WHITE WALLS - SHOOTING GALLERY - GALLERY THREE - OMNICIRCUS
ROOT DIVISION - 2ND FLOOR PROJECTS - ORANGE ALLEY
04.11.09
(with Assistance from Laura Chenault)

White Walls Gallery: Waiting For Ararat - Caleb Neelon and Mike Shine.

Comment by AB: Mike Shine offers up yet another abundance of objets de vertu that look curiously like vintage collectibles from days of yore. But they're brand spankin' new. Plus he's showing several video works on TV screens, with the whole shootin' match centerpieced by a full-scale gallows complete with hanging effigy. And therein lies just a taste of the magic of Mike Shine. Like it. Caleb Neelon, meanwhile, paints up a dramatic and distressing reality where skyscrapers burn, rubble is rampant, and civilization hangs in the balance.

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The Shooting Gallery: Humans Beware - I.W.G. Custom Art Show.

Artists: Aaron Cain, Adam Krueger, Adam Marnie, Adam Patterson, Adam Wallacavage, Alex Arcadia, Alex Binnie, Alex Grey, Alexander Juhasz, Alexis Trice, Alison Silva, Allyson Mellberg, Amanda Wachob, Amy Koslowski, Andre Razo, Andres Guerrero, Andrew (pork) Poneros, Andrew Jeffrey Wright, Andrew Kuo, Andy Moon Wilson, Angela Boatwright, Annette Monnier, Annie Ok, Antony Edward Zito, Ard Berge, Arik Roper, Athena Razo, Aurel Schmidt, Aurelio Valle, Barry McGee, BECCA, Ben Cho, Ben Tolman, Bijoux Altamitano, Blake Bermel, Bob Tyrrell, Bobby Gorman, Brad Phillips, Brandon Dunlap, Brenda Abbandandolo, Brendan Donnelly, Brendan Fowler, Brian DeGraw, Brian DeRan, Brigid Pearson, C3, Camille Rose Garcia, Carl Bennett, Carol Lee, Charis J. Carmichael Braun, Charlie Chiodo, Chase Booker, Cherie Weaver, Chicken Head, Chloe Blackshire, Chris (Rage) Sheritt, Chris Cycle, Chris Dingwell, Chris Hernandez, Chris Mendoza, Chris O'Donnell, Chris Savido, Christian Fagerlund, Claudia Butz, Clayton Brothers, Cliff Eisenhut, Clive Barker, Cobrasnake, Colin Burns, Colin Christian, Conrad Keely, Corey Miller, Curran Reynolds, D*Face, Dalek, Damian Weinkrantz, Dan Colen, Dan Herschlein, Daniel Martin Diaz, David Aaron, David Byrne, David Dixon, David Ellis, David Foldvari, David Hochbaum, David Choong Lee, David Schwartz, David Stoupakis, David Walker, Daze, Derek Hess, Derek Lerner, Diana Darett, Diane Barcelowsky, Dist, Doug Anson, Dr. Revolt, Drew McKenzie, Ed Templeton, Elizabeth Huey, Eric White, FANEE, Fatboy, Filip Leu, Francesco D'Isa, Fred Harper, Gary Baseman, Gerard Way, Gibby Haynes, Glenn Barr, Goldmine Shithouse, Gomez Bueno, Gordon Hull, Gregory Kramer, Guy Aitchison, Hacula, Hal Robins, Hank Williams III, Harry Druzd, Hector Serna Jr, Hellovon, HR Giger, Ian Stevenson, Isaac Lin, Ivory Serra, Ivy Blackshire, J Penry, J. Adam McGalliard, Jacaeber Kastor, Jack Green, Jack Rudy, Jad Fair, James Kirkpatrick, James Terrani, James Tully, Jaret Penner, Jason Butcher, Jason D'Aquino, Jason Grabowski, Jason Schmidt, Jason Thielke, JASOR, Jean Pierre Arboleda, Jeff Ladouceur, Jeff McMillan, Jennie Jieun Lee, Jeremy C. Sparks, Jeremy Henderson, Jesse Aldana, Jethro Haynes, Jim D'Amato, JK5, Joe Capobianco, Joe Heaps Nelson, Joey Remmers, John Andrew, John John Jesse, John Nickle, John Royal, John Seabury, Jonathan LeVine, Jonathan Weiner, Jordin Isip, Josh Goldberg, Josh Wildman, Joy Coletti, Jud Bergeron, Julia Marchand, Julio Rodriguez, Junker Tod, Justin Storms, Kate Ruth, Kathy Goodell, Kathy Grayson, Katy Horan, Kelie Bowman, Kelly Tunstall, Kembra Pfahler, Kenneth Wong, Kevin Hooyman, Kevin Llewellyn, Kevin E. Taylor, Kim Saigh, KimberlySheridan, KMNDZ, Kris Chau, Kristen Leone, Kristen Schiele, KRK Ryden/Mark Mothersbaugh, Lance Bradley, Lee Conklin, Leigh Ann Rooney, Leo Fitzpatrick, Kon Trubkovich, Nate Loman, Aaron(the Don), Leonard Baron, Lesley Oliver, Leslie Sternberg, Lisa Lebofsky, Lorenzo Gomez, Louie Cordero, Lucas Irwin, Lung, Lyndsea Cochrane, LynZ (Mindless Self Indulgence), M. Mararian's Inky Dreadfuls, MaDora Frey, Mara Lea Brown, Mara M Kuijl, Marcus Burrowes, Maria Nielsen, Mark Bode, Mark Dean Veca, Mark Delong, Mark Elliott, Mark Giles, Mark Gonzales, Mark McCoy, Mars One + Atlas, Mary Deevy, Mary Raap, Matt Damhave, Matt Johnstone, Matt Leines, Matt Morris "Coolvader", Matthew Rodriguez, McFaul, Melanie Vote, Melinda Beck, Melissa Anderson, Meryl Smith, Michael Hussar, Michael Manning, Michael Ponce, Michelle Doll, Michelle Wortman, Mike Aho, Mike Diana, Mike Giant, Mike Krone, Mike Maxwell, Mike Swaney, Mimi Leung, Miran Kim, Mr. Andre, Molly Crabapple, Nalla Smith, Nate Loman, Nathan Gorman, Nathan Jensen, Nathan Nordstrom, Neck Face, Neke Carson, Nelson Loskamp, Nick Jensen, Nick Purser, Nicola Pecoraro, Nik Moore, Nikole Lowe, Norman Reedus, Orpheus, Pamela Tait, Paper Monster, Patrick Conlon, Patrick Segui, Paul Chatem, Paul Raven, Percy Feils, Pete Fowler, Peter Beard, Peter Thompson, Peter-John De Villiers, Phil Holt, Rachel Schmidhofer, RadicalRik, Ramblin Worker, Randall Sellers, Rich Jacobs, Richard Colman, Richard Serra, Rick Griffin, Rita Ackermann, Rob Matheson, Robert Williams, Ron English, Ronny Catrone, Ronzo, Rostarr, Roy Miranda Jr, Rusty Mills, RVCA, Ryan Scully, Sam Schonzeit, Sam Flores, Scott Campbell, Sean Dack, Sean Pierce, Shawn Barber, Shelter Serra, Sibylle Pasche, Sickboy, Sorayama, Spenser Sweeney, Steak Mtn, Stephan Jay Rayon, Stephanie Tamez, Stephen Kasner, Steve De Bruyn , Steven Bliss, Sto, Tae Lee, Tanina Munchkina, Tara McPherson, Thom Lessner, Tim Biskup, Titine Leu, Toby Shualle, Tom Jennings, Tommy Guerrero, Travis Louie, Tristan McCormick, Van Arno, Veronica Obermeyer, Vincent Castiglia, Wesley Burt, Will Ainley, William Lemon III, Win Wallace, WK, WON, Word to Mother, Y Maria aka, Loretta Leu, Yuri Masnyj, Zach McDonald.

Comment by AB: There's drawing shows and there's drawing shows. This particular incarnation includes examples by artist luminaries far too numerous to mention (but I mention 'em anyway), and soundly trounces pretty much any similar exhibit I've ever seen at any time on any planar dimension in the entire history of everything. Yes my artful darlings, you'll find no slapdash crap here. It's 100% bona fide good stuff... and that's a fact, Jack. Don't believe me? Check it out. Wall to wall wonderment as commendable as it gets. As if that's not enough, perusing the novella-sized price list, you discover a healthy percentage of works priced under $300, with the overwhelming majority priced under $1000.

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Root Division: Taste 2009 Preview.

Artists: Ryan Alexiev, Eva Bakkeslett, Bill Basquin, Natalia Becker, Connie Begg, Lauren DiCioccio, Anne Hamersky, Rebecca Fenton, Diana Mars, Lulu McAllister, Paul Mitchell, Mary Parisi, Jennifer Radtke, Sarah Ratchye, Bright Ugochukwu Eke, Scott Weaver. Curated by Sarah Klein.

Review by Laura Chenault: This preview for the Taste 2009 fundraiser event has a wide variety of interesting food themed artworks. A live band plays and a large crowd fills the gallery. Close up photos by Connie Begg of people eating, mounted on plates, and produced as a large mural print are darkly beautiful. Definitely the crowd pleaser is "Rolling Through the Bay" a remarkablly large and intricate 'mousetrap'-like toothpick sculpture by Scott Weaver. The artist drops ping pong balls into this enormous piece, which then they wind their way through this fanciful rendition of San Francisco. The Golden Spoon by Ryan Alexiev is a motorized, gold-plated utensil complete with schematics, prototype and a hilarious commercial video. A corner is filled with an installation titled "Biodiesel Station and Inconvenience Store" that both educates viewers on how to make biodiesel, and is an excellent commentary about our consumerist society. Other works exploring consumerism are Lauren DiCioccio's embroidered organza grocery bags. Made from lightweight and gauzy materials, the fabric mimics the color and weight of the common plastic bag. Intricately hand stitched to appear as exact replicas of disposable bags, they are an eloquent comment on waste and consumption executed beautifully.

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[2nd Floor Projects]: Matt Borruso - Return to Holy Mountain.

Review by Laura Chenault: This show features beautifully rendered drawings, surreal collages, and a silkscreen, all in a unique gallery space. The graphite on paper works are the stars of this show. An exceptional pair of drawings depicts seated figures, one male and one female, in formal school portrait poses, with lizard-like faces. Charming and disturbing at once, the figures are familiar and foreign simultaneously. Borruso's imposing drawing of large group of men is another amazing piece. The field is filled with humans, lizard men, and aliens in a barren landscape.

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Orange Alley Project: Sketchbook Show.

Artists: Erin Allen, Iris Benson, Alexander Bevington, Matt Borruso, James Bradley, Luke Butler, Regina Clarkinia, Veronica DeJesus, Nick DeMarco, Larry Gilmour, Colter Jacobsen, Jason Jagel, Amanda Kirkhuff, Emilie Lemakis, Rebecca Miller, Nathaniel Parsons, Airyka Rockefeller, Conrad Ruiz, Andrew Tosiello, Justin Waldstein. Curated by Luke Butler.

Review and images by Laura Chenault: A garage tucked away in a narrow Mission alley houses the Orange Alley Project. The sketchbook show is a refreshing change from the formal framed artwork traditionally displayed in galleries. Instead, the walls are filled with sketchbooks and pages from sketchbooks, some very raw, and others more refined finished pieces. The sketchbooks and pages have been mounted on the wall casually with L shaped hooks. They look beautiful and the display offers great insight into the processes of the artists.

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Omnicircus: Thousand Faces Ball.

Artists/performers: Joan Loon, Anne Goldmann, Dave Gursom, Ronch Ambers, Legore the Magnificent, Archdude Garvey, Eerie-Motive Mikey, the Ladies Auxiliary of the Junior Dragons of Mystery, Space Kat Thomas, Linden, Sir Monkey, Steve Hart with members of Cuban Cigar Crisis.

Review and images by Laura Chenault: Frank Garvey's dirge for the American Dream is here materialized as a multimedia installation and performance with video plus LIVE robotics and music. It's a true celebration of the urban jungle. Electronic and acoustic instruments combine in lilting melodies and dark harmonies. A pair of exotic dancers culminates their piece by capturing the birdlike partner in a cage. Throughout the evening a dancer enveloped in a bag moves about the extremely crowded theater, around the patrons, up and down the narrow stairs, a memory of a ghost. Another dancer writhes to the music, his motions an exercise in euphoria and angst. Small breaks in the performance offer opportunities to screen experimental videos, further reflections of the show and the characters. Persistence of vision machines create patterns in the dark. Dangerous robots are tucked away around the floor level dance area, one wielding shears, one appears to use a cane, and still another carries the ringmaster, Frank Garvey during the show's finale.

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