WARNOCK - 111 MINNA - SANGATI - D-STRUCTURE - GALERIA DE LA RAZA - GALLERY 1988 - 02.06.09 (with assistance from R.W. Miller)

Warnock Fine Arts: Herlinde Spahr - Fulgurite.

Comment by AB: A fulgurite is defined as a slender tube or cone-shaped piece of glass or rock produced when a lightning bolt strikes the ground and instantly fuses dry sand or soil at the striking point with heat. Herlinde Spahr here translates that idea into works of art that speak to the "flash of imagination." Estimable premise; nicely executed.

***

111 Minna Gallery: "Bay Area Graffiti" Book Release.

Comment by AB: Honkin' urban hoedown celebrates the art of our most talented outdoor muralists with a combination art show and book release for "Bay Area Graffiti" by Steve Rotman & Chris Brennan (Mark Batty Publisher, New York, 2009. 208 pages, illustrated, 11 1/2 x 9 1/4 inches, hardbound. $45). By the time I get there, the book's already sold out and the party hasn't even started yet. Yo!

***

Sangati Gallery: Diane Abt - Blowing in the Wind.

Comment by AB: Adept monoprints and collage by Diane Abt manifest marked Japanese influences and are enlivened by energized calligraphic flourishes.

***

Galeria de la Raza: Strange Hope.

Artists: Pilar AguÎro-Esparza, Ra™l Aguilar, Juan Alicia, Jesus Barraza, Charles Beronio, Sylvia Buettner, Monica Canilao, T’n Kh·nh Cao, Victor Cartagena, Melanie Cervantez, Jaime Cortez, Rudy Cuellar, Ali Dadgar, Andy DÌaz-Hope, Veronica Duarte, Ana T. Fern·ndez, Colleen Flaherty, Pato Hebert, Giovanni Higuera, Jason J”gel, Jody Jock, Sahar Khoury, John LeaÒos, Juan Luna Avin, Scott McLeod, Sean McFarland, Julio CÈsar Morales, Michelle Muennig, AngÈlica Muro, Mabel Negrete, Txtxo Perez, Johanna Poethig, Sylvia Poloto, Juan Carlos Quintana, Rigo 23, Artemio RodrÌguez, Favianna Rodriguez, Rosa Valdez, Jenifer Wofford, Rio YaÒez.

Review by R.W. Miller: All sorts of small art pieces are presented to explore possible options on how to improve our lot. The offerings are so numberous and diverse that it's difficult to fathom all the meanings expressed. The combination of ideas is intricate and intriguing, but the artists assert that a new beginning is on the way. Artists can help us think our way out of this.

Comment by AB: The show of 8 1/2 by 8 1/2 inch works culminates in an art-swap lottery-- an agreed upon redistribution among the artists, you might call it. A random drawing will be held to determine who will become the proud new owner of whose work of art.

***

Gallery 1988: Some Kind of Wonderful.

Artists: Allison Sommers, Cherri Wood, D'Holbachie-Yoko, Kendra Binney, Mari Inukai, Nanami Cowdroy, Rachel J. Wong, Rebecca Artemisa Urias, Sarah Joncas.

Review by R.W. Miller: Possibly in response to the recent national emotional letdown following the election and inauguration, the assembled artists question the national call for optimism. The recent economic downturn and turmoil has us worrying, and the assembled artists are saying something about it. All sorts of discomfort and sadness are expressed by the women pictured here. In a word, they're practically all pouting, and rightly so, considering our current overload of woes. Even the beautifully rendered fish have more now to worry about. Some images are also crowded and chaotic expressing the sad and confusing state of affairs. But then again, things may change, and one might imagine the paintings possibly lighting up with smiling women. In the meantime sadness and even anger pervades.

***

Addendum:

***