Pacheco Pass

Pacheco Pass is a low mountain pass that connects the 5 to the 101 near Gilroy. Located in an area dominated by agriculture and subjected to constant drive-through traffic, the road is punctuated with farm stands. Hand-painted wooden signs (rotated seasonally) advertise the fruits, nuts, honey, and other products for sale. Meant to be read at 55 mph, these stands share a straightforward visual language but distinct styles are noticeable in a hand-written font, a style of line, a color palette. The artists in Pacheco Pass have taken these signs as a jumping off point, and each responds to the source material in their own way. Focusing on the stands themselves, Ari Bird and Reniel Del Rosario created sculptures that deal directly with the material life of a farm stand. Drawing on the visual language of the signs, Alex Harris's "automoboldos" are a distinctly American take on Giuseppe Arcimboldo's paintings, while Kate Rhoades turns her attention to the visual language of pro-Palestinian protest. Matt Goldberg took a left turn off the pass at Wilfredo Lam, but kept his eyes on the horses in the paddock. Guest curated by Stephanie Rohlfs for some reason.