SAN FRANCISCO ART GALLERIES OPENINGS

FIRST THURSDAY - 01.08.15 - Part II

(with assistance from Teri Goodson and RWM)



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Altman Siegel Gallery: Matt Keegan - And.

Comment by AB: Matt Keegan covers the walls of the gallery with sheetrock and then cuts and colors it up into a pastel brick-like motif. On it, he alternates laser-cut color-coated sheet metal sculptures (looking like modernist origami) with photographs of shadow/light/texture patterns he sees on the ground. Nicely done; stop on by.

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Gallery Paule Anglim: J John Priola - Nurture; Jean Conner - Collages.

Review by Teri Goodson: John Priola's show "Nurture" consists of elegant color photographs with sophisticated precise displays of light and color. His works capture the eternal power of nature as it intersects with architecture. Both nature and humanity are irrevocably linked. We are reminded of this, as plant life insinuates itself into our buildings and pathways.

Review by RWM: Great Urban Ecology show about our connection to urban plants. We plant them and take care of them, but they do not look very adorable in these pictures. The show does seem to indicate that they are estranged in the city like many of us. We need them and should take better care, with the air quality really suffering in the city from all the density and traffic. A plea for help and why not. There are plenty of folks around who will help one plant native rather than strange plants that have evolved elsewhere. A testament here to their hard times.

Comment by AB: In the main gallery, J John Priola elevates the banal, making a rather convincing case that beauty is everywhere if only we take the time to contemplate, reflect on and appreciate what we see rather than dismiss it or judge. In the rear gallery, Jean Conner's collages range from abstract assemblages to alternate realities. Go see; it's all good here.

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1AM Gallery: 1AM Revolution.

Artists: Poesia, MadC, Scott Sueme, Bask, Does, Optimist, Tes One, Defer, Pemex, Kenor, Mike "Bam" Tyau, Pener, Sen2, Nuria Mora, Thomas Bestvina, Mark Bode, Ratur, JS Weis, Kamea Hadar, Amanda Lynn, Mags, Monty Guy, Christopher De Leon, Leon Loucheur, Robert Bowen.

Comment by AB: 1AM Gallery marks its sixth anniversary with this group show by artists who look to the future in terms of great things to come as well as challenges we face.

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Hang Art Gallery: Giselle Gautreau - In Smoke and Fog.

Review by RWM: Nice encounter with Nature and the elements. Wonderful atmospherics and movements in the sky. Beautiful colors and fun to be had, yet also sublime.

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SOMArts Gallery: Glamorgeddon.

Artists: Chris Brown, Eliza Barrios, Mildred Howard, Joyce Hsu, Chris Kubick, Stella Lai, M.O.B/ Mail Order Brides (Jenifer Wofford, Eliza Barrios, Reanne Estrada), Kara Maria, Hector Dionicio Mendoza, Amalia Mesa-Bains, Gabby Miller, Angelica Muro, Johanna Poethig, Laetitia Sonami, Gustavo Vazquez, Bernard Williams, Imin Yeh.

Comment by AB: This show is pure unadulterated fun-- art, performance, spectacle and outrageousness. On a more serious note, it's perhaps a bit of a push-back at conventional, "approved," or "sanctioned" ways of celebrating. The unbridled upshot is so over-the-top that it takes this month's cake for Pick of First Thursday.

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Addendum:

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First Thursday - December 4, 2014

First Thursday - November 6, 2014

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