SFMOMA ARTISTS GALLERY - MIRUS - MARKET STREET

ROOT DIVISION - GUERRERO - TRUESILVER

03.09.13

(with assistance from RWM)



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SFMOMA Artists Gallery: Silvia Poloto, Gustavo Ramos Rivera.

Comment by AB: Silvia Poloto utilizes a medley of techniques in the creation of her abstract compositions with occasional semi-representational elements-- including painting, photography, collage and digital imagery. Upstairs, enjoy a selection of vibrant expressionist monoprints by Gustavo Ramos Rivera.

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Mirus Gallery: Allison Renshaw - Better than Candy.

Review by RWM: Expository work, the flavor of bubble gum for the mind. Nice brain candy here with all sorts subliminal advertising. Great collages which invigorate. Bright pinks and reds and photographic images. Much fun about a world and scene that many may not understand. Connotations explode off the canvas.

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Market Street Gallery: Paintings by Yari Ostovany.

Comment by AB: A transformative type of metamorphosis is apparent when observing the interplay of the myriad layers in these depthy earth-toned abstractions, the totalities ranging in essence from primordial to luminescent to foreboding.

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Root Division: Permutation Unfolding. Curated by Rebecca Shortle & Tobias Tovera.

Artists: Jamie Brunson, Randy Colosky, Peter Foucault, Rebecca Shortle, Tobias Tovera, Sid Garrison, Mieko Hara, Gregory Kaplowitz, Amanda Klimek, Michelle Mansour, Mia Nakano, Sandra Ono, Jenn Shifflet, Christopher Sicat, John Wood.

Comment by AB: According to the preamble, this show "examines the realm of process in relationship to natural systems of self-organization and transformation... and introduces art practices that result from processes of intuitive facture, repetition, and chance, created organically through accumulation." I read tumescent tripe like this and just throw up my arms (or maybe just throw up). It can mean absolutely anything, resulting in yet another meandering disjointed group grope, because artists can show pretty much whatever they want and still be within the nonexistent guidelines-- and that's exactly what they do.

The art itself is entirely admirable for the most part, but I've had it with these lame-o vainglorious jibber-jabber pretexts. If you insist on continuing to do shows like this, here's my suggestion for a statement: "We're going to fill up a large room with art." It's clear, concise, direct, straightforward, accurate, and the best part? You can use it over and over again and it'll always be totally right on.

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Guerrero Gallery: Show Me More - Erin M. Riley; Nudes, A Group Exhibition Curated by The World's Best Ever.

Artists in Nudes: Asger Carlsen, Alfred Steiner, Chris Yarmick, Dave Schubert, Eddie Martinez, Eric Beltz, Faile, Geoff McFetridge, HuskMitNavn, Mark Gonzales, Mark Mulroney, Sandy Kim, Stephen Powers, Suzannah Sinclair, Taylor McKimens, Tomokazu Matsuyama, Troels Carlsen, Victor Reyes.

Comment by AB: Erin M. Riley tracks down trashy photos on the Internet and then recreates them in tapestries, woven on a loom using hand dyed yarns. She's really good. Definitely recommended. Also on display in the back gallery-- nudes, nudes and nudes.

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Truesilver Gallery: There Is No Telling What - Gregory Ito & Carey Lin.

Comment by AB: Two artists rummage through the home of gallery owners Heather and Charlie Villyard, and make art based on their findings-- Carey Lin in watercolors and Gregory Ito in sculptural assemblages constructed from actual objects he finds in the house.

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