GALLERY 16 - HYDE STREET - 3A GALLERY - VARNISH
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF INTEGRAL STUDIES - MADAME S
TRIPLE BASE - ARTIST XCHANGE - CITY ART - D-STRUCTURE
SWARM GALLERY IN OAKLAND
04.03.09
(with Assistance from Laura Chenault, R.W. Miller, DeWitt Cheng,
Sandra Silvoy, and Dormain Geyer)

Gallery 16: Bruno Fazzolari - Cold Turkey.

Review by Laura Chenault: Bruno Fazzolari's show is beautifully displayed in this open gallery space. Using bold brushstrokes, paint drips and lots of contrast, these paintings are expressive and vibrant. Even the pieces that are done in black and white are full of energy and movement. Fazzolari's use of color in these works is primary and bright. It's worth checking out their front room rotating show currently featuring works by Rex Ray, William Laven, and Deborah Oropallo. If you are really lucky you might catch them running their Heidelberg Letterpress.

***

3A Gallery (Mark Horton Architecture): Willett Moss - Made in Rome, The Aleatoric Landscape.

Review Laura Chenault: Willett Moss' work features tabletop sculptures and large drawings. While very architectural in nature and in the repeating subject of stairs, Willett's work remains organic. This theme is repeated in his larger scale graphic oil stick drawings, the compositions of which reveal bold black silhouettes on white fields or intricate, almost lacey, stairs.

Comment by AB: The sculptures are technically excellent as well as aesthetically gratifying. Like 'em. Too bad this is the show's closing reception.

***

Varnish Fine Art: Jennybird Alcantara - Treacherous Gardens.

Review by R.W. Miller: Jennybird Alcantara's art may at first appear depressing, dismal or sad. But maybe it's more real than anything. Her compositions imply that sometimes life gets difficult as she weaves in biological and political commentary with harsh forbidding truths. One will find here connections to nature, internal organs, the psyche, and to coping in a troubled world. Her depictions are presented with style and charm-- sincere in spite of being disturbing. Perhaps it reminds of a widespread need for viable alternatives to the challenging demands of life-- like maybe Prozac. Sadly Varnish will be leaving its present location because of the plans for the new Transbay Terminal in the area. They will present 3 more shows before the building is torn down-- "Eminent Domain Awareness Group Show" May 12-June 20, solo show of Kevin Peterson paintings June 23-August 1, and a solo show of Michael Page paintings August 4-September 12, 2009.

Comment by AB: Interspersed among Alcantara's major works which top out around $14K-$16K are a number of smaller pieces, all nicely done, and nicely priced as well-- in the $350-$850 range. And they're selling at a pretty spiffy clip. I'm seeing more of this at shows these days-- affordable alternatives for collectors whose love for art refuses to diminish no matter how trying economic times may be. Plus this practical factoid for you bottom line strategists-- big art / little art combinations make the little art look better... and sell faster.

***

California Institute of Integral Studies: Picturing the Divine in the 21st Century - Hindu & Buddhist Art.

Review by Laura Chenault: This collection of modern and traditional original paintings and reproduction lithographs showcases the beauty of Hindu and Buddhist iconographic art. The combination of the centuries old imagery through the interpretation of both ancient and current artist brings out different versions of the gods and goddesses portrayed. Intimate complex illustrations share the wall space with large, bold modern visions. Curator Siddhartha V. Shah has brought together a beautiful and impressive variety of images reflecting these Eastern religious practices. Comment by AB: A number of superbly detailed gouache paintings in traditional styles by contemporary artists are available for purchase-- priced in the low to mid-thousands of $$. Check 'em out if you get a chance.

***

Hyde Street Gallery: Brett Amory and Nancy Chan - Spaces.

Review and images by Dormain Geyer: Hyde Street Gallery's current show, "Spaces," features work by Brett Amory and Nancy Chan. Both artists exhibit figurative works where the figure is disconnected from its surroundings. Mr. Amory's figures are waiting, and therefore not fully present, while Ms. Chan's are starkly lacking in physical context. The show will be up through April.

***

Madame S: Nancy Peach - Darkholme's Boys.

Review by Laura Chenault: The smell of leather goods at Madame S permeates the air adding another sense to the viewing of Nancy Peach's bondage themed paintings. Images of both men and women bound in traditional Japanese knots are sensual, erotic, and colorful. A few of the paintings are very large, almost life-size representations while others are more focused on portions of torsos. Nancy's style has a slick illustrative look like advertising drawings or anime comics and her use of the black line emphasizes the details in her work.

***

Triple Base Gallery: Out of the Flat Files II; Bryson Gill Portraits.

Flat Files artists: Michelle Blade, James Bradley, Shashana Chittle, Serena Cole, Chris Duncan, Jason Kalogiros, Kyle Mock, Kelly Ording, Oliver Halsman Rosenberg, Jesse Schlensinger, Orion Shepherd, more.

Review by Laura Chenault: An eclectic group show in the Mission District. Drawings, paintings and prints are the focus of this gallery. Mostly featuring works on paper, one of my favorites is a portrait of a young anarchist woman reading a book at her desk. Another lovely series is composed of four works on paper that through their color and theme become one long cinematic moment. A nice selection of works on paper, some framed, most hung raw. Especially enticing is the stack of flat files in the middle of the first room in this gallery and watching the owner show them off to a patron. Comment by AB: In the back room, Bryson Gill remodels portions of famous paintings in shades of mainly blue and gray.

***

Artist Xchange Gallery: April Art Exhibit - New Works.

Artists: Michael Capozzola, Georgia Dominici, Hilary Snider, Pete Hickok, Noah Dasho, Karn Knutson, Shari Arai Deboer, Daniel Chen, Paul Ferney, Stephanie Szabo, Brianne Hans/B. Jeweled, Ahmad Hijab, Diane Julia Flick, Anna Efanova, Hiroko Sakai, Aaron Johnson, Brad Wright, Edward Freeland, Georgianne Fastaia, Mary Tivadar, Hilary Williams, Sakiko Takeuchi, Sofia Carmi, Joe Twisty, Gabriel Colaluca, Niana Liu.

Review by Laura Chenault: This hip gallery in the heart of the Mission is packed with art and viewers. Work is displayed on every available surface; all walls are covered and display shelves are filled. So many artists are represented that they're difficult to count. Funny bright animal paintings, immaculate architectural renderings, charming humanistic noisemaking machines, and much more are shown. Other work includes ceramic and bronze figurines, impasto landscapes in oils, large figurative watercolors, and even political prints. Personally a fan of the religious comic books various faiths commonly distribute, I especially enjoy the small illustrations mimicking this style. Definitely a show worth checking out simply because of it's variety.

Review by R.W. Miller: Here you'll always find a wide variety of art to tantalize and choose from at reasonable prices.  You can shop for art by gallery regulars who you enjoy and have saved up for, and can find something beautiful for your place or someone else's. All sorts of styles are available. Here you're more likely to find beauty than politics, but the artists' concerns very well may be yours as well.  Artist Xhange Gallery serves The Mission District and the rest of the city.

***

City Art Gallery: The Green Show.

Artists: Marisa Escolar, Ytaelena Lopez, Pete Villasenor, Leslie Morgan, Katie Gilmartin, Mary Patterson, Lilia Scott, Marina Vendrell Renaut, Amy Levine, Angelo DiPietrantonio, Ronman Ng, Hadley Northrup, Hilary Williams, Uvonne Jones-Most, Maria Rodriguez, Garrett Robinson, Richard Dodds, Tom Heinz, Geoff King, Patsy Watts, Jordan Quintero, Sonja Ljubinkovic, Biff Moshe, Stephanie Mufson, dk haas, Jill Schwab, Philip Chanin, Jeanne Hauser, Michele Delamenardiere, Stephan Jobe.

Review by R.W. Miller: Like always, a wide variety of art to astound and choose from, and at nice prices. The art here is at times provocative and political. City Art Gallery's new "Green Show" is no different. There is often a changeover in participants here so you'll usually find new artists with new art to show. The show's also have themes, but even so, all manner of art graces the walls in a variety of manners, styles and concerns.  City Art, an artist-run collective, continues to serve The Mission District and the rest of the city.

***

D-Structure: Ray "Three" Robinson 3 - 3rd Works.

Review and images by Sandra Silvoy: A really friendly bunch man D-Structure SF's 3rd Works show, featuring Ray "Three" Robinson 3 (opening on April 3). Are we seeing a trend here? Upon entrance, I am immediately drawn in by Ray's toy sculptures screaming with individualized personality.  A decent sized figure lays back in his be-hearted boxers, JD in hand, suckin' in the tobacco stick. The artist's start in graffiti is most certainly evident in his canvas work. Not only did Ray develop a clothing line a few years back, but he's also delved into all that is plastic and toys. Whilst strolling down the Haight, as I know you do, I suggest you stop just before Fillmore and take a gander inside.

***

Swarm Gallery, Oakland: John Casey - Distant Cousins; Don Porcella - Nature Boy; Regime Change - Group Exhibition.

Regime Change artists: Alfred Steiner, Amanda Williams, Amy Ross, Andy Vogt, Barbara Holmes, Casey Jex Smith, Chris Pew, Chris Sicat, Dan Nelson, David Higgins, David King, Ema Sintamarian, Ernest Concepcion, Fred Muram, Fumiha Tanaka, Gregory Euclide, Jaime Cortez, Jessica Serran, Jim Rosenau, Jordan Essoe, Joshua Hagler, Kathy Aoki, Kevin E. Taylor, Linda Braz, Mayumi Hamanaka, Michael Hall, Narangkar Glover, Pete Glover, Sarah Emerson, Sarah Smith, Terry Furry, Treasure Frey, Vaughn Bell, Vicki Walsh, Zach Houston.

Review by DeWitt Cheng: Swarm Gallery packs in the art and the reception-goers with a trio of shows-- John Casey's weirdly funny and disturbing drawings of disembodied people, on paper and jigsawed wood; Don Porcella's absurdist sculptures of cartoon characters fashioned from pipe cleaners; and a mixed show of some thirty thirty-something (I'm guessing) artists who have shown at the gallery during its three years of operation.

***