CATHARINE CLARK - VENUS - ICEBERGER
ROOT DIVISION - LITTLE TREE - SF ARTS COMMISSION
SHOOTING GALLERY - WHITE WALLS
(with assistance from Libby Nicholaou)
06.14.08
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Catharine Clark Gallery: Summer Group Exhibitions.
Shows/Artists: Speaking to the Unspeakable - Josh Azzarella, Sandow Birk and Elyse Pignolet, Stephen J. Shanabrook; The Audacity of Hope - Ray Beldner, Walter Robinson, Travis Somerville; Elyse Pignolet in the Viewing Room; Video Room - Anthony Discenza - (Another) Road Trip.
Review by Libby Nicholaou: Lots of social politics, images of Kennedy and installations placing you in faux rooms decorated with previous and possibly future presidential candidates' pictures and paraphernalia. The best are the "Morgue Chocolates" (Do Not Touch) by Stephen J. Shanabrook, and counterpart, "Not Morgue Chocolates" in a bowl on the front counter which you may not only touch but also eat (right next to sparkling water and crackers-- cheers). A map of the LAX airport by Sandow Birk and Elyse Pignolet provides thoughts on Allah by blueprinting an interpretation of power and spiritualism where Middle Eastern terminology meets Western understanding.
Comment by AB: Classic Catharine Clark-- art liberally seasoned with social and political commentary (pun intended)-- and effectively so, as always. Plus this might be considered a bit more than a group show in that the artists actually seem to team up, their respective works playing well off of one another, particularly down the hall and to the back. My picks? Righteous JFK works by Walter Robinson and "LAX" by Sandow Birk and Elyse Pignolet.
LAX (Sandow Birk and Elyse Pignolet - like it). Morgue Chocolates - (Stephen J. Shanabrook). Not Morgue Chocolates - (Hershey's). Art (Stephen J. Shanabrook). Art (Walter Robinson - like it). Art (Walter Robinson). Art (Walter Robinson). Art (Walter Robinson - like it). Art (Travis Somerville). Art closer (Travis Somerville). Art (Ray Beldner, right). Art (Josh Azzarella). Art (Josh Azzarella). Benign subversion out front.
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Venus Gallery: Adele Louise Shaw - Nature Would Never Do Something Like That.
Comment by AB: Encaustic paintings by Adele Louise Shaw, "angst-free," according to the dossier.
Encaustics by Adele Louise Shaw. Art. Art. Art. Art.
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Iceberger Gallery: Richard T. Walker - Sometimes I Like You More Than Othertimes.
Comment by AB: A two-channel video installation. On one channel, Richard T. Walker converses with the environment, actually specific elements of the environment. On the other, he soundtracks his spoken words with music-- his music. A sensitive contemplative exercise, nicely done.
Richard T. Walker. One channel. Other channel.
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Root Division: Under 100 - Exhibition, Sale, and Live Screen-Print Event.
Artists: To Be Human Artworks, Joshua Aaron, Aisyah Ang, Andrea Antonaccio, Bandit, Cody Bratt, Timothy Bremner, Amy Cancelmo, Deric Carner, Jon Casey Clary, Jacque Cozza, Steve Dehlinger, Kate Dopheide, Michele Feder, Selene Foster, Adam Friedman, Daniel Galas, Anne Garvey, Jeffery Glossip, Victoria Heilweil, Melissa Hutton, Avy Jetter, Ryan Jones, Ashley Kalemjian, Julia Kopelson, Angela Lanyon, Geraldine Lozano, Whitney Lynn, Lindsey Lyons, Michelle Mansour, Shelley Monahan, Mimi Moncier, Barrett Moore, Ian O'Banion, Lollie Ortiz, Moshe Quinn, Jon Rogers, Aaron Rosenstreich, Rachel Sager, Lauren Scime, Johnny Selman, Ariel Soto, Kevin E. Taylor, Tell Tale Heart Studio, Carly Troncale, Mr. Ben Venom, Hannah Pearl Walcott, Peter Walker, Dave Warnke, more.
Comment by AB: All kinds of art, fashion, and more with absolutely nothing over $100, and tons priced substantially less. Plus if you like action, there's live screenprinting.
Art. They like that Barack Obama. Fashion + art by DAVe Warnke ($20 each). Art (Deric Carner). Art. Art - fashion. Art.
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Little Tree Gallery: Soft Underbelly Recognition.
Artists: Eduardo Consuegra, Heather Cook, Eli Langer, Sidonie Loiseleux. Curated by Sarah Lehrer-Graiwer.
Review and images by Libby Nicholaou: For a gallery known for experimental work by SFAI artists, this show includes a Canadian and Columbian. I come expecting an ensemble of 3D works and instead find flat wall hangings alluding to a sculptural installation. Edwardo Consuegra has the one 3D piece which looks more like a barrier than art. It's a large rectangular sponge, the front covered in layers of off-white wall paint. Talking with Consuegra about his idea for the sculpture, he explains that it has to do with concept of absorption-- in life, art, and of course, sponge.
Looks like 3D but it's really only 2 (Heather Cook). Art. Art. Art.
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San Francisco Arts Commission at Electric Works: On Your Mark - Ala Ebtekar.
Comment by AB: "The first in a series of SFAC Gallery social & educational events" features a healthy turnout and live printmaking c/o Ala Ebtekar. I'd call it a complete success. Keep your antennae peeled for the second in this series-- the schmooze is worth the ante.
Ala Ebtekar print demonstration. Ala Ebtekar print demonstration cont. Jessica Silverman (Silverman Gallery) - Dina Pugh (Triple Base). Patricia Sweetow in da house. Noah Lang of the Electric Works. Time for me to go...
Art (William Wiley).
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White Walls Gallery: Sylvia Ji.
Comment by AB: Sexy sultry sirens are in short supply as the show approaches sold out. Hurry hurry before it's too late.
Paintings by Sylvia Ji. Art. Art. Art. Art. Art. Art.
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The Shooting Gallery: Greg Gossel - Make Believe.
Review by Libby Nicholaou: Greg Gossel from Minneapolis, MN does street collage borrowing images from the likes of Lichtenstein and other well known pop artists. Having seen Villegle's show at Modernism last week and Greg's this week I appreciate Greg updating an older art form, creating something new that relates to my generation. Pieces including phrases like "Lose Weight" or words like "self," "free," and "power" are reminiscent of the levels of perfection perpetually put forth by mainstream television and literature. No wonder the females in these collages are all distraught.
Comment by AB: Gossel fills the gallery to the brim. Strength in numbers. Check it out.
Art by Greg Gossel. Art. Art. Art. Art.
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