AFRICAN AMERICAN ART & CULTURE COMPLEX - FECAL FACE DOT
SAN FRANCISCO ARTS COMMISSION
MUSEUM OF CRAFT+DESIGN - CANDYSTORE COLLECTIVE
(with assistance from RWM)
07.23.09

African American Art & Culture Complex: re/PURPOSE; Simply Nina.

re/PURPOSE artists: Christine Dhein, Evan Bissell, Wosene Kosrof, Moses Nornberg, William Rhodes. Curated by Samara Rivers.

Simply Nina artists: Chor Boogie, Ron Carter, Nancy Cato, Glodean Champion, Joyce McEwen, Crawford Carly, Ivan Garcia, James Gayles, Nanette Harris, Jackie Houston, Brandi Johnson, L. (Cherokee Rose) Johnson, Virginia Jourdan, Peter Max-Lawrence, Sálongo Lee, Kamal Al Mansour, Kelly Marshall, Marvin McMillian, Patricia A. Montgomery, Shilo Randall, Oliatan Callendar Scott, Malik Seneferu, Mark LaGrande Trotter, Keith 'K-Dub' Williams, Dania Wright, Orlonda Uffre, Martial Yapo.

Comment by AB: On the main floor in the Sargent Johnson Gallery, a group exhibition celebrates the newly renovated and repurposed African American Art & Culture Complex with an exhibition of objects and materials repurposed into art. In the expansive third floor gallery/meeting space, an impressive group show venerates legendary jazz diva and High Priestess of Soul, Nina Simone.

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San Francisco Museum of Craft+Design: Silver of the Stars; The Millennium Collection for Bute House; Fred Ball Enamels.

Comment by RWM: Silver treasures with impressive workmanship abound in this new exhibition. The masterful use of silver gives one reason to pause and take notice. They may not be gold, but they are still exceedingly valuable.

Comment by AB: Three exhibitions open here this evening. "Silver of the Stars" showcases the work of ten of Scotland's finest contemporary metalsmiths. "The Millennium Collection for Bute House" features a collection of contemporary silver crafted by fifteen of Scotland's top silversmiths originally commissioned to celebrate the founding of the Scottish Parliament. And in the rear gallery, enjoy a retrospective of enamel arts by the innovative Fred Uhl Ball (1945-1985). Definitely worth a visit-- especially the silver. Exceptional.

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San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery: Conversation 5 - Jamie Vasta and Nicholas Pye & Sheila Pye.

Review by RWM: These gorgeous sparkling images by Jamie Vasta look out on the observer, inspiring us to examine our guilt, responsibility, and potential for involvement. More than just life is being depicted in these images which also shimmer with something that is not easy to describe.

Comment by AB: Jamie Vasta is turning into the Michelangelo of glitter. Yo! In the video parlour, Nicholas & Sheila Pye's acclaimed film "Loudly, Death Unties" makes its Bay Area debut.

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Fecal Face Dot Gallery: Henry Gunderson - White Hole.

Comment by AB: Henry Gunderson at the tender age of 18 (but he looks 19) gets his inaugural solo here at Fecal Face Dot tonight. He's certainly qualified-- no doubt about that-- but the whole dealie bob gets me thinking about when an established gallery should give an artist a first show. It would seem to be a matter of striking some sort of balance between experience or track record and innate talent. Then again, maybe copious cornucopias of innate talent render antecedents irrelevant. There's no pat answer of course, but it is an interesting topic to cogitate on...

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Candystore Collective: Laura Berger - Recurrence.

Review by RWM: Laura Berger revels in the artistic styles coming out of The Mission District in recent years with prints and paintings at very reasonable prices. Most everyone can own one of these pieces of art if they choose. Also examined here is our connection with the natural world with images of our animal selfs and other animals. The work is fun and cute with its depictions of odd creatures and strange attitudes.

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Addendum:

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