VARNISH - MIRUS - PERFORMANCE ART INSTITUTE

LUNA REINNE - DRIFTWOOD SALON

04.20.13

(with assistance from Kathryn Arnold and RWM)



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Varnish Fine Art: DECADE 1.

Artists: Jennybird Alcantara, Robert Bowen, Victor Castillo, Chris Mars, Christian Rex Van Minnen, Lee Harvey Roswell, Isabel Samaras, Ron Garrigues, Brian Goggin, Jessica Joslin, Lucien Shapiro, Ransom & Mitchell, Rob Reger, Chuck Sperry.

Review by RWM: Nice to see the fantastic and fabulous work commemorated. There have been tens years of awesome and sometimes dark work on display. The amazing visions have been iconic in San Francisco with all manner of narratives. Fun to look at some of these stories even if a few are from the darkside. The works are emotional and occasionally a bit personal; you may have been there and understand. Great show and memories.

Review by Kathryn Arnold: Multiple works abound in this large group exhibition. Walking in, one is immersed into subjects of fantasy and surrealism. Clean clear surfaces with glistening paint. These are the things dreams (or nightmares) are made of... these figments of imagination creatively real.

Comment by AB: Varnish Fine Art trots out the good stuff for their 10-year anniversary. Go see.

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Mirus Gallery: Off the Wall - Contemporary Sculpture.

Artists: Clemens Behr, Joseph Cohen, Matthew Craig, Bartek Elsner, Matt Hosey, Duncan Johnson, Laura Judkis, Jonathan Leach, Katie Fisher, Aaron S. Moran, David Oliveira, Andrea Petrachi, Lauren Rice, Vadis Turner, Ron Ulicny, Andy Vible.

Review by Kathryn Arnold: This exhibition is all about sculpture and what it entails. Many if not all of the works are using reclaimed/recycled materials. The sense of "falling into" the mixed-media works of Vadis Turner is overwhelming-- compiled of ribbons upon ribbons, lace, momentos and more-- several about the size of a bed-- yet hung on the walls. There are multiple wood sculptures by Aaron Moran, made with numerous small pieces of wood that coalesce into compact geometric shapes-- how this can be done is a complete and interesting puzzle. Along with these works are figurative sculptures worth seeing (Andrea Petrachi's small works take on a sci-fi feeling), plus cardboard works by Bartek Eisner, one of which is a delightful surveillance camera titled Observation. And to top it off, these great mannequin-like figures by Andy Vibe sporting puns for titles such as one of a man with a globe for a head, seated with newspaper in hand, titled World View. This is a large group exhibition which includes about fifteen artists; times keeps me from mentioning each one.

Review by RWM: Incredible work that startles and surprises. You are likely not to have seen some of these things before. The work is playful and fun and sometimes funny. Interesting choices of materials and subjects culled from all over. Some of this looks like it belongs in a museum. Cool.

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PAI - The Performance Art Institute: Light Rhapsody - Pio Bujak.

Comment by AB: There's supposed to be a performance here... or maybe not? I've driven out to this forlorn and desolate corner of the city to find absolutely nothing going on. I see a sign that reads Performance Art Institute, so the address is right. But the building is locked tight. Two other people are here expecting to see the performance as well, one of whom turns out to be on the institute's Board of Directors, so I've got the date right. Wow. Even the board member doesn't know what to make of this.

We split up and start walking around the property, hoping to find an open door or any sign of life whatsoever, but find nothing and are about to give up when the board member decides to call the institute's founder, Stephen Tourell, as a last resort. He makes contact, and as it turns out, Tourell and associates are actually in the building!!! Within several minutes, someone appears at the building's front door to let us in.

We're ushered upstairs and into this large dilapidated, rudimentary shell of a space which is apparently the organization's new headquarters. A half-dozen or so people including the artist who was supposed to be performing and Tourell himself are milling about, engaged in Lord only knows what. We get the grand ramshackle tour, some unintelligible mumbles about what the future holds, and that, as they say, is that. I sure hope these folks can get their act together. This was pathetic and a complete waste of time.

This is the performance space. No one can figure out how to turn on the lights, so someone gets a desk lamp, puts it on the floor... and that's our sole source of lighting.

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Luna Rienne Gallery: Fine Line - Jet Martinez and Kelly Ording.

Review by RWM: Fascinating optical illusions. Nice animals. Great colors. Cool babes.

Comment by AB: Delicate geometries on aged stained paper by Kelly Ording are complemented by the stylized, neon palette creature creations of Jet Martinez. Stop on by.

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Driftwood Salon: 3rd Annual Emerging Artist Exhibit.

Artists: Gabrielle Curry, Douglas Alan Struble, Steen Kjorlie, Patrick St Clair, Hugo Kobayashi, Ricardo Miranda, Jake Kobrin, Charles Papillo, Johnny Ringo, Alberto Ybarra, Joe Spear, Joshua Coffy.

Review by Kathryn Arnold: A packed experience of art, all by emerging artists. The work runs the entire gamut including portraits, landscapes and many sculptures.

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