RATIO 3 - REAVES - CAIN SCHULTE - FIRST AMENDMENT - NOMA - SPACE - PARK LIFE - PAINTED BIRD - SECESSION - CALIFORNIA MODERN - CULTURE SKATE
03.20.09
(with Assistance from Laura Chenault)

Reaves Gallery: Fernando Reyes - Sweet Dreams.

Comment by AB: Abstracted figures by Fernando Reyes "explore dreams, reflections, and fantasies as saving graces providing hope and nurturance during unsettling times."

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Ratio 3 Gallery: Jonathan Runcio - Capital Zero.

Comment by AB: Jonathan Runcio advances geometric abstraction not only with respect to composition and relationship of forms, but perhaps even more so in the way he selects and applies color, employing a fresh vibrant ultra-modern palette. A number of pieces additionally appear to have an area of deliberate spray paint "residue" running along the bottom several inches, and separated from the "formal" portion of the composition by a horizontal boundary of white unpained space about an inch in width. So not only do you get to enjoy the controlled precision discipline of the upper portion of those paintings, but by observing the somewhat random or spontaneous nature of the lower portion, you also get to cogitate on the process of how they may have been painted as well as what an artist's life might be like in the studio. The artwork is mainly paintings but several unambiguous plexiglas sculptures round it out. Good show; go see.

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Cain Schulte Contemporary Art: Will Marino - Paperwork, From Bees to Black Holes.

Comment by AB: Will Marino transforms rolls of "Admit One" tickets and retired dart boards into whimsical imaginative fantasies with a folk art feel-- occasionally accented with bees or serpents-- suitable for walls, floors, and curio cabinets. Cain Schulte, by the way, has relocated to Guerrero near 19th and is open by appointment.

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First Amendment Gallery: Most Finished.

Artists: Dylan Maddux, Ken Goto, Orly Locquiao, Abe Menor.

Review by Laura Chenault: "Most Finished" features four photographers shooting distinctly urban imagery almost entirely in black and white. The cavernous front room is filled with music and voices. The photography show dominates two walls in the space. Dylan Maddux does large scale tiled images, while Ken Goto's portraits are intimate and gritty. Both Orly Locquiao's and Abe Menor's photographs both manage to freeze a moment in time.  1AM (First Amendment) has a back room which contains their permanent artists. Political shadowboxes of City Hall and other urban scenes share space with ethereal nudes by Edward Hsu. Heavily lacquered stencil paintings by Romanowski hang nicely with grafitti artist Twick's paintings.  Mearone's large works on paper are lush and urban at the same time. On my way out I discover the display case full of modified toys by Lily, who teaches workshops in the space. His guitar amp marries form and function: a cute figure and a whimsical housing for the elctronics.

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Noma Gallery: Gareth Spor - The Edge of Forever. Curated by Marcella Faustini.

Comment by AB: Gareth Spor's interactive multimedia science-based extravaganza ranges from curious to profound to amusing, as it contemplates the universe, internal and external states and perceptions, and even contemplation itself.

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Space Gallery: Instant Gratification.

Artists: Raquelle Armendariz, Seza Bali, Matthew Beier, Kurt Burdick, Angela Barber, Jeffrey Dojillo, Andrew Goodrich, Alison Kranz, Karen Goldman, Jessica Lewis, Dave Lloyd, Norman Locks, Susannah Magers, Renee Peck, Andrew Newcomb, Mia Ollikainen, Jordan Quintero, Piper Robbins, Bill Samios, Constance Smith, Jessica Taylor, Jessica Tata, Joshua York. Curated by Susannah Magers.

Comment by AB: A well-deserved memorial tribute to that recently extinct medium of photography, Polaroid film. Nicely nostalgically done.

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Park Life: Move 18 - Listen with Your Ears and Eyes Wide Open, This Time .

Artists: tana sprague, billy sprague with travis wyche, eric white, cody hudson, james gallagher, richard mcguire, chris shary, bernie mcginn, jason polan, cynthia connolly, dave king, ian johnson, chris duncan, jordin isip, alex kopps, andrew scott, bill daniel, v.vale, brian flynn, carl dunn, tim kerr, pat graham, jeff canham and luke bartels, calef brown, sonny kay, chrissy piper, jfre robot coad & jason soares, phil franklyn, yuri shibuya, bill kouligas, andy ward, hiroshi kimura, dora drimalas, fritz welch, bert queiroz, matthew bajda, david applegate, koen holtkamp, mike sutfin, garry davis, rodger bridges, kyle ranson, jeff manson, allison snackenberg, jocko weyland, kelly Nicholson, rob ben, more. Curated by Rich Jacobs.

Comment by AB: Art about music by artists, musicians, "noise-heads," and those who love them. Plenty to see here in this investigation of that place where visual and auditory arts coincide.

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Painted Bird: Michelle Bock (aka Gorbula the Artist) - Celebrities in the Background.

Review and images by Laura Chenault: This vintage clothing store packs in a crowd to celebrate quirky whimsical drawings by Michelle Bock. Done in crayon on posterboard, these celebrity portraits are bright and funky. I like their repeating imagery that provides visual cues to the celebrities portrayed while also serving as a design element. The live music and the crowd whirl around Gorbula the Artist, the star of the event dressed in beret, glasses, mustache and goatee.

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Secession Art and Design: Linda Larson, Audrey Welch.

Review and images by Laura Chenault: This unique space in the Outer Mission is part gallery, part boutique, and part workspace. Audrey Welch makes fun, bright heavily lacquered collages featuring images from old comic books. Linda Larson creates rich and glossy paintings of florals. In addition to the featured artists the clothing, jewelry, and accessory designers change every two months. If that isn't enough incentive for you to check it out, several in-house designers have their workspaces here so you can see creatvity in action.

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