25th Annual (ABCW) Art By Construction Workers

April 29 - June 30, 2024

The One That Got Away in memory of Fred Becker

Reception: Saturday, June 1, 2024

ABCW is Art By Construction Workers

We are a group of artists who became friends working in the trades. We had our first group show because one of us was shy about the prospect of a one-person show. After 25 years of monthly dinner meetings, taking turns cooking for each other in our homes and mounting a show each year, here at BAX, as well as some showing elsehwere along the way, we remain glad to see each other.

We had not felt compelled to have a public image or a name for ourselves, as we are just enough anarchic to put that aside, but ‘ABCW’ has surfaced in the recent few years perhaps because it became convenient to have it. No official vote on this has yet occurred, however. What has always mattered to us though is that we feel compelled to make art, and we continue to encourage and support each other in that endeavor, and in all aspects of our lives. The art we make is very different, but we really appreciate each other’s work and always find that it looks good hanging together at BAX. Artists as workers. Workers as artists.

A big thank you to BAX for graciously welcoming us all these years.

Others have been part of this crew over the years. This is who we are now:

Art Cabrera:

sculpture; electrician

Chris Carlson:

sculpture; former painter/paper hanger; clinical Social Worker

Greg Davidek:

painting; painter, plasterer, decorative painter, Venetian plasterer

Shawn Gargagliano:

painting and sculpture; carpenter

Kent Johnson:

painting; building maintainer, art handler

Aki Kumono:

sculpture, painting; cabinet maker formerly specializing in Buddhist altars

Ron Mitkowski:

stained glass; construction manager

Fred Becker:

(deceased 2024): photography; plasterer, painter, paper hanger

Joyce Weiner:

We had done our own postcard graphics until some years ago. Graphic Artist Joyce Weiner generously offered. Thanks Joyce.

‘Head’ Shawn Gargagliano

‘Photos’ Fred Becker

‘My Little Wagon’ Art Cabrera

’Tariasug (ijira) Little Whitey

Inuit, shape shifting, albino caribou seen from the baffin and Bathurst Islands – EE-yi-rahk (1/2 man, 1/2 caribou) Objects sourced, conceived and assembled by Artie “Raindeer” Cabrera Spring 2022

‘Stained Glass’ Ron Mitkowski

‘OLLIE’ ! “OH YEAH” ! (Joaquin Ennes Cabrera/Kino/, weathered skateboard decks, D and D dice. RIP 5/16/76 to 1/27/94

‘Rock Metal Wood’ Art Cabrera

‘Robert Herrick, 17th century cleric/poet, England’ Kent Johnson

‘Farough Farokhzad, poet, Iran’ Kent Johnson

‘Lousie Bogan, poet/editor at the New Yorker’ Kent Johnson

‘Richard Hugo, poet/professor, Montana’ Kent Johnson

‘Giacomo Puccini, opera composer, Italy’ Kent Johnson

‘Marilyn Robinson, author’ Kent Johnson

‘Louis Jenkins, poet’ Kent Johnson

‘Marshall German, author/professor, Columbia U.’ Kent Johnson

‘War Toys, Gaza Palestine’ Art Cabrera

As of April 2024, half the casualties, dead, and missing in the Palestinian-Israeli war are children. This assemblage, this piece is still in the making. Hopefully, so is PEACE. At the end of every war is peace. Can we start the peace now and stop the killing of children?