of God.” The artists also show two contrasting maps, “A Liberal Map of the World” and “A Conservative Map of the World.” More paintings come from German-born artist Heidi Endemann; her pieces “Baby With Necklace,” “Tiger, Tiger,” “Cheetah” and “Contrail 1” all are made of gold leaf and oil on sheets of linen. Don’t miss the logo on the baby’s necklace. Also on display are works by Michael Knowlton, Hanna Hannah and Melanie Kent Steinhardt.

Art Hazelwood contributed paintings and prints. His satirical “Iraqopoly” screen print is particularly eye-catching. A group of other prints come from Catherine Wagner, and the photos have a slightly different tone than others in the exhibit. In her statement, Wagner said the art is meant to speak to the “remarkable resilience as humans and as a society.” The images of splints and prosthetic body parts show efforts to heal and live on.

For new fans of art, the wide selection of sculptures will be the biggest draw. Al Farrow’s art is centered around the relationship between war and religion. His “Revelation II” sculpture is made from gun and Bible parts. “War Toys” by Bella Feldman also consists of metal sculptures. “These are a flock of comic, ferocious, fantastic machines with wheels and clumsy movement,” said Bella in her artist statement. Evan Chambers’ sculptures are made of old grenades, precious metals and stones. His work features grenades studded with
diamonds, growing poppies and a set of copper bombs.

Students are encouraged to check out the Tradition of Mayhem exhibit. It runs from Sept. 16 to Oct. 17, 2013. Held in the Robert F. Agrella Art Gallery on the first floor of the Frank P. Doyle Library on the Santa Rosa campus, the exhibit is easily accessible. More information can be found at www.santarosa.edu/art-gallery/. The exhibit is free to all.