MUSEUM OF CRAFT + DESIGN - DREW SCHOOL - MERIDIAN - GALLERY 291 - RENA BRANSTEN - MODERNISM - ITALIAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE - A.MUSE - PAUL MAHDER - 01.15.09 (with assistance from R. W. Miller and Dennis C. Scherzer

Drew School: Jeff Sheng - Fearless.

Comment by AB: In an eminently progressive, perhaps even groundbreaking documentary photo essay, Los Angeles photographer Jeff Sheng broaches one of the most enduring bastions of GLBT intolerance-- athletics. His direct unflinching portrait photographs of "out" high school and collegiate athletes who openly identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender make the simple and salient statement that it's time to get real, face the facts, be proud of who we are, and most importantly, come together as one.

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San Francisco Museum of Craft + Design: San Francisco Graphic Design.

Graphic Designers: Philippe Becker, Jennifer Bostic, Adam Brodsley and Eric Heiman, Josh Chen, Tom Ingalls, Jennifer Jerde, Mitchell Mauk, Sara Schneider, Michael Schwab, Christopher Simmons, Barbara Vick, Cinthia Wen, Michael Osborne. Curated by Michael Osborne.

Comment by AB: An impressive survey of San Francisco graphic design from the 1960s through the present features the work of thirteen influential designers. We don't often think about the role graphics plays in everything we see from print media, food/beverage packaging and trademarks, to posters and signage-- it all seems so effortless and inconsequential-- but it's not. Here's your chance to reflect on the considerable influence that graphic design has on our everyday lives. The museum's packed, by the way, indicating the strength and vibrancy of the local graphic design community. Good show; go see.

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Meridian Gallery: Jack Stuppin Landscapes - Songs of the Earth. Curated by Peter Selz.

Comment by AB: Major exhibition of the art of Jack Stuppin fills all three floors of the gallery with his lively landscape paintings (and a few works on paper). The works manifest a naively beckoning essence with respect to compositional elements and brush strokes, and proceed to overpower with a vibrant pristine palette and visionary overtones. Price range $400-$38K; something for everyone.

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Gallery 291: Brigitte Carnochan - Imagining Then, A Family Story, 1941-1947.

Comment by AB: Multi-layered photo montage by Brigitte Carnochan composed of elements taken from actual vintage documents and photographs revisits the German and American play-out of events during and immediately following World War II, but from a deeply personal, heartfelt and intimate family perspective. The images are available either individually or as a complete portfolio limited to 25 copies. Nicely done.

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Rena Branston Gallery: Complicity - Contemporary Photography and the Matter of Sculpture.

Artists: Ginny Cook, Igor Eskinja, Daniel Gordon, Cynthia Greig, Chris Jones and Vik Muniz. Curated by Leigh Markopoulos.

Comment by AB: The highpoint of this endeavor would certainly be Chris Jones' remarkable full-scale mixed media romp of a rendition of a Harley Davidson motorcycle, the surface of which is plastered with associated photographs and found images. The remainder of the show skirts the esoteric brink of conceptuality offering opportunities for intellectualization in adequate abundance to warm the cognitive cockles of cerebellums everywhere.

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Modernism Gallery: David Simpson - Paintings & Works on Paper; Mark Stock - Drawings & Prints, 1979 - 2009.

Review by R. W. Miller: Concerns and styles collide at Modernism pulling at the observer interested in either or both Minimalism or Stylized Realism. David Simpson's geometric color field paintings circa 1970-1980 transfix your eyes on the compositions, but you can also enjoy the texture of the canvases as you wander around these minimalist delineations with their contrasting blocks of color. Some recent freeform acrylics on paper round out the display. In the rear gallery, Mark Stock's limited edition prints of some of his signature paintings fascinate with their sincere and occasionally sensual images, poignant to the point where you can share in the emotional experiences.

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Istituto Italiano di Cultura (Italian Cultural Institute): Paolo Simonazzi - Tra la via Emilia e il West.

Comment by AB: Paolo Simonazzi's photographs effectivly survey the seepage of American pop culture, ethos as well as icons, into the vernacular aspects of Italian lifestyle.

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a.Muse Gallery: Carlo Abruzzese and Barbara Flaherty - Beyond Sea and Sky.

Comment by AB: Precise architectural landscape and seascape abstractions by Carlo Abruzzese are pleasantly offset by Barbara Flaherty's deep blue undulating wave formations.

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Paul Mahder Gallery: Basic - New paintings by Elena Zolotnitsky.

Review by Dennis C. Scherzer: Coming soon.

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