CALIFORNIA MODERN - RAYKO PHOTO - SILVERMAN
TRIPLE BASE - VARNISH - FOUR BARREL COFFEE
(with assistance from Pakayla Biehn, Kathryn Arnold and RWM)
08.07.09

California Modern Gallery: Dialogues - Paintings by Jan Wurm, Sculptures by Peter Boiger.

Review and images by Kathryn Arnold: First stop on Friday is California Modern Gallery-- gigantic paintings, small watercolors and more, along with a great collection of bronzes. The exhibition area is large and the works fill the space, showing them to their best advantage. The arrangement of works to precisely fit the space is an amazing feat!

Jan Wurm's colorful figural paintings show life as it happens and as it is happening, with the brushwork ranging from truly expressionistic to flat illusions. Oftentimes the figure is isolated from the environment, and other times there are groupings of multiple figures, creating a type of unspoken yet felt dialogue between them. The palette, brightly colored hues and tones, is limited, resulting in strong formal contrasts. In fact, these paintings could be read based upon those elements alone.

Yet going past that, one can begin to examine this dialogue and question 'internal/external' elements. Are these actual scenes/events or are they plays pointing to internal dialogues and memories. The colors create mood and the lines/gestural mark-making imply not only movement, but also an emotive state which is then conveyed to the viewer. Their large size dominates the viewer; the small sized works read on a more intimate scale, creating moments of introspection.

The figural sculptures by Peter Boiger carry on the bronze tradition (he also works in wood), a tradition seeped in technique and method, along with history. These works hold their own amongst this lengthy lineage. Many of the works are life size and larger, creating a sense of identity. Multiple planes and massive shapes intrigue while the viewer navigates around them. One work-- are they massive Hebrew letters? Text/image form in sculpture-- nice!

Many of Boiger's figures appear to be in precarious states-- portraying a balancing act reminiscent of classical Greek sculptures. Yet the form, so not ancient Greek, but rather a modern slender rendition. The work also emphasizes verticality with almost stick-like thin (in nature) appendages.

Masterful approaches are used with both of these artists and an excellent grouping for both.

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Rayko Photo Center: It's Still Life - Group Show Featuring Elaine Duigenan & Meggan Gould - .

Review and images by Kathryn Arnold: This is a large juried still-life and interior space show-- not sure how many works! 100's maybe! Maybe more! The place is packed with guests and filled with amazing photography. I see a photogram to die for. Elaine Duigenan and Meggan Gould are featured artists. The works selected for this entire exhibition show high degrees of technical skill along with some very cool artistic interpretations of subject matter. And Rayko is a fantastic place to view contemporary photography!

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Silverman Gallery: The Shop - Summer Blow Out.

Artists: Terence Koh, Ari Marcopolous, Bozidar Brazda, John Baldessari, Dash Snow, Matt Keegan, Kathryn Garcia & Richard Lidinsky, Ryan Foerster, Matt Furie, Joseph Akel, Malik Gaines & Alexandro Segade, BLAND, Christina McPhee, Job Piston, Arnold J. Kemp, Hanni El Khatib, Tammy Rae Carland, Aaron Krach, Luke Fishbeck, Marc Arthur, Neil Ledoux, Susan Silton, Yuval Pudik, many more.

Review and images by Kathryn Arnold: Another group show for August-- this one contains all sorts of objects and items and is really set up like a shop. Works hanging on the walls, placed stacked on the floor against the walls, items on shelves, basically everyone truly reflects the curator's idea connected to access of 'art' and dispersion of the same. Nice pieces-- plenty to choose from, place is packed. I have a great time and will check out their online shop which further continues the exploration. And I'll need to go back to further examine.

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Varnish Fine Art: ThankYouGoodby - Michael Page.

Review by RWM (images c/o Varnish Fine Art): Sad to see Varnish Gallery having to relocate, but life goes on and there will likely be new beginnings elsewhere. One finds in the art of Michael Page the resurgence of the life force. There are gatherings and grim messengers. Travellers are on their way, some on pilgrimages and others as prophets. Life adapts and survives despite the darkness and gloom. Forward we go despite pollution and dark tidings.

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Four Barrel Coffee: Anna Ura - before.

Review by RWM (images c/o Anna Ura): Experiencing the blurry fields of Anna Ura's outdoor imagery in motion suggests that you probably don't need to drink (or maybe have only one), because the way they look, you may already be intoxicated. It's almost like a free drunk compliments of the management. The diffuse nature of Ura's paintings makes it seem like you are looking through a photographic camera or car window or even a movie camera with spots or areas of water on the windows or lenses. Whatever the perspective, Anna Ura's art takes you along with her on her travels.

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Triple Base: Involved, Socially.

Artists: Christine Wong Yap, Jessica Williams, David Horvitz's, Mark McKnight, Amanda Curreri. Curated by Michelle Blade.

Review and images by Kathryn Arnold: This is one of those exhibitions where curator is artist, and while viewing the works selected for this show, seeing their mirroring of Michelle Blade's concept is a delight. Writes Blade, "Šwe email, blog, text, and twitter to the world at random, firing flares into the air and sending signals back. An artist's practice can be thought of in the same wayŠ". And the works in this exhibition are developed from blogs (one I enjoyed thoroughly was the blogger givng help answers and empathy to the bloggee artist who had not painted or drawn for a very long time-- what to do with sound advice : ). This is just posted on the wall along with multiple other correspondences. I also appreciate the idea that artists work in similar ways to those on social networks-- sending things out there and then the response. How true it is, I think.

What I see-- glitter "text" on the floor that has been interacted with, video, email and blog exchanges, interactive works that continue through this month such as a window piece you can place in your own window by downloading the file.

Plus look here-- free advice from a participating artist and a promise to pursue the matter even if she doesn't know the answer! Love this-- "Saturdays August 15 & 22, 12-1pm, Jessica Williams will answer questions live via webcam as an extension of her limited-time online advice column FREE ADVICE. She will answer any question that has to do with cats, love, or art and if she doesn't know, she will consult Google. For past answers and questionsŠ" see more on the Triple Base website.

The back room has an assortment of 'mail art'; one of the pieces is folded up tissue paper that has then been unfolded and some of the sections filled in. I know, I know-- but everything is so fluxusly (new word) enjoyable. More yet to be seen in the basement, but I haven't made it there yet!

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