SAN FRANCISCO ART GALLERIES OPENINGS

FIRST THURSDAY - 05.02.13 - Part III

(with assistance from Anneliese Vobis and Kathryn Arnold)



How to navigate the gallery system. Click Here.

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Gallery Wendi Norris: Kelly Barrie - Parallel Play; Julio César Morales - Forever Now!

Review by Anneliese Vobis: Strong personal storytelling in print and experimental video media reflect Julio César Morales' multicultural identity. Immigrants moving towards a new uncertain culture. A meaningful investigation into the aesthetics of social relations.

Kelly Barrie melds drawing and photography into highly futuristic imagery with dramatic contrasting backgrounds. Looking closer, we can get an idea about the painstaking techniques which create this brilliant seductive work about organic frozen moments.

Review by Kathryn Arnold: Arrived ahead the opening at Wendi Norris, but delightful to view two new exhibitions in almost solitude-- the work of Julio Cesar Morales and Kelly Barrie. Barrie's work is doing most interesting things with photography and prints, conceptually based in location (certain types of playspaces for children) and also in process. A separate room houses Morales' work which includes experimental video and a floor installation along with wall-hung works. He takes a narrative of two brothers who cross a desert only to get lost on their way to Mexico. Both sets of artists' works are truly worth a visit.

Comment by AB: Two fresh progressive takes on photography (combined with installation in Morales' case). Recommended viewing.

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Spoke Art Gallery: Guns and Ecstasy - Scott Hove.

Review by Anneliese Vobis: Scott Hove reflects our feelings about guns. Like delicious comforting food, they became a dangerous hobby in our society. It's hard to resist such pleasureful objects, especially the center piece-- a giant cake box with endless mirrors. There is really no escape from this bittersweet project.

Comment by AB: Scott Hove applies the high art of cake decorating to to his sculptural delights in a most delectable way. In eminently impressive detail, he frosts everything from guns to signage to nasty black stiletto heals. Yes, my artful darlings-- this is truly art with teeth in it! The centerpiece of the show is a sculpted mirrored walk-in chamber where walker-inners can close the door behind them and be surrounded with infinite pillars of icing flecked with fruit. Fun show; go see.

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SOMArts Gallery: underCurrents and the Quest for Space. Curated by Inson Choy.

Artists: Salma Arastu, Jung Ran Bae, Michele Benzamin-Miki, Manon Bogerd-Wada, Mitsuko Brooks, Karen Chew, Samantha Chundur, Shari Arai DeBoer, Reiko Fujii, Kate Hers, Zilka Joseph, Kay Kang, Miyang Kim, Alexandra Lee, Mido Lee, Brenda Louie, Li Ma, Choppy Oshiro, Isabelle Thuy Pelaud, Yoshie Sakai, Pallavi Sharma, Cindy Shih, Judy Shintani, Shizue Seigel, Valerie Soe, Dao Strom, Cynthia Tom, Truong Tran, Julie Thi Underhill, Laura Wong, Leslie Zeitler, Stella Zheng, Xiaojie Zheng.

Review and images c/o Anneliese Vobis: Powerful installations, conceptual configurations and much more transform the gallery into an multi-layered, thought provoking space. Political issues of various nature are the key points of the exhibition. Elegant psychic landscapes in paper, textiles and collage reflect critically on cultural conditions. Exquisite craftsmanship is paired with narrative structures about immigrant experiences.

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Luggage Store Gallery / 509 Cultural Center: CANDYPAINT - Michelle Guintu, Rye Purvis, Yarrow Slaps.

Review by Anneliese Vobis: A pop-up Store, vibrant paintings, drawings and installation reflect a social commentary on consumer culture. Happy colors, strong text and expressive portraits invite to a second more intense look at this meaningful project.

Comment by AB: Paintings, drawings, installation and a pop-up store communicate an enthusiastic array of youthful urban tales.

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Joel B. Garzoli Fine Art: Laurie Curran.

Comment by AB: Restaurant life romanticized by Laurie Curran. Vacant tables and relaxed staff-- the calm before doors open to the public.

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Academy of Art Gallery: Eyes and Veils - Rayyaneh Karami.

Review and images c/o Anneliese Vobis: Vivid colors and active figures lead us into a dreamlike scenario with intense narrative character. Strong text and symbols support the concept.

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Addendum:

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Here's a thought.... support the cause.

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First Thursday - April 4, 2013

First Thursday - March 7, 2013

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