DOLBY CHADWICK - SFMOMA ARTISTS GALLERY

DON SOKER - WHITE WALLS - SHOOTING GALLERY

07.14.12, Part I

(with assistance from Kathryn Arnold)



The pros talk about how to spot good art. Click Here.

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Dolby Chadwick Gallery: Gary Ruddell.

Comment by AB: Gary Ruddell momentarily sequesters us from the mundanities of our lives in order to accentuate precious moments of freedom, joy, reaching out, togetherness, solitude, opportunities and more.

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Don Soker Gallery: Christel Dillbohner - Nothing is Certain, Fragments from The Arctic Chronicles.

Comment by AB: Unclear whether Christel Dillbohner has ever been to the Arctic, but that's what this exhibit is all about-- frigid history and contemporary melting.

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SFMOMA Artists Gallery: Sin and Redemption.

Artists: David Best, Victor Cartagena, Enrique Chagoya, Margaret Chavigny, Kirk Crippens, Donald and Era Farnsworth, Marc Ellen Hamel, Nancy Genn, Tara Gill, Ake Grunditz, Amber Hasselbring, Gérman Herrera, Jeremiah Jenkins, Larry Lippold, Alen MacWeeney, Javier Manrique, Kara Maria, John Martin, Jean Paul Mercado, Claire Pasquier, Christian Peacock, Silvia Poloto, Mary Powers, Lewis Watts, Elena Zolotnitsky.

Review and images by Kathryn Arnold: A cool large group exhibition based upon the theme of sin and redemption. As I walk in, the soundtrack plays the Rolling Stones "Symphony for the Devil." "Please allow me to introduce myself... Stole many a man's soul and faith..." and the rest of the lyrical message shows up in the variety of works exhibited-- some clearly and some not so clearly, relying on interpretations of religious and secular subject matters.

David Best exhibits one of his massive wood works as a temple-- 22 feet high. These are created from recycled wood and are not for sale; he takes them to Burning Man and burns them. To me, this is sacrifice! There are installations, such as an interactive confessional booth and video alongside photography and painting, resin works and sculpture. There is a large Jacquard tapestry portraying an ancient Roman scene, perhaps from a fresco at Pompeii. A number of artists participate in this exhibition-- a great one-stop way to view some of San Francisco's finest.

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White Walls Gallery: Truth in Myth - New Work by Meggs.

Comment by AB: What's real? What's imagined? Are they one and the same, do they coexist in varying degrees, or are they mutually exclusive? Australian artist Meggs postulates on those potentialities here. Plus an abundance of cast plaster skulls (starting at only $10 each).

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The Shooting Gallery: 333 Conspiracy - James Charles.

Comment by AB: The venerable American greenback is worth approximately zip these days with the exception of those that James Charles has arted up. Care to bask in the affluence of instant appreciation? The economy's definitely on the upswing here.

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Shooting Gallery / White Walls new gallery space expansion: Sneak preview of the new space.

Comment by AB: Yet more to come from Justin Giarla as he relentlessly expands his aesthetic empire. This dude knows how-- soon to be the proud owner of five distinct galleries within a one block radius. Anticipation in the offing.

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