CHINESE CULTURE CENTER - GERAS TOUSIGNANT - LAKE
D-STRUCTURE - CAIN SCHULTE - 667 SHOTWELL
CENTER FOR THE BOOK - MINA DRESDEN - RARE DEVICE
SPARE ROOM PROJECT - GALLERY 1988 - EDO SALON
HUNTERS POINT SHIPYARD - ISLAIS CREEK STUDIOS
05.01.09
(with assistance from Laura Chenault)

Chinese Culture Center: Present Tense Biennial - Chinese Character .

Artists: Tamara Albaitis, Nancy Chan, Anita Wen-Shin Chang, Julie Chang, Thomas Chang, Sergio de la Torre, Cui Fei, Justin Hoover, Bu Hua, Arthur Huang, Suzanne Husky, Khiang H. Hei, Larry Lee, Sean Marc Lee, Liting Liang, Lucy Kalyani Lin, Ken Lo, Fang Lu, Maleonn, Elizabeth Moy, Ming Mur-Ray, Tucker Nichols, Nadim Sabella, Zachary Royer Scholz, Indigo Som, Charlene Tan, Patrick Tsai, Imin Yeh, Xudung Yu, David & Michelle Yun. Curated by Kevin B. Chen.

Comment by AB: Thirty-one artists from the Bay Area and beyond essay on contemporary Chinese culture. A fine exhibition all the way around, with high points including Suzanne Husky's regimented rendition of workers in a Chinese factory interior, a column of blue and white porcelain bowls reaching to the ceiling by Larry Lee, a walk-through sound installation by (not sure), and to remind us of how much garbage we generate, a cornucopia of fast food restaurant throwaways set against two tall walls papered with Chinese restaurant take out menus (not sure who this one's by either). Penty more good stuff too, and special added bonus-- more art and installations appear in storefront windows throughout Chinatown. Definite go see.

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Geras Tousignant Gallery: The Grid.

Artists: Monika Steiner, Jose Antonio Torres, Nick Dong, Taylor Tschider, Irene Pena, Alex Palomo, Michael Knud Ross, Jay Tyrrell, Russell Pachman, Daniel Tousignant, Lauren Anderson, Matt Colagiuri, Barron Bixler, Andy Freeberg, Angie Crabtree, James Scott Geras, Maria Leria, Bob Cornelis, Eric Saxby, Gary Stocker, Ellen Granter, Christina Koci Hernandez, Piotr Perski, Norm Halm, Jeff Hesser, Matthew Trygve Tung, Robert Couto.

Comment by AB: Gumptious group show features current work by gallery artists. In the "uncommonly unique" department, you'll find four pillows upholstered in painted temperature-sensitive fabric that change color when you touch 'em. In the center of each pillow is a removable sculpture about the size of the palm of your hand, backed with magnets, that doubles as a piece of wearable jewelry.

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Lake Gallery: Nancy Spoelhof - The Crowd Echo.

Comment by AB: Curious little paint/sculpture/collage figurals by Nancy Spoelhof mimick individuals, but allow the viewer copious freedom to fill in the blanks with respect to demeanor, personality characteristics, and so on. Since they look like people, why not imagine what kind of people they are? Kinda like 'em.

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D-Structure: Trevor Traynor - I Shoot People.

Comment by AB: Trevor Traynor tells me the show surveys the past five years of his hip-hop photography. His credits include shooting live concerts, portraits, album covers, magazine spreads for artists like Rakim, KRS-One, Nas, N.E.R.D., Mos Def, De La Soul, Public Enemy, Wu-Tang Clan, and more. It's that simple and no more complicated.

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Cain Schulte Contemporary Art: Aaron White - French New Wave.

Review by Corey Best: In Aaron White's solo show of acrylic paintings at Cain Schulte Gallery entitled French New Wave, he makes strong use of color and texture. His art features women caught up in interesting situations. Stop by and check it out. The show runs until June 6th. Viewing by appointment.

Review by Laura Chenault: Aaron White's new paintings are large, glossy are layered with paint and imagery. Urban and grungy, Aaron's images combine the dark with the lighthearted. A sofa in one corner is filled with large pink pillows that have one of his waifish heroines printed on the fronts. All lined up in row, they dominate the small sofa. A large free-standing folding screen, impressive in scale is well suited for the dark scene. Beautiful new work from a talented local artist.

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667 Shotwell: Lucas Murgida - Muster Retrodiction.

Review and images by Laura Chenault: There's a wide open door, but the dimly lit stairs do not shout "gallery opening tonight." A large chinese lantern glows red over the stairs. At the top, a long hallway to the left is well lit and leads to a crowd in the kitchen, but still no obvious art in sight. A small room in the very back has a few framed photographs. Someone points out artist, Lucas Murgida, the mastermind of the evening. He explains that there's a door handle that will shock me and that sensors under the hallway carpet are shocking him as people walk from one end of the apartment to the other. He is focused on the conversation, but is also shaking his leg due to an attached device which shocks him consistently. Exploring the rest of the show, it's interesting that I'm avoiding the carpet as I walk down the hallway, while a red light streaming through the keyhole entices a shock. An interesting interactive experience.

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San Francisco Center for the Book: Once Upon a Book - Children's Book Exhibition.

Artists: Remy Charlip, Maira Kalman, Elisa Kleven, David Macaulay, Chris Raschika, Brian Selznick.

Review and images by Laura Chenault: The workk of these six children's book artists ranges from soft watercolors to bright acrylics and black and white illustrations. Many of the artists have provided sample book structures and sketches illustrating their thoughts and processes during the creation of their books. Delightful and endearing, the artwork is beautiful and the focus on process is intriguing.

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Mina Dresden Gallery: Unhinged.

Artists/furniture designers: Bobby Brinton, Layla Burke, Liz Koerner, Willem-Evett Miller, Lauren Scott, Jeff Weathers.

Review and images by Laura Chenault: Walking into the gallery, witness a large sculptural tower made out of small pieces of wood. Towering to the rafters, it's solid volume is simultaneously lacy due to the open spaces. Two hanging seats are suspended from the ceiling on ropes-- curving planes of wood become beautiful swinging furniture. A hanging sculpture is doing double duty using metal hexagons to support hexagon ice cubes bathed in blue light. Form meets function in this exhibit that proves furniture can be art.

Comment by AB: Exhibit of works by six graduating students of CCA's Furniture Department.

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Rare Device: Rachel Denny - Out of the Woods.

Review and images by Laura Chenault: This back room gallery is filled with whimsical mixed media work by Rachel Denny. Realistic animals, include mounted heads and posed bunnies, plush with knitted coats, plus glittery pine cones and log cabins that look like child's blocks. Glitter and knitting, traditional craft materials, are elevated to high art in Rachel's work. Meticulous as well as thought provoking.

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The Spare Room Project: Land, Liberty, Sunshine, Stamina.

Artists: Severine von Scharner Fleming, Lauren Anderson, Bonnie Ora Sherk, Robyn Waxman, Maya Donelson, Brooke Budner, Zoey Kroll and Erin Wilson, Andrew Mariani, Mark Gravel, Bouwerie, Iso Rabins, Asiya Wadud, Amber Hasselbring.

Review and images by Laura Chenault: A collaborative installation educates and encourages participation. The evening starts with a fermentation skill share-- a discussion, tips trading and culture starter sharing-- that sets the tone of the evening. These urban gardeners and the ephemera they create educate and promote agriculture in the concrete jungle. The evening is a celebration of urban farming and DIY ingenuity.

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Gallery 1988: Unhinged.

Artists: Anne-Julie Aubry, Ben Strawn, Casey Weldon, Catherine Brooks, Crhystal Chan, Daniel Elson, Danielle rizzolo, David Habben, Devin Cranee, Drake Brodahl, Erica gibson, Gene Guynn, Irma Rivera, Jason Limon, Jeannie Lynn Paske, Jeff McMillan, Jeni Yang, James (Jimbot) Demski, John Kennedy, Jonathan Bergeron, Kendra Binney, Lauren Moyer, Leanne Biank, Leotine Greenberg, Mayuko Fujino, Megan Kimber, Melissa Haslam, Mike Tudor, Misha, Nicoletta Ceccoli, Roland Tamayo, Ruel Pascual, Ryan Sanchez, Sean Clarity, Seiji Yonehara, Shannon Bonatakis, Tavo Quiros, Tin.

Review and images by Laura Chenault: Massive group show features grown up art inspired by fairy tales, comic books, and children's stories. A dark Beauty and the Beast is perfectly accentuated by it's baroque frame. A photorealistic young boy with a tiger includes a second, cartoony tiger, a visual nod to the inspiration. A lonely Red Riding Hood is isolated in her dark forest, whimsical and childish, yet eerie. Though many of the artists use the same inspiration, their visions produce notably different results.

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Hunters Point Shipyard Artists: Spring Open Studios.

Artists: Lots.

Comment by AB: It's time once again for 2009 Spring Open Studios at Hunters Point Shipyard. Tonight's the preview party. This weekend, over 100 artists will open their studios to the public. It's a festive event and a delightful day trip-- out there at The Point, you don't even feel like you're in San Francisco. Be sure to get on their mailing list so that you don't miss any future open studios. They have then several times per year. Next one? This fall.

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Addendum:

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