ELECTRIC WORKS - GALLERY THREE - BELLJAR NEEDLES & PENS - LOWER HATERS - BIG UMBRELLA 03.13.09

Electric Works: Judy North - Why Not Say It?

Comment by AB: According to the fact sheet, each painting by Judy North tells a story, and judging from some of her titles (and the intensity of the work)-- titles for example like "Right Wing Radio," "Desert Storm," and "There Was a Young Man from Darfur," she's passionate about what she believes in, and she's not afraid to say it... or paint it. The show's a retrospective of sorts with paintings, watercolors and mixed media works dating from 1982 to the present. Check it out.

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Gallery Three: C3 - 777.

Comment by AB: C3 tells me the subject matters of his capable graphite drawings have to do with the concept of "The Wild West," not only the West of yesterday, but also of today. His work is so good that I think I'm looking at old photographs, artfully arranged to complement the various antiques and collectibles on display in the front windows and around the gallery. Perceptively, Libby Nicholaou of Gallery Three saves me from my delusionary plight and sets me straight on what I'm looking at. Newly enlightened, I gotta say good show; go see.

And yes my artful darlings-- apology time once again for all those offendend by my hand in the image. It's 6 1/2 inches from thumb to forefinger, and I stick it there 'cuz it's important to know the size of what you're lookin' at. FYI, when I quiz ppl on like how long 20 inches is, maybe one in ten gets it right or gets it close. You want mo' better exactitude? Someone find me a ruler with nice big numbers and I'll use that instead.

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BellJar: Kevin E. Taylor - Stranger Things Have Happened....

Comment by AB: Kevin E. Taylor's curious comminglings of animals, creatures, and humans embrace not only the cosmic relatedness of it all, but also consider the "animal within."

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Needles & Pens: Maria Forde - Advice Portraits.

Comment by AB: Maria Forde whips up a batch of unassuming portraits of her friends, each accompanied by textual snippets of wisdom on how to more effectively and responsibly wend one's way through life. Nicely done; worth a visit.

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Lower Haters Gallery: The Meter Maid Studies.

Artists: Romanowski, Kefe, Hannah Stouffer, Ruben Rude, Norman Maxwell, Greg Galinsky, Brian Barneclo, GonzOne, David Choong Lee, Curve, Paul Hayes, Buder, Mars-1, Sean Dia Sommers, Marke Bode, Bing Ji Ling, Merkeley???, Pete Doolittle, Ferris Plock & Kelly Tunstall (Feke), Krescent Carasso, Claire Mack, Daniel Dent, Rojelio Martinez, DJ Burt, Doze Green, Apriel Coffey, Phoneticontrol, Claudia Nisemma Nolte.

Comment by AB: An entirely amusing and entertaining ode to those dutifully dedicated and consummately under-appreciated public servants, our meter maids (and meter men). Like it! Go see.

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Big Umbrella Studios: Spring Showcase.

Comment by AB: New work by Big Umbrella's twenty resident artists.