When Water Dreams – Art Reception & Artist Talk

Canadian artist/photographer Bill Peters presents large-scale color images of the salt ponds, sloughs and wetlands of San Francisco Bay shot from a helicopter from 2009 through July of this year. The shoreline of San Francisco Bay is a crucible where the human forces that work on land and water intersect with nature. Infused with the graphic power and emotional sensibilities of formalist abstract art and color field painting, Peters’ work surprises: at first glance it appears fully abstract, indistinguishable from paintings. On closer inspection, however, roads, boats, birds, vehicles and vegetation reveal the work as stunning photographs of San Francisco Bay landscapes and waterscapes. Peters is an international visual artist who has had over 30 exhibitions in US and Canadian museums and galleries. His work is included in the Province of Alberta’s collection.