Bruce Munro;
Opposite:
Parliament of
the Owls
68 South Bay Accent
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at the End of the World. But Munro says it’s not necessary for
viewers to have read the books in order to appreciate his light installations.
“I endeavor to make art that can work and be enjoyed
for what it is.”
Munro was born in London and earned a bachelor’s degree in
fine arts. “I started life as an artist, from the age that I could hold
a brush,” he says. Believing that he needed life experience in order
to become a professional artist, he traveled to Australia, where he
This fall, the artist brings his wonders to the Montalvo Arts
Center in Saratoga for what is being billed as the most ambitious
exhibition ever presented by the historic center. Bruce Munro at
Montalvo: Stories in Light will be on view from Oct. 28 to March
17, 2019.
Supported by the Valley Foundation, the exhibit features 10
stunning illuminated installations in the Villa and throughout the
grounds. Bay Area visitors will be invited to wander through the
venue and enjoy the breathtaking artistry of a light-filled experience.
Angela McConnell, Montalvo’s executive director, explains
Munro’s choice to share his work at Montalvo, saying that a staff
member saw one of his installations in Phoenix and immediately
recommended the artist be considered for a show. He was invited
to visit Montalvo and walk around the property, which includes
the landmark mansion built in 1912 by Sen. James Phelan, two
theaters and miles of hiking trails, terraces and gardens.
“We were immediately on board,” says McConnell. “Bruce’s
creativity, his interdisciplinary inspiration and his transformational
vision all made him an exciting artist to partner with.” She believes
the exhibition is a perfect match with Montalvo’s mission to “engage
the public as far and wide as possible in the creative process.” As
she explains, “We make it a priority to bring world-class artists to
the South Bay and make their work available to our local community,
and it is an honor to introduce Bruce to the Bay Area in
his West Coast debut.”
As for Munro’s reaction to Montalvo, it was immediate and
brought to mind a literary association. “I felt a shiver down my
spine when I first visited,” he recalls. “The sunlit lawns and quiet
shadows of the house were a déjà vu moment, reminiscent of the
Magician’s house that features in ‘The Voyage of the Dawn Treader’.”
For those unfamiliar with the C.S. Lewis saga, “The Chronicles
of Narnia,” the Dawn Treader is a ship that takes King Caspian and
the three children to the Eastern Islands, toward Aslan’s country