The newest episode of the podcast features, Meryl Pataky, a multi-disciplined artist known for her amazing neon pieces. Based here in the Bay Area, I visited Meryl in her studio to discuss her early beginnings as a mixed media artist, her neon practice and  She Bends, an organization she founded to create a more equitable future for neon. Finally, we also talked about the new exhibition curated by She Bends at the Contemporary Jewish Museum (CJM) in San Francisco titled First Light: Rituals of Glass and Neon Art. The exhibition features neon work by various artists including Meryl, that “explores mastery in craft as a devotional pursuit, presenting breathtaking artworks that connect both artists and viewers to spirituality, wonder, and universal questions of human existence.” The show is up at the CJM through April 28, 2024. Visit the museum website for more details. For more info about Meryl and her work be sure to visit her website at merylpataky.com  or follow her on Instagram at @merylpataky. Learn more about She Bends at shebends.com. 

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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Meryl Pataky
(Image by Anna-Alexia Basile)</figcaption></figure>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Meryl Pataky
(Image by Kirby Gladstein)</figcaption></figure>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Meryl Pataky
(Image by Kirby Gladstein)</figcaption></figure>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Meryl Pataky
“Pass Me The Hammer”
2017</figcaption></figure>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">“Pass Me The Hammer”
2017 (detail)</figcaption></figure>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">“Pass Me The Hammer”
2017 (detail)</figcaption></figure>
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