The Mills Station Arts & Culture Center (MACC) is currently showcasing Rancho Cordova Arts member Valerie Birkhoff’s “Un-naturally Human” exhibit. Photo courtesy of Valerie Birkhoff

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - The Mills Station Arts & Culture Center (MACC) is currently showcasing two compelling art exhibits that delve into the human experience, inviting visitors to reflect on both the beauty and tragedy of our shared history.

“Un-naturally Human:” Valerie Birkhoff

“Un-naturally Human” showcases the works of Rancho Cordova Arts member Valerie Birkhoff. Running from Jan. 16 to Feb. 1, Birkhoff’s exhibit is an exploration of humanity through various artistic mediums, from oil painting to beaded sculptures to clay. Birkhoff, a MACC member, expresses her creative evolution by blending her early work in mask-making and oil painting with more recent forays into sculpture and clay figure studies.

Birkhoff’s journey began as a painter working with oil paints and making masks. She then began combining the two, attaching the masks to canvas and painting over them with oil.

One of Valerie Birkhoff’s art pieces is “Poseidon,” a clay sculpture. Photo courtesy of the MACC.

Six years ago, Birkhoff delved into working with clay. For the first four years, she focused on the anatomy and expressions of the human face, primarily creating portraits. In recent years, Birkhoff has incorporated more figures into her work, expanding her use of finishes, adornments, and different clay bodies.

“For me as an artist, it was so exciting to have a big space to bring all those various types of mediums together,” said Birkhoff.

Birkhoff’s personal connection to her work was evident during the recent artist reception held Jan. 16, where she engaged in vibrant discussions with attendees.

“It was priceless, we had a really great discussion about art and how it brings us together,” said Birkhoff. “I really enjoyed having that interaction with the people that took time out of their day to support me.”

Birkhoff invites visitors to reflect on the interconnection between humanity and nature through her work, expressing a sentiment of coexistence that is often overlooked in today’s world.

“We can be a little removed from our planet and I hope this exhibit brings that connection back,” said Birkhoff.

“Moon Tide,” a Mounted Wall Sculpture, is one of Valerie Birkhoff’s art pieces. Photo courtesy of the MACC.

“Bearing Witness:” A Tribute to History and Humanity

Running from Jan. 16 to Feb. 22, “Bearing Witness” is an emotionally charged exhibit aimed at confronting the realities of systemic violence, genocide, and the importance of preserving our humanity. This exhibit is presented in collaboration with the Raritan Valley Community College Institute of Holocaust and Genocide Studies and the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.

The exhibit highlights the atrocities of antisemitism, racism, homophobia, sexism and inequity, offering a reflection on the dark chapters of human history.

“Our shared human history includes a violent and shameful component, with genocide being a central theme. Bearing Witness serves as a call to remember and learn from these horrific events in order to amplify shared humanity and prevent future injustice,” as stated in the exhibit’s description

The exhibit was juried by Robin L. Bernstein. Her art, which has been an ongoing project for the past 13 years, examines the Holocaust through a combination of beauty and brutality. Using thousands of tiny pieces of colored string pressed into wax, Bernstein’s labor-intensive process contrasts the delicate beauty of her medium with the grim realities of historical violence. Her works aim to draw in the viewer before confronting them with stories of resistance, survival, and tragedy.

The MACC is located at 10191 Mills Station Road, Rancho Cordova. Gallery hours are from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.