ELEANOR HARWOOD - 50 8TH ST - PAULE ANGLIM

WICKED GROUNDS - NEEDLES & PENS - ROLL UP

02.15.14

(with assistance from RWM)



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Eleanor Harwood Gallery: Bitterroot - James Chronister; Alika Cooper - Glass.

Review by RWM: Nice homage to things past. Interesting "memorabilia" paintings by James Chronister. Also showing is an interesting display of novel design choice by Alika Cooper. Great shades of gray in images that pull themselves out of the shadows.

Comment by AB: James Chronister perpetrates photorealistic paintings of what appear to be magnified vintage newspaper photos, both in black & white and color, complete with the original dot matrix patterns that would be visible to they eye when you zoom in close. The results replicate the real thing with astonishing accuracy and precision. In fact, they're so accomplished and convincing, I'm slappin' a rare and highly coveted "How Do Dey Do Dat?" Award on 'em.

In the project room, Alika Cooper homages famous photographers like Irving Penn and Ellen Auerbach by taking select of their images, distorting the perspectives, and then collaging the abstract/representational results from cut fabric pieces in shades of gray. Good show on both counts and worth a visit.

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50 8th Street, San Francisco CA 94103: Alynn-Mags Mural Unveiling Party.

Artists: Amandalynn and Lady Mags.

Comment by AB: The official christening of a monster mural by Amandalynn and Lady Mags, better known as Alynn-Mags. Nicely done; go see.

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Gallery Paule Anglim: Home - Gay Outlaw; Bruce Conner - Inkblot Drawings 1992-2003.

Comment by AB: I really want to see this doubleheader, but thanks to inconceivably imbecilic planning by the gallery, they schedule the opening to coincide perfectly with the Chinese New Year's parade, arguably the most crowded day and evening event of the year in downtown San Francisco. But I figure they must know something, since they plan it that way, and that I'll get to see the show. Wishful thinking big time. Dauntlessly navigating the huge crowds, the nearest I get is about half a block from the gallery before it becomes impossible move any further, and to top this travesty off, the parade is passing up Geary Street directly in front of the gallery!! Barricades prevent anyone from crossing the street, including me, just in case I would have been able to move, which I wasn't. So that ends that complete time waste escapade. Gallery Paule Anglim (and you other galleries as well)-- do due diligence before your openings to see whether there are any major conflicts. What is so impossibly complicated about that?

This is as close as I get. Check the calendar next time, doinks. Or if you send out the announcements for the show and then find out later there's gonna be a huge parade directly in front of your gallery, like when they put the No Parking signs up and down your street, cancel it! You'll save me about an hour and a half of misery... and I'll really appreciate you for it.

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Wicked Grounds: Madison Young - Book Signing and Release Party for Daddy, A Memoir.

Artists: Dan Berle, Aye Hayward, Alyssa Walker, S.M.Shifflett, Pat Mazzera, James Mogul, Tanya Wischerath, Madison Young.

Comment by AB: Artist, artistic director, Femina Potens principal, and now author, Madison Young signs copies of her newly released book, "Daddy, A Memoir," which explores the intricacies of a relationship between a dominant and a submissive. Also on the docket is a group show of art inspired by the book.

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Needles & Pens: Russ Pope - Life Lines.

Comment by AB: This Russ Pope "Life Lines" zine release is accompanied by an entertaining array of his black & white character studies.

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Roll Up Gallery: Memories and Moments. Curated by Betty Bigas.

Artists: Kieran Collins, Jon Weiss, Hanna Quevedo, Victor Pastor, Salik Syed, Emilio Villalba.

Comment by AB: Directionless group show.

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