Ribitch Bio

Ribitch (Rib-Itch): A scratch on the rib, or something that bothers you. The name is a play on words and a bit of Humor Noir. Ribitch for most of his life, had an affinity for surrealism. For the past thirty years he has been an active member of the International Surrealist Movement. Since his introduction to Philip Lamantia and the Bay Area Surrealist Group in 1975 he has been involved in several major Surrealist exhibitions. Soon after this momentous meeting Ribitch traveled to Chicago to meet with the Arsenal Group and attended The World Surrealist Exhibition: Marvelous Freedom, The Vigilance of Desire. Over 33 Nations were represented showing the solidarity of all the individual groups’ worldwide. In 1978 Ribitch returned to Chicago and helped organize another International surrealist exhibit The 100 Anniversary of Hysteria.

Ribitch continued to collaborate and commune with surrealist comrades around the world. He has exhibited in several group shows as well as his own one man shows. He has published two chap books of Poetry (Nefftania and Third Morning), co-edited a literary journal with fellow surrealist Sharon Olson (Somnambulist). He has had work published in Surrealism and It’s Popular Accomplices, Free Spirits published by City Lights, Cultural Correspondence and the first bilingual edition of Analogon, the journal of the Surrealist Movement in Prague.

Ribitch’s views of surrealism can be summed up in his own words, “It is a lightning field of the possible, where the horizon is set aflame by human potential. It is here amongst the corellas of this possibility that the marvelous displays its fine wings of gossamer silk and smoke. It is the play between the invisible and the visible dancing under a moon, recognizing its dreams in crystalline reflection. It is the erotic sensation of a breath, like the shaman’s drum, the heartbeat of the marvelous calling to the unseen chimeras of the unconscious to reveal their stories at the edge of the eye.”

Exhibitions

2015    Reverie and Dream: Worlds of Ribitch - Jerry Adams Gallery, Berkeley CA

2011    Berkeley Poetry Festival - Berkeley CA.

2010    Digital Art Extravaganza - Limner Gallery, Hudson N.Y.

2007    Digital Explorations - Fetterly Gallery, Vallejo CA.

2007    Visionaries - June Steingart Gallery, Oakland CA.

2007    Beaux & Eros - Peninsula Museum of Art, Belmont CA.

2006    Hybrids: 11 Bay Area Surrealist Peninsula Museum of Art - Belmont CA.

2006    Special Collections Series (Online Exhibit)

2004    Bay Area Blues in Performance Photo Exhibit - Berkeley CA. Berkeley CA.

2002    Dot.Print - Julia Steingart Gallery Laney College, Oakland CA.

2002    Objects Desagreables: Art of Four Surrealist - Build Gallery San Francisco CA.

2001    Festival of the Deranged - Creamery Gallery Oakland, CA

*    The Family: Desecrated Photographs - Blake Street Hawkeyes Theatre Berkeley, CA.

*    The Family: Desecrated Photographs - Grass Roots Cultural Center San Diego CA.

*    Phantoms of the Imagination - Grass Roots Cultural Center San Diego CA.

*Humor International Exhibition - Museum of Radical Humor, Bulgaria