|
|
BRAUNSTEIN/QUAY - HOSFELT - NEEDLES & PENS ENCANTADA - WHITE WALLS - SHOOTING GALLERY ROOT DIVISION - 20 GOTO 10 - ARTWORKSF (with assistance from Victor DeLucie and Jessica Whiteside) 02.09.08 Braunstein/Quay Gallery: Jane Rosen - Gamut; Joshua Hart - Homemaker or You Can Take it With You. Comment by AB: Jane Rosen's bird and animal sculptures and works on paper are inspired by the live versions found on her ranch. In the parlour, Joshua Hart takes ordinary stuff and combines and arranges it in other-than-ordinary ways, or at least that's what they tell me. Art from the front (Jane Rosen). Art from the side (Jane Rosen). Art (Jane Rosen). Art (Jane Rosen). Art (Jane Rosen). Art (Joshua Hart). Art (Joshua Hart). *** Hosfelt Gallery: Chris Ballantyne - When the World Was Flat; John O'Reilly - Portraits. Comment by AB: Chris Ballantyne excerpts chards and fragments of bland landscapes and ubiquitous suburbia from reality, then further alienates the issue by leaving certain areas blank-- sometimes painted, sometimes unpainted-- where houses, swimming pools, fences or other familiar features are supposed to be, then sometimes subtly shades a quadrant of the compostition beyond that-- including the mat. Package deal. Or maybe he paints routine green landscapes like they've been ripped from the surface of the earth and floated with roots against plain backgrounds... er... kinda like what Josh Keyes does. When Ballantyne's not doing any of those, he combines suburban affects in unexpected ways, like in this large watercolor of convergent ranch houses -- my fave. In the rear gallery, John O'Reilly flawlessly collages portions of photographs (some of which are photographs of photographs) into still lifes and interiors, all entirely convincing-- so much so, in fact, that you think you're looking at individual photographs of actual scenarios, not cutouts from photographs pieced together... unless you look close... and you know what you're looking at. Illusionarily outstanding. Go see. Art (John O'Reilly). Art (John O'Reilly). Art - looks like a photo of an interior, doesnt' it? (John O'Reilly). Art (John O'Reilly). Art (Chris Ballantyne). Art (Chris Ballantyne). Art (Chris Ballantyne). Art (Chris Ballantyne - like it... sans drips perhaps). Art (Chris Ballantyne). Art (Chris Ballantyne). Art (Chris Ballantyne). *** Needles & Pens: There is Xerox on the Insides of Your Eyelids. Artists: Garry S. Davis (skate fate), Tod Swank (swank zine), Thomas Campbell (joke), Chris Johanson (karma boarder), Andy Jenkins (bend), Bernie McGinn (tiki), Kevin Wilkens (7 zine), John Dettman-Lytle (naughty nomads), Mark Waters (408), Rich Jacobs (skate-edge), Jocko Weyland (elk, revenge against boredom, author of: the answer is never), Dennis Remsing (rem zine), Dan Esabrook (contort), Tim Kerr (Big Boys), Chris Shary (burly obsession zine-uk), Ron Cameron (dope zine- a blockhead mag, and skate slate), Mofo (thrasher mag photographer ), Rodger Bridges (grim ripper, powerhouse, dancing skeleton zines), more. Comment by AB: Dense retrospect and muse on 1980s Skate Zines & Xerox Art featuring vintage examples courtesy of a variety of practitioners. Needles & Pins shows like this (or shall we say documentaries) consistently excavate and prognosticate beyond what you have the surface, presenting informative amalgams of art, pop culture, and history in ways that few other galleries do. Whether or not I'm fluent with the idiom, I like what happens here. Wanna buy something? Just about everything's $100-$200. Art. Art. Art. Show curator/artist Rich Jacobs - art. Breezy Culbertson & affiliate. Art. Art. Art. *** Encantada Gallery, 908 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94110; 415.642.3939: Art for the Heart - Reception and Silent Auction. Comment by AB: Encantada Gallery is a multi-purpose space for exhibitions, lectures, performances, poetry readings, workshops, and more. The gallery adjoins Arte Popular, a colorific gift shop filled with festive decorative arts for all occasions and locations. Tonight's event is a fundraiser for the complex offering loads of quality affordable art by a variety of talented local artists. The gallery and shop represent an essential aspect of The Mission, so stop on by, say hello, and drop a little contribution in the bucket. Art. Art. Michael Roman - art. Art. Art. Art. Top row, r to l, John Aragon (sculptor), Mia Gonzalez (owner), Michael Roman (artist). Turnout. Popular decorative arts next door. *** Root Division: Blackout. Artists: Eric Araujo, Amy Cancelmo, Selene Foster, Rachael Jablo, Jeremiah Jenkins, David O. Johnson, Matt Jones, Scott Kiernan/Zenith Foundation, Andrew Kleindolph, Renetta Sitoy, Charlotte Tai, Kevin E. Taylor, Anne Yalon. Comment by AB: Electric art in the dark-- sculpture, projection, video, and combinations and permutations thereof. Video art. Three-screen rapid change trisected standing subject art. Three-screen rapid change trisected standing subject art cont. Electric light art. Video projected from above onto sand art. Video art. *** White Walls Gallery: Ian Johnson & Albert Reyes. Review by Jessica Whiteside: It's no surprise an enormous crowd of people turns out to see the art-making machine that is Albert Reyes, and the beautifully rendered portraits by Ian Johnson. Both artists have masterful drawing skills, and create compelling images with the narrative nature of their work. Albert Reyes also happens to be one of the most approachable, personable, and accidentally funny artists I've had the pleasure of meeting. I'm astounded at how prolific he is with the sheer number of works he creates for this show, and the variety of styles and mediums which all come together somehow. His work has to be viewed in person to truly appreciate the satirical commentary he often includes, and the tiny details that require close examination. Don't miss the opportunity to see this one! Seeing Ian Johnson's work is always a pleasure as it is so aesthetically beautiful to look at. His portraits of Blues singers and Jazz musicians are soulful, narrative and a perfect combination of graphic colorful elements mixed with sketch style portrait drawing. He works on wood that can range in size from very tiny to taking up significant wall space, which basically means there's something for every budget. If you enjoy beautiful art, get down here and snag yourself some of Johnson's work before the prices go up. Review by Victor DeLucie: Detailed portraits of blues and jazz greats including one of Frank Sinatra. Featuring good, strong facial features, we are taken back to a time of old school dark smoky gin joints and cool laid-back tunes. Bring on the high rise, pleated trousers and suspenders!! Comment by AB: Nowhere to go but up for Ian Johnson and Albert Reyes. There's portraiture and there's portraiture; Johnson's have magic and energy all their own. Buy now before the rush; he's still eminently affordable. Prices start at $200; most mid-hundreds; top just over $1K. And that Albert Reyes is a vortex of creative sustainability. The amazing part? He doesn't ever seem to retrace his steps. With Reyes, ideas beget art beget more ideas beget more art and so on and so forth ad infinitum etc etc etc you know the drill. Nothing over $1K for Reyes; prints and photos a mere $50. Another strong buy. Art (Albert Reyes). Painting on old refrigerator door - my pick - sorry, sold (Albert Reyes). Mom - Albert Reyes - Pop. Wall of photography (Albert Reyes); image c/o Victor DeLucie. Art (Albert Reyes); photo c/o Jessica Whiteside. Art (Albert Reyes); photo c/o Jessica Whiteside. Albert Reyes - Andres Guerrero (White Walls owner). Art (Albert Reyes); photo c/o Jessica Whiteside. Art (Albert Reyes). Art (Albert Reyes). Art (Ian Johnson). Art (Ian Johnson). Ian Johnson. Art (Ian Johnson); photo c/o Jessica Whiteside. Art (Ian Johnson). Art (Ian Johnson). Art (Ian Johnson). *** The Shooting Gallery: Mike Maxwell - Supernatural Selection. Reveiw by Jessica Whiteside: Mike Maxwell's solo exhibition embodies his signature style of painting historical figures that are often bearded sailors. His paintings definitely have a sort of old world appeal with modern graphic twists. Comment by Victor DeLucie: Civil War looking figures (forgive me for not recognizing anyone of historical significance); striking blue female eyes and lions and tigers and bears...OH MY!! Sorry...no tigers and bears....just kidding. Comment by AB: Mike Maxwell's symbol-rich mystical mix of fact, fiction, fame, fortune, science, religion, and history always gets you thinking-- especially when you ask Maxwell to explain a painting or two. Plus this time around, he adds a dash of cute girl art to diversify the dealie bob. Price range $400-$1500. Art. Art. Mike Maxwell with his favorite piece in the show. Art. Art (photo c/o Victor DeLucie). Art (photo c/o Victor DeLucie). Art (photo c/o Jessica Whiteside). Art (photo c/o Jessica Whiteside). *** 20 GOTO 10 Gallery: Welcome to BUTTES - #BUTTES Collective - The art of #BUTTES and "The Horrible Boner Tragedy" Book Release Party. Review by Victor DeLucie: I fail to see how simple computer graphics are considered "art." It's cute and fun to look at but... wait a minute... isn't that what art is all about? See... even I can learn something. But in all seriousness, the phallic fixation (nothing personal) is a bit much for me. Review by Jessica Whiteside: To me, this show is truly confusing and seems like a half-ass attempt at putting on an art show to coincide with a book release party. According to the flyer for the show, "#buttes is the cool place to hang out. You can find most of the cool people there. In #buttes you can just chill and do whatever and totally relax. "Take it easy" is the #buttes motto, for example, that's how laid back it is there. Show up if you want to have a good time. Another good reason to show up is if you want to hang out with friends. - FYAD" Continuing from the flyer, "#BUTTES (Which you thought was pronounced "butts." It can be pronounced this way or "byoots." or "butt ass." Both are deemed correct, since everyone got tired of arguing over it years ago.) is filled with current and former outcasts of Something Awful. A large contingent of #BUTTES are "permabanned" from most places on the internet. #BUTTES users are encouraged to abuse each other with pretty much any annoyance tactic." Comment by AB: I missed this show, but apparently didn't miss much. What it is (photo c/o Victor DeLucie). Art (photo c/o Victor DeLucie). Art (photo c/o Victor DeLucie). Art (photo c/o Jessica Whiteside). Art (photo c/o Jessica Whiteside). Art (photo c/o Jessica Whiteside). Art (photo c/o Jessica Whiteside). *** ARTworkSF Gallery: 10th Annual One Night Stand. Review and photos by Victor DeLucie: If nude body painting, anatomical portraits and sexually suggestive sculptures are your thing, then this exhibit is for you. You can even eat apple wedges and chocolate off of a live nude female's body if you get the urge, but you'll have to wash it down with non-alcoholic wine and/or cider. Why? Because you can't mix alcohol and nudes, say the liquor authorities. Sorry; no photos of that. You'll just have to use your imagination, you dirty old whatever. Art. Art. Art - artist. Circumstance. *** |
 |
 |
