GALLERY 291 - SF CAMERAWORK - SF ARTS COMMISSION

VISUAL AID - CREATIVITY EXPLORED - A.MUSE

04.28.11

(with assistance from RWM)



Why should artists watch Antiques Roadshow on PBS? Click Here.

***

Gallery 291: The Lens Culture International Exposure Awards.

Photographers: Jessica Hines, Carolle Benitah, Louisa Marie Summer, Martine Fougeron, Albertina d'Urso, Anne Berry, Susan Bank, David Carol, Ellie Davies, Frank Day, Bruno De Cock, Margaret de Lange, Dan Dubowitz, Joachim Froese, Julia Fullerton-Batten, Kevin Greenblat, Daisuke Ito, Mary Shannon Johnstone, David Lazar, Sebastian Liste, Adam Magyar, Rania Matar, Justin Maxon, Bill McCullough, Marcia Michael, David Rochkind, Julian Roeder, Evzen Sobek, Miki Soejima, Ian Teh, Jan von Holleben.

Comment by AB: According to the fact sheet, "Lens Culture International Exposure Awards discover, reward, and promote talented, emerging and established photographers from around the world. The Awards are open to photographers from every continent, and from diverse points of view-- documentary, fine art, photojournalism, street photography, nature, sports, fashion, poetic, personal, abstract and human." Six photographers (three in each of two categories- portfolio and single image) receive cash awards and exposure in the online photography magazine, Lens Culture. The photographs on exhibit here are by those six photographers and also by the Honorable Mention Award winners-- 31 photographers from 12 countries.

***

SF Camerawork: Looking Forward, Giving Back 2011!

Comment by AB: Annual fundraising event to support SF Camerawork's First Exposures, "the only mentoring program in the Bay Area to offer free weekly photography classes to underserved youth. Each student is matched one to one with a photographer who serves as a mentor and adult role model, providing individualized guidance and support." Loads of quality photographs up for auction-- bargains to be had.

***

San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery: 2011 Sister City Biennial - San Francisco and Sydney.

Artists: Amy Balkin, Alicia Pozniak, Sergio De La Torre, Rebar, Chris Fox, Makeshift, Josephine Starrs, Leon Cmielewski.

Comment by AB: SF Arts Commission partners with Sydney, Australia's CarriageWorks to present a selection of artistic solutions to make these Sister Cities greener and more livable. My fave? Sergio De La Torre's portable installation, El Puesto, where twenty-some strangers can partake in an instant meal together and discuss pressing issues that affect us all. As for pure batty fantasy, look your best and muss not a hair on your head while propelling from appointment to appointment in Chris Fox's Salon Jetpacks.

***

Visual Aid: LIVE Art Auction.

Artists: Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Rex Ray, Ross Bleckner, Leslie Lusardi, Judith Foosaner, Peter Voulkos, Jenn Shifflet, Timothy Cummings, Jeanne Vadeboncoeur, Tom Bolles, Camille Seaman, Deborah Bell, Keira Kotler, Gale Antokal, Silvia Poloto, Anne Subercaseaux, Jerome Caja, Robin Denevan, Dianne Romaine, Pamela Merory Dernham, Michael Buscemi, Sharon Beals, Tyrell Collins, Jesse Gottesman, dk haas, Margaret Herscher, Lea Feinstein, Kerry Vander Meer, Ute Zaunbauer, Jerry Frost, David Allan Peters, Kelly Defayette, Todd McKie, Sheila Ghidini, Jonathan Parker, Monica Denevan, Bruce Pizzichillo, Linda Symonds, Claudia Tennyson, John Wood, Heather Wilcoxon, Danae Anderson, more.

Comment by AB: Visual Aid's annual fundraiser auction raises money to support artists with life-threatening illnesses. Always worth supporting plus you get a chance to bid on some quality works of art by well-established artists.

***

Creativity Explored: They Are Full of Holy Nonsense - John Patrick McKenzie.

Review by RWM: Here are writings on the wall by an artist who reacts to the whole big mess out there. However the "painter-manship" is not always clear which leaves viewers free to draw their own meanings from these soulful works. That is part of their appeal; they serve as puzzles to this odd life.

***

a.Muse Gallery: Scissors vs Brush - Collage by Matt Gonzalez, Paintings by Tom Schultz.

Comment by AB: It's an abstract battle where everyone emerges victorious.

***