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JOHN PENCE - CAIN SCHULTE - LUGGAGE STORE ANNEX

ELECTRIC WORKS - ADOBE BACKROOM - BELLJAR

PING PONG - ARC - LIZLAND - JELLYFISH

SITE 301 - 1AM - FREE GOLD WATCH

04.16.10

(with assistance from Anneliese Vobis and RWM)

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John Pence Gallery: Carl Dobsky; Adam Forfang.

Comment by AB: You can always count on John Pence to keep it real... -istic, that is. Representational art at it's finest.

Art by Adam Forfang.

Adam Forfang art.

Art by Carl Dobsky.

Carl Dobsky paintings.

Art by Carl Dobsky.

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Cain Schulte Gallery: Inaugural Event.

Artists: David Buckingham, Jason Dunda, Mason Eubanks, Patrick Gabler, Henry Jackson, Linda Karshan, Will Marino, Eva and Franco Mattes aka 0100101110101101.ORG, Daniel Ochoa, Justin Quinn, Owen Schuh, Rex Ray, Lars Theuerkauff, and Michael Tole.

Comment by AB: Cain Schulte Gallery springs back into action at their tony new digs in the 251 Post Street building. The capacity crowd is crammed into the gallery space so tight that I tell my doppelganger it's gonna have to wait outside.

Before the onslaught (photo c/o Anneliese Vobis).

Art by David Buckingham, left; Lars Theuerkauff, right (photo c/o Anneliese Vobis).

After the onslaught.

Art.

Woah! Check this baby out - the art that ate Cleveland!

Pinkie cam detail of painting in above image.

Sculpture in the corner.

Art closer (photo c/o Anneliese Vobis).

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Luggage Store Annex: World Wide-Hustle(rs) - Angela Angel & Robin David.

Review and images by Anneliese Vobis: Angela Angel and Robin David's colorful multimedia-installation tells stories of street markets, farming communities and street vendors. The different sceneries describe the interconnectedness of global life. Paintings, collages, photographic imagery and exciting recycling creations carry us away to exotic and faraway places. A great asset directly next door is the magical Tenderloin National Forest garden.

Installation art by Angela Angel & Robin David.

Angela Angel & Robin David installation art.

Installation art by Angela Angel & Robin David.

Angela Angel & Robin David installation art.

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Electric Works Gallery: David Tomb - Borderland Birds / Aves Fronterizas; Celebrating Wiley - William T. Wiley.

Review by Anneliese Vobis: Electric Works presents two solo shows by the artists David Tomb and William Wiley. David Tomb paintings transform the space into an overwhelming bird scenario. His photorealistic style reflects on his bird-related journeys to neighboring countries of the US and Mexico. His narrative approach reminds us that not only birds, but also many humans have to cross borders. William Wiley's retrospective consists of sculptures and prints. His excellent craftsmanship in printmaking, his deep sense of humor and social critique mirror the very different facets of life in a figurative, symbolic style.

Review by RWM: Wondrous depictions of birds, but also a statement about the extent of our reverence to them, and the cost. Though we may find spiritual guide birds here, their habitats are going by the wayside. Some birds will survive the major damage to their natural environments, but most will not. Birds are an indicator species, so let's not forget the forests as we get lost in our amazement at their beauty. Wonderful colorful species they are, but their futures are unquestionably at risk.

Art by David Tomb.

Art & installation by David Tomb (photo c/o Anneliese Vobis).

Art in above image closer.

Ornithological art by David Tomb (photo c/o Anneliese Vobis).

David Tomb bird art.

Art by William T. Wiley.

William Wiley art (photo c/o Anneliese Vobis).

William Wiley art closer (photo c/o Anneliese Vobis).

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Adobe Books Backroom Gallery: RGB Forever - Parker Ito.

Comment by AB: Parker Ito in his first solo show here presents "painting and video works in which Internet ephemera salvaged from both high and low Web culture is translated into new forms."

Art by Parker Ito.

Parker Ito art (nicely painted).

Art by Parker Ito.

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BellJar: Mutatis Mutandis - Scott Greenwalt.

Comment by AB: Some spooky-ass shit here. Well done too. Stop by and see for yourself. Priced $200-$1300... rather attractive from a value standpoint. Think about maybe augmenting the collection; potential upside alert. Hey-- I'm just the messenger-- my prognosticatory bunion is texting me from the hallowed and inscrutable astral planar realms.

Art by Scott Greenwalt (kinda like 'em).

Scott Greenwalt art.

Art by Scott Greenwalt.

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Ping Pong Gallery: Oktogon - Gwenaël Rattke.

Review and images by Anneliese Vobis: Gwenael Rattke, through the media of collage and drawing, invites us on a journey deep into his cosmology. He weaves very different surrealistic motifs, Art Brut and Art Nouveau to reflect on his hidden life of desires, dreams and mysteries. The overwhelming symbolic imagery is supported by the chosen kaleidoscopic style which references ongoing patterns of growth.

Art by Gwenaël Rattke.

Art by Gwenaël Rattke closer.

Gwenaël Rattke art closer.

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1AM Gallery: Lily Black Solo Show.

Review and images by Anneliese Vobis: 1 AM presents Lily Black's expressive, colorful skulls on one side of the gallery room contrast with her delicate, small detail-rich vinyl toy sculptures on shelves. The resulting conversation between the two sides challenges us to listen to the underlying meaning and dialogue of the artist's artworks.

Vinyl toy art by Lily Black.

Vinyl toy art by Lily Black closer.

Vinyl toy art by Lily Black closer (photo c/o AB).

Art by Lily Black.

Art by Lily Black closer.

Art by Lily Black closer (photo c/o AB).

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Arc Studios & Gallery: SOMA Open Studios.

Artists: Jack Androvich, Kirk Brooks, Katia Claude, Aximillion Helga Duson, Mike Kimball, Eric Larson, Lisa Lightman, Alan Mazzetti, John Melvin, Ben Needham, Greg Nelson, Priscilla Otani, Elizabeth Parra, Lucky Rapp Rachel Sager, William Salit, Janet Seifert, Yrving Torrealba, Kirsten Tradowsky, Stephen C. Wagner, Tanya Wilkinson, Hilary Williams.

Comment by AB: Some pics from SOMA Open Studios opening night.

Priscilla Otani and her art.

Art by Kirsten Tradowsky.

Art.

Art.

Art by Patrick Brandt.

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Lizland: Liz Mamorsky at SOMA Open Studios.

Comment by RWM: Odd and funky. Geeky turns to quirky and offbeat in the mechanical collages with strange personages.

Comment by AB: There's nothing quite like Lizland. Not all artists need galleries in order to savor the fruits of the creative life.

Art by Liz Mamorsky.

Art by Liz Mamorsky in above image closer.

Liz Mamorsky art at Lizland.

Liz Mamorsky art at Lizland.

Liz Mamorsky's Lizland from the street.

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Site 301: SOMA Open Studios.

Artists: Kathy Arnold, Sarah Beth Goncarova-Hluchan, Karen Lindquist, Mirena Rhee, Lawrence Lauterborn, Mario Parnell, Jacquelyn Paull, Watchara Sirisevakul.

Comment by AB: Here's an artist studio building I've never been to before, just below Folsom on 8th Street, billing themselves as "an alternative space for viewing art." A respectable array to peruse through too, but I arrive a tad late and things are in the process of winding down.

Art by Kathy Arnold (that's her on the right).

Kathy Arnold art.

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Free Gold Watch: The Bay to Taipei - Optimist.

Comment by AB: A pretty peppy selection of art by urban practitioner Optimist comprises an installation that runs the entire length of the space. According to the promotional brochure, "Oakland native, Optimist's work can be seen on the streets of the U.S. and abroad. This collection focuses on the contrasting visual landscapes of Taipei and the Bay Area, as well as the social, cultural, and geographical effects of Westernization on Taiwan." That's about the size of it. Sidle on by if you happen to be in da hood.

Art & installation by Optimist.

Art by Optimist closer.

Optimist.

Urban art by Optimist.

Free Gold Watch curator Austin McManus.

Free Gold Watch long view - art by Optimist.

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Addendum:

SOMA Open Studios art at Jellyfish Gallery.

One more from SOMA Open Studios at Jellyfish Gallery.

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