A gray tent stuffed with a crumpled sleeping bag occupies the left corner of the Sacramento State University Library Gallery. It is not a piece of art. It is Tony Bellaver’s temporary home as he installs his latest exhibition.

‘Area Blurring The Lines’ opened on September 4th but the left side of the gallery is still filled with a few ladders, an unfinished painting and a table littered with everything from tape to Sierra Nevada beer bottles. Pieces of twisted metal are scattered on the floor and some of Bellaver’s work just leans up against the wall... Waiting.

Gallery installations take a considerable amount of creativity and work and every gallery brings a different challenge for the artist to overcome. For Ballaver the challenge was less about finishing, and more about taking time to get results he will be happy with.

Nature is an apparent theme in Bellaver’s work. Photographs of California lakes that he has visited over the summer are arranged on the wall in a grid. Simple and scenic these unframed color photographs grab your attention right away.

“They are photos of all the ones that I have hiked to, I don’t include the ones that I have driven to,” Bellaver said, as he hammered tiny nails into the gallery wall. The nails will help to hold speaker wires of his newest art piece in place.

Bellaver’s current plan is to broadcast sounds of nature through speakers, but he is not quite sure of his final plans with the piece.

“It’s the first time I have ever done this, It’s theory at the moment but it might change.”

“Next week I will play around with some of the sounds; to hear how it sounds in the space.”

A unique part of this exhibition is the close interaction between the artist and the viewer. Many times people who visit galleries have questions they would love to ask the artist.

What was he thinking? What inspired her? How long did that take? This show gives visitors the opportunity to ask their questions, and to have access to the artist in action.

Robert Ortbal who helped to curate the show, said that he wanted to give the five artists involved as much latitude as possible and that all of the artists participating in the show have different working styles. “Tony just kind of moved in,” He said.

When it comes down to viewing Art, whether the artist is there to answer your questions or not; it all just boils down to the motion of hand to face... Head tilt... Mind open ..hmmm.

Area Blurring The Lines will show
September 4 through November 17
at Sacramento State University Library Gallery