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  • SAN FRANCISCO ART GALLERIES OPENINGS

    FIRST THURSDAY - 01.14.14 - Part II



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    Stephen Wirtz Gallery: The Optimists.

    Artists: Maysha Mohamedi, Rebecca Morris, Ruby Neri, Laurie Reid.

    Comment by AB: Laurie Reid explains this show's title as follows... "What motivates an artist to return to the studio time and time again? Surely, among other things, it is an almost feverish optimism-- or a sense that, no matter how long the wait or how difficult the work, something interesting and meaningful will come of it-- that one can indeed approach, in this manner, 'the wild heart of life.'" 'The wild heart of life' refers to a quote from the James Joyce novel, Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. My faves? Ruby Neri ceramic sculptures and sculpture groups.

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    Ceramic sculpture by Ruby Neri at Steven Wirtz Gallery.

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    Ruby Neri ceramic art.

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    Art by Ruby Neri.

    Ruby Neri art

    Ceramic sculpture group by Ruby Neri.

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    Art by Maysha Mohamedi.

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    Maysha Mohamedi art.

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    Art by Laurie Reid - looks too much like a late de Kooning.

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    Sparse mark art by Laurie Reid.

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    Works on paper by Rebecca Morris.

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    Demographics - Maysha Mohamedi, Rebecca Morris, Ruby Neri & Laurie Reid art show
    at Steven Wirtz Gallery.

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    The McLoughlin Gallery: Sorry Entertainer - Daniel Healey.

    Comment by AB: In one of the more fascinating and unique processes I've ever come across, Daniel Healey takes illustrations from mail order store catalogues like Victoria's Secret and sticks short lengths of clear tape to them which he quickly removes, thereby transferring ink directly from the illustrations onto the tape. Then he tapes those inked sections onto paper, arranging them into elaborate abstract collages. The results are as remarkable as the process itself. Go see.

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    Art by Daniel Healey at The McLoughlin Gallery.

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    Pinkie cam detail of art in above image.

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    Daniel Healey and his art at The McLoughlin Gallery.

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    Tape collage art by Daniel Healey closer (nicely done).

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    Small collage art by Daniel Healey.

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    Pinkie cam detail of art in above image.

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    Daniel Healey art.

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    Circumstance - Daniel Healey art show at The McLaughlin Gallery.

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    Gallery Paule Anglim: James Sterling Pitt - Hello Green Cosmos; Nathaniel Dorsky - Film Stills.

    Comment by AB: Like journal or diary entries, each of James Sterling Pitt's carved painted wood sculptures corresponds to a specific event in his life. If you point to one and ask him, he'll tell you exactly what that event is. As sort of a recollection backup, he also records these events as small watercolor and pencil drawings on paper, each serving as a working sketch for a sculpture. These drawings arranged into grids; some have brief penciled texts just beneath them recounting details of the events they represent. Good art; stop on by.

    In the anteroom gallery, Nathaniel Dorsky crops "perfect moments" from his short experimental films into small photographic prints. While there's no end of Dorsky talking about his films online, try as I might, I could find none the films or even snippets of them available for viewing. What's up with that, Nat?!

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    Art by James Sterling Pitt at Gallery Paule Anglim.

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    Art by James Sterling Pitt.

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    Painted wood sculpture in above image closer by James Sterling Pitt.

    James Sterling Pitt art

    James Sterling Pitt and his art at Gallery Paule Anglim.

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    Painted wood sculpture by James Sterling Pitt.

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    James Sterling Pitt's artistic version of journaling.

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    "Film stills" by Nathaniel Dorsky.

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    Nathaniel Dorsky photograph closer.

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    Photographic film stills by Nathaniel Dorsky.

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    Nathaniel Dorsky photography closer.

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    George Krevsky Gallery: Beth Van Hoesen - Portraits from the Castro.

    Comment by AB: Portraits of Castro neighborhood characters by Beth Van Hoesen (1926-2010) who she painted from personal sittings circa the late 1980s and 1990s at her upper Market residence. Makes for an entertaining art show as well as an historical documentation of the times.

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    Art by Beth Van Hoesen at George Krevsky Gallery.

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    Beth Van Hoesen art.

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    Watercolor portraits by Beth Van Hoesen.

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    Beth Van Hoesen art.

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    Art by Beth Van Hoesen.

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    Statistical sample - Beth Van Hoesen art show at George Krevsky Gallery.

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    Hespe Gallery: Eric Zener - Inspirations.

    Comment by AB: Eric Zener has taken plenty of photographs over the years that he uses as reference when painting his paintings. Here he shows select images from that archive. Not only do they deepen our understanding of his paintings, but they also stand on their own as commendable works of art.

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    Photography by Eric Zener at Hespe Gallery.

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    Eric Zener photographs.

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    Photograph by Eric Zener closer.

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    Eric Zener photographs.

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    Photography in above image closer.

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    Eric Zener photograph closer.

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    Ambiance - Eric Zener photography show at Hespe Gallery.

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    Spoke Art Gallery: Third Annual Supersonic Invitational.

    Artists: Brett Amory, Glenn Arthur, Tom Bagshaw, Oliver Barrett, David Bray, Hsiao Ron Cheng, Dan Christofferson, Kristina Collantes, Seamus Conley, Sam Wolfe Connelly, Jason Edmiston, Jeremy Enecio, Cam Floyd, Ken Garduno, Andrew Hem, Stella Im Hultberg, Allan Innman, Martine Johanna, Erik Jones, Steve Kim, Jason Levesque, Jen Mann, Alessandra Maria, Soey Milk, Mike Mitchell, Aaron Nagel, Joanne Nam, Victo Ngai, Charmaine Olivia, ONEQ, Alex Pardee, Jeff Ramirez, Conrad Roset, Joao Ruas, Tina St. Claire, Tatiana Suarez, Ken Taylor, Sachin Teng, Casey Weldon, Matthew Woodson, Zoltron.

    Comment by AB: Group show highlights "emerging as well as established artists in the New Contemporary art movement." Not exactly sure what the New Contemporary art movement is, especially in the context of this show since it encompasses a smattering of pretty much everything.

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    Art by Martine Johanna (left) - Brett Amory (right) at Spoke Art Gallery.

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    Art by Erik Jones.

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    Art by David Bray (left) - Tom Bagshaw (right).

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    Jason Edmiston art (center).

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    Art by Alessandra Maria (left) - Casey Weldon (right).

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    Alex Pardee art (center).

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    Art by Jeff Ramirez (left) - Martine Johanna (right).

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    Relative density - group art show at Spoke Art Gallery.

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    Addendum:

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    L-R, art by Hyun Su Park & Jungsan Senim at Sandra Lee Gallery.

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    Art by Kathryn Arnold at Sandra Lee Gallery.

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    L-R, art by Kristin Lindseth Rivera & Jeremy Morgan at Sandra Lee Gallery.

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    Those of you who use these reviews to peruse the galleries from the convenience of your computer screens rather than having to visit in person might occasionally think about supporting the cause.

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    First Thursday - December 5, 2013

    First Thursday - November 7, 2013

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