JOHN PENCE - LUGGAGE STORE

AMPERSAND - PIER 5 LAW OFFICES

10.16.15

(with assistance from Agnieszka Pilat)



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Get your art fix fast: Instagram @alanbamberger

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John Pence Gallery: Still Life and Florals

Artists: Juliette Aristides, Jason Brady, Noah Buchanan, Emil Carlsen, Jacob Collins, Tony Curanaj, Donald Davis, Douglas Flynt, Adam Forfang, Jason Gaillard, Greg Gandy, Carin Gerard, Russell Harris, Justin Hess, Emma Hirst, Brendan Johnston, Susan Jorgensen, Tara Keefe, Thomas Kegler, Jonathan Koch, Sareah K Lamb, David Leffel, Geoffrey Leckie, Steven J Levin, Jeremy Mann, Sherrie McGraw, Edward Minoff, Michael Molnar, John Morra, Cuong Nguyen, Teresa Oaxaca, Jacob Pfeiffer, Christopher Pierce, William Rodgers, Travis Schlaht, Randall Sexton, Chris Thomas, Jason Toney, Sadie Valeri, Peter VanDyck, Margaret Wade, Anthony Waichulis, Leah Waichulis, Slade Wheeler, Will Wilson.

Comment by AB: Who needs cameras when you can paint like this?

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The Luggage Store Gallery: Both on Earth - Cate White; Black Mail

Black Mail artists: @thebugs87, @texturesandlayers, @chrispymartin, @muzae, @aguycalledwest.

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Ampersand International Arts: Yes But Maybe - Sydney Cohen; Ply - Prajakti Jayavant

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Pier 5 Law Offices: 16th Annual Prison Art Show

Review by Agnieszka Pilat: When you mention Tony Serra Law office, most people think civil rights, high profile cases and maybe even tax evasion. For decades Tony Serra has represented countless defendants, often being the last resort for people with very few resources. On this day, Serra's office has been transformed into a pop-up art gallery featuring drawings, paintings and jewelry created by the inmates of California prisons. The "Prison Art Show" is an annual even that Tony has been organizing for many years now and all its proceeds go back to the artists.

The show is really fun-- great mishmash of work, in subject matters as well as quality. Most of the artists are self-taught but what they lack in technique, they make up for in the patience and emotion they pour into their creations. I see a couple of artworks that verge of being professional; with the right guidance and incentive, after a few months of training, I can honestly say they could compete with full-time working artists.

One of my favorites is a graphic novel spread by Jackie Henderson aka Kakamia Jahad Imarisha. His work stands out for its solid drawing skills, great design and mastery of the medium (ink and wash on watercolor paper), executed with patience and with passion. The artist understands nuances of line quality and has an amazing artistic sensibility that truly resonates. Jackie, who went to prison when he was 16 years old dreams of opening a tattoo shop when he is released. He has been incarcerated for 24 years. His work is my personal favorite, but there are many other artists who also deliver good works and those in attendance are buying these precious original pieces at great bargain prices.

The event is inspiring in a bittersweet way. On one hand it's encouraging to see the prisoners make the best of their circumstances and commit to such creative endeavors, while on the other hand one's heart fills with despair that people with so much ability can make bad decisions that impact not only their lives but also the lives of the communities around them.

Comment by AB: This annual show is required viewing for many more reasons than art, top-heavy with grist for the mind. For starters, each artist provides a handwritten bio and background information. You can take it from there...

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