Cover | I0 Bonini
Like Cats and Gods, 2013 (mixed media on wood panel 32 inches by 48 inches). Longtime Bay Area artist I0 Bonini chooses a poem, quote, or saying for the basis of her paintings, with the adage for this cover image being, “You were always so fickle just like cats and gods.” Her newest works, They Came to Play (on display at Bucci’s, 6121 Hollis St., Emeryville, through Jan. 3), toy around with this playful notion: “What if … we wrote books with paint and created paintings with words.” For these works, Bonini chooses rich, bright colors, curious subjects, and words to convey an adult’s perspective on a child’s imagining. An experienced muralist and sculptor with a penchant for Lear, Gorey, Dahl, Juster, Tolkien, and Silverstein, Bonini also writes and paints illustrations for children’s books and believes the narrative and imagery in children’s literature should be equally compelling for adults and children. She also maintains a unique sense of humor, writing, “To get in touch with the artist, look at the newest pieces, give her a million dollars, offer to represent her, or just to say hello, visit iobonini.com or email at iopaints@yahoo.com.”
NEXT MONTH: In-the-know sources and experts hypothesize about the East Bay’s most widespread urban legends; the Bay Area’s most popular parenting guru, Meg Zweiback, shares her life story; an innovative parolee mentoring program at Merritt College gives inmates hope; and R.E. Faro returns to the garden with pruning, a new neighbor, and chainsaw-wielding Hector top of mind.
