GALLERY 291 - MODERNISM - ITALIAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE
SOMARTS - AUROBORA PRESS - VASF AT RVCA - FECAL FACE DOT
07.09.09
(with assistance from Sandra Silvoy)

Gallery 291: Kelleen Sullivan - Perceptions; Deborah Hamon - Girls, Fact and Fiction.

Comment by AB: In the main gallery, agreeable abstract and figure paintings over collaged elements by Kelleen Sullivan recall aspects and techniques of early 20th century modernism. In the front gallery, Deborah Hamon toys with our brains by seamlessly inserting images of her hyper-realistically painted figures into closely cropped landscape photographs. At first glance, you think you're looking at photographs, though your id's likely a little quizzical about the interplay of elements. Then on the zoom in, you realize that the "people" aren't people at all, but rather paintings of people. Nice sleight of handv and eminently effective.

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Modernism Gallery: Hunted & Gathered - Photographs from the Private Collection of Robert Flynn Johnson; Woody Gwyn - The Coast: Above & Beyond.

Comment by AB: In the front gallery, Woody Gwyn presents a series of realistic paintings, mainly coastal views, several open water scenes, and a landscape or two. They're all superbly executed, but the killer-dillers are the smallish precision coastal compositions, some bisected by thin strips of highway, painted from perspectives looking directly down from perhaps a thousand feet above. To heighten the drama, the paintings are hung low on the walls so that you're viewing them from the same angle you would be be if you were actually hovering above. Too good!

In the rear gallery, enjoy excerpts from the photography collection of Achenbach Foundation Curator Emeritus Robert Flynn Johnson. He has a fine eye for quality, and even though many of the images are by unknown photographers, they're all visually exquisite. Plus special added bonus for those of you've always wondered about the size of Joe Dimaggio's penis-- see this show and wonder no more! But wait. That's not all. Johnson is in attendance tonight signing copies of both of his books. The new one is "The Face in the Lens - Anonymous Photographs," and the other one is "Anonymous - Enigmatic Images from Unknown Photographers."

Superior show on both counts. Check it out.

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Istituto Italiano di Cultura: Silver Treasures from the Atelier San Lorenzo.

Comment by AB: Another fine exhibition of modern Italian design, this time in silver, and featuring examples of the work of San Lorenzo Studio produced from circa 1970 to the present. According to the fact sheet, "San Lorenzo is the only silversmith in the world to produce objects for practical use in pure silver (999/000)." Designers include Partricia Urquiola, Terry Dwan, Terri Pecora, Matali Crasset, Lella Vignelli, Tobia Scarpa and Giovanna Talocci. Good stuff.

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SOMArts Main Gallery: Territorios - New Visual Currents from El Salvador and the Diaspora.

Artists: La Fabri-K, Mayra Barraza, Romeo Galdamez, Luis Lazo, Tony Meno, Rosario Moore, Amber Rose, Baltasar Portillo, Francisco Zayas, Colectivo Tripode Audiovisual: Julio Lopez, David Gallardo, Francisco Morales, Marta Ayala, Carlos Cartagena, Victor Cartagena, Mario Pablo Chacon, Tessie Barrera-Scharaga, Martivon Galindo, Roxana Santos Hayden, Romeo G. Osorio, Saul Reyes. Curated by Romeo G. Osorio.

Comment by AB: Artists from El Salvador and the Bay Area join together to exhibit art that conveys the essence of El Salvador, from visual, political, social and cultural perspectives. My favorite? An amazingly detailed unfired ceramic full-length "dress." But it's all good here.

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SOMArts Front Gallery: Art and Labor Today. Curated by David Duckworth.

Artists: Skylaar Amann, Philippe Barnoud, Joe Blum, Paul Bouchard, Lenny Bové, Sherri Cavan, Michael Chomick, Mike Connor, Slobodan Dimitrov, Chris Dunker, Tom Griscom, Trudi Hauptman, Veronique Held, Mike Kimball, Anthony Lazorko, Jr., Kyle Levinger and Holley Coley, Doug McGoldrick, Douglas Minkler, Mimi Plumb, Aubrey Rhodes, Emmy Lou Packard, John Robinson, Rachel Schreiber, Elizabeth Sibilia, elin o¹Hara slavick, Angela Franks Wells, Marcia Weisbrot, Steve Zeltzer, Holly Wong.

Comment by AB: Art about labor presented in conjunction with LaborFest 2009. "Contemporary artists from the United States and France provide provocative and compelling views on the effects of capitalism and the state of labor today."

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Aurobora Press: Opening Celebration at New Location.

Comment by AB: Aurobora Press relocates to Brannan Street between 2nd and 3rd, so tonight they're having a party about it. Tunes, beverages, edibles, and of course, a prime selection of works on paper published by a variety of artists who have worked with Aurobora Press over the years. All quality, all fun.

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VASF Gallery at RVCA: Whammy.

Artists: Jay Howell, Anthony Lister, Kelsey Brookes, Robert Hardgrave, Tiffany Bozic, Mel Kadel, Jeff Soto, Dave Kinsey, John Dwyer.

Comment by AB: Cherry selection of art by a cherry selection of artists. It's that simple and no more complicated. I always enjoy shows where the artists get serious and serve up their best stuff.

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Fecal Face Dot Gallery: Jesse Balmer.

Review by Sandra Silvoy: Fecal Face offers up a tidy collection of finely rendered creatures of muscular stature, pyramids and plants. A man vs beast scenario ensues in the largest piece, where the beast undoubtedly wins. The medieval weaponry of spear and flail might have done the trick. This gruesome community resides upon a small plot of land with a planetary quality set adrift in the vastness of the stars and unending space.

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