DA ARTS - AMPERSAND - PING PONG - THE LAB
L'S CAFFE - CAFE DU NORD - GERAS TOUSIGNANT
IDLE HAND TATTOO - ASIWOULDSAY - LOWER HATERS
06.12.09
(with assistance from Laura Chenault, RWM and Lynnore Goldfarb)

DA Arts Gallery 135 Sixth Street, San Francisco, CA 94103, 415-563-5695: UJIMA Artists Collective.

Artists: Kenneth Beasley, Harvey Rushing, Brock Bates, & Michael Berninger.

Comment by AB: The four members of the Ujima Artists Collective live within blocks of the gallery, here in the heart of San Francisco's Tenderloin. I suppose you could call the art "urban folk," as it certainly embraces the culture of the 'hood on a genuine and heartfelt level. One goal of DA Arts is to assist in establishing an arts district along Sixth Street.

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Ampersand International Arts: Home.

Artists: Gideon Chase, Hannah Hooper, Andrew Kirk, Max Schoening, Ethan Scott.  Curated by Jesse Brown, Rachel Hooper, Saskia and Theodora Mauro.

Review by RWM: In this mixed media show one will find photos of damaged plains, clearcuts, pollution, and abandoned desert lands. There are also depictions of fuzzy bears, rivers, fields, ocean water beds, and fires. The assembled artworks attest to what is being damaged. We need to occasionally put on our walking shoes in and get out of the house to notice what is going on, but as you can see here, there may not be much left if we don't upgrade our level of concern.

Review by Lynnore Goldfarb: The gallery space is beautiful and the art embellishes the fine architectural detail with the guests bringing this Dogpatch loft to life. The group exhibit showcases five artists; two are photographers, two are painters and one features line drawing. The art displayed is sophisticated with an air of playfulness I cannot seem to put my finger on until I notice that it is curated by young artists. The artists themselves are young, but the curators are younger, which makes me wonder if youth is more of a culture than a fact of life.

Comment by AB: Five artists and four curators-- that certainly levels the playing field for this show about "Home" featuring the work of young (and recent) art school graduates. Home may be where the heart is, but these days, it's more like where the hurt is. My favorite? Meticulous small format detached dispassionate gouache-on-paper scenarios by Gideon Chase.

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Toolworks and Randall Museum at L's Caffe, 2871 24th Street, San Francisco, CA 94110; 415-206-0274: Mini Masterpieces, An Art Show and Sale.

Review and images by Lynnore Goldfarb: Mini Masterpieces is an exhibition showcasing art and craftwork created by clients at Toolworks. Toolworks is a San Francisco non-profit organization catering to adults with disabilities. The art pieces on the wall are hung as one unit. Upon closer examination, I realize that the art piece I am looking at is actually many (I counted fourteen) individual construction-paper masks painted in shades of red and orange. It looks like a different artist created each mask. I like the wall art, but I love the book bags embellished by the artists that are for sale.

Note: Please except my apologies for losing the paper with all of the names of the artists and administrators one of the art teachers so diligently wrote down for me.

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Ping Pong Gallery: Susan O'Malley - You Are Exactly Where You Need to Be.

Review by Lynnore Goldfarb: The walls of the gallery are covered with inspirational posters that read things like "Relax" and "All You Need Is Love." The artist Susan O'Malley explains to me that this exhibit was born out of something she created for her office, she had aptly named the "Pep Talk" series. I am told the goal is to start plastering the "positive" posters all over the city, guerilla style. The only saying I don't see is, "Don"t Worry, Be Happy." Maybe that one is too obvious or maybe I simply missed it in the vast sea of uplifting messages I accidentally dove into.

Review by RWM: Optimistic slogans surrounded by contrasting sherbert colors invite you to reexamine their idealism. The quotes displayed are popular and memorable. The bright colors invigorate like sugar, tea, and coffee, putting one in a buzzed contemplative mood. Have we given up too easy? Should we be startled and inspired? The mixture of colors gives you reason to pause. Is it a call for help or a justification for ridicule? It is not red or green, but rather thoughtful pastels and yellow.

Comment by AB: Hippie homilies by Susan O'Malley are guaranteed to make your life warm, fuzzy, affirmative and fabulous-- poster sized, limited to editions of 5, and only $250 each. The Age of Aquarius has never been more affordable. Ommmmmm.

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Geras Tousignant Fine Art: Niho Kozuru, Monika Steiner, Matt Colagiuri - Off the Wall.

Review and images by Laura Chenault: Three artists with extremely different styles show beautifully together. Three-dimensional photographic work by Matt Colagiuri features recognizable imagery deconstructed and reassembled. Images of New York and San Francisco create mini cityscapes that cast skyline shadows on the wall. In addition to the city portraits, there are images of boxcars and faces also done in his unique creative style. Niho Kozuru presents colorful rubber sculptures in bright, primary colors. They feel like childhood buildings created from stacked kitchen tools, but they transform into cohesive, translucent, architectural pieces. Standing like soldiers in a perfect line, Monika Steiner's work evokes precious found objects preserved for eternity. Organic forms created in bronze are incased in epoxy and perched on wrought iron stands. The suspended pieces are evocative of shells, stalagmites, and rocks found and revered. Immaculately cast, they are especially impressive grouped together.

Cafe Du Nord: Christine Grace Reynolds - Value Land Revisited, An Exhibition of Paintings and Drawings.

Review and images by Laura Chenault: Bright bold colors on both paper and wood panels fill the high walls at Cafe du Nord. Christine Grace Reynolds' work is large and eye-catching. Abstract landscapes reveal recognizable iconography of San Francisco done in a variety of mediums, creating cohesive scenes. Full of life and vibrancy, the paintings and drawings celebrate the beauty in The City.

The LAB: thread I BARE - The 4th Annual Striptease Auction & Trunk Show. Designers: Alexandria von Bromssen, Autie Carlisle, Charlie B, Chelsea Rae Snyder, Cyrus, Distilled, Esther Allison, Estrella Tadeo, GINNE, Gytha Mander, HT Habitus, Miss Velvet Cream, Mission Statement, Mittenmaker, Nomads, Sara Christian, Sarah Zins, Taryn and Mel McCabe, Turk & Taylor, more. Emcee - Rodney O'Neil Austin. Auctioneer - Deena Davenport. DJ - Chris Brennan.

Review by Laura Chenault: This striptease auction is a unique show where the clothes and accessories are modeled, auctioned off, removed and immediately given to the highest bidder. The auctioneer starts with small accessories and work her way through the outfits until the models are left in nothing but skivvies. The bidding wars are on and the models end up bare. Local indie designers set up around the gallery sell original fashion and jewelry throughout the event.

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Seen on the Street: Nicholas Coley at Sixteenth and Market Streets.

Review and images by Laura Chenault: Technically not an opening, it's always a pleasure to encounter an artist working outside of the studio. Nicholas Coley has his large painting set up on an easel at Market and 16th. The painting is impressionistic with heavy brush strokes. You can catch his work currently at ArtZone 461 Gallery.

Asiwouldsay Gallery: Helen Gilbert - The Nature of the Protagonist.

Review by Laura Chenault: Whimsical landscapes featuring aliens and unfamiliar skies fill the gallery. Helen Gilbert's paintings prod at the imagination to create entire tales featuring her charming characters. She has transformed the gallery space, covering one wall with a universe of stars and another with a lifesize landscape. Dressed as one of her characters she becomes one with her art.

Lower Haters Gallery: Lifetime Collective - COOL, CALM, & COLLECTIVE.

Artists: Nicholas Saunders, Lori Damiano, Simon Redekop, Mark Delong, Jay Howell, Mike Swaney, Lizzy Stewart.

Comment by AB: Group show of art by members of Lifetime Collective, headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. But the artists are from everywhere-- from London, England and Barcelona, Spain to right here in windswept Ess Eff. They're known for their clothing line-- Lifetime Clothing-- and now also for their art.

Addendum:

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