RENA BRANSTEN - GEORGE LAWSON - NOMA

UC BERKELEY EXTENSION - EVER GOLD

03.17.11

(with assistance from RWM)



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Rena Bransten Gallery: Rupert Garcia - Vintage Posters and Prints; Ian McDonald - Wearing.

Review by RWM: Rupert Garcia expresses politics and political issues in such a palatable way. No breaking down windows or lighting things on fire here. But the work serves to remind and influence, and the fires are by no means turned off within.

Comment by AB: Ian McDonald uses ceramics the way painters use paint-- to create artistic compositions. Functionality is not relevant. Rupert Garcia tells me that these rare vintage images, some over forty years old, come from his personal collection. Stop on by.

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George Lawson Gallery: Marie Thibeault - New Paintings; Susan Mikula - American Vale.

Comment by AB: Volatile expressionist abstracts by Marie Thibeault reference manmade and natural disasters while Susan Mikula's indeterminate images of abandoned American industrial buildings remind us that we're probably the global capital of vanishing manufacturing action. For those of you keeping score at home, this is George Lawson's final show at this location.

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UC Berkeley Extension, San Francisco: Struggle - Michelle Tan.

Comment by AB: Michelle Tan's art essays on class struggles and political inequities, and is based on personal as well as observational experiences.

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NOMA Gallery: How Do You Do. Organized by Margaret Lee.

Artists: Anicka Yi, Josh Kline, Margaret Lee, Emily Sundblad, Antoine Catala. Yemenwed, Kerstin Brätsch, Debo Eiliers, Alisa Baremboym, Thomas Torres Cordova, Caitlin Keogh, Graham Anderson. Devon Dikeou, Brian Droitcour, Tova Carlin, Colby Bird, K. Mustermann, Amy Lien, Gregory Edwards, Anicka Yi, Antoine Catala, Jared Madere, Andrei Koschmieder, Michele Abeles, Ajay Kurian.

Comment by AB: I have no idea what the 5 x 7 inch pigment prints that comprise this show are all about 'cuz I'm hopelessly lost after the first sentence of the crib sheet, but one thing's for sure-- it all started with "two photographs that feature potatoes."

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Ever Gold Gallery: Beer, Art, Philosophy and Jokes - Tom Marioni.

Comment by AB: The gallery has very convincingly been transformed into a bar, and is where a series of performative experiences will be taking place over the next several days. Tonight, headliner Tom Marioni delivers a classic dry wit monologue.

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