SAN FRANCISCO ART GALLERIES OPENINGS

FIRST THURSDAY - 09.04.14 - Part I

(with assistance from Kathryn Arnold and RWM)



Fantasies artists have about the art world, Click Here.

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John Berggruen Gallery: David Park, Richard Diebenkorn, Nathan Oliveira, Manuel Neri - Figures and Landscapes

Review by Kathryn Arnold: Nice to see these artists hung together in this museum-quality exhibition. Inspiring works of art from a group of artists who signify Bay Area Figurative Abstraction. Loving every minute of viewing palettes of a gorgeous range of hues and mixtures of greys and neutrals. What a feast-- and I thought I would tire of Diebenkorn and David park-- but still love them as I discovered while there.

Comment by AB: Rarely seen early works by these acknowledged Bay Area masters, and major ones too. Definitely worth a visit (you may never see some of these exhibited in public again).

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Dolby Chadwick Gallery: Kai Samuels-Davis - Between Head and Hand.

Review by RWM: Great disintegration of faces and figures. Marvel at how the body unfolds. One can revel in the decay for awhile. Modern times can be so stressful and it is great to see someone acknowledge it. Interesting color schemes and sad expressions remind that we are human and made of flesh.

Comment by AB: It's almost as if Kai Samuels-Davis reveals inner selves in his fragmented faces. Good art; check it out.

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Jenkins Johnson Gallery: Rob and Nick Carter - Recent Work.

Comment by AB: Husband & wife duo Rob and Nick Carter present contemporary renditions of famous early masterworks, both entire compositions and excerpts, through photographic and digital means. These are guaranteed to get you staring.

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Sandra Lee Gallery: Real and Surreal. Juried by DeWitt Cheng.

Artists: Diane Abt, John Accurso, Jason Adkins, Dennis Angel, Toly Bellaver, Jamey Brzezinski, Christine Canepa, Alberto Jorge Carol, Sarah Ciampa, Jean Davis, Chris Dellorco, Linda Folk, Amy Guidry, Isis Hockenos, Lisa Jetonne, Daniel Ketelhut, Jean-Claude Langer, Eric Mantle, Victoria May, Leonardo Cuervo Mera, Derek Morgan, Vann Nguyen, Anthony Pressler, Henry Anthony Ricci, Alejandro Rubio, Suzanne Sbarge, Cory Sewelson, Barbara Simcoe, Kim Thoman, Robert Urban, Art Venti, Andrew Werby, Wesley Wright.

Review by Kathryn Arnold: Nice exploration of the theme Real and Surreal in this large group exhibition curated by DeWitt Cheng. This is the first installment of a two-part exhibition. The range of work transits between fantastical images, painterly explorations and everywhere in between. A mesmerizing mix which one needs to spend time with. Interpretations of the subject matters lie within the imaginations of the artists.

Comment by RWM: Amazing group show. Fine work on display. Intriguing and unusual. Nice examples of mastery and style.

Comment by AB: From wild to wacky, the art in this group show is all over the board.

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Hespe Gallery: Mashup.

Artists: Kevin Moore, Brett Amory, Kim Frohsin, David Choong Lee, John Wentz, Adam Forfang.

Review by Kathryn Arnold: Flavorful, intriguing and puzzle-like are a few words defining the sensibility of these artworks. The shifting spaces could correspond to Cezanne only here the block-like areas are large sections of a larger painting. Mixing perspectives and light creates magnetic alterations of picture space. A delightful puzzling of visual perception.

Review by RWM: Great shared places. Interesting collaborative views of one's hood. Nice to see the pieces fitting together in an abstract way, and the collusion of colors and contrasts. Good show for those who want to think about home.

Comment by AB: Six artists each paint one sixth of a painting. The six sixths are then joined together to form a complete composition. That's it for today's math lesson. Class dismissed.

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Haines Gallery: Political Fictions; Nigel Poor - San Quentin Prison Report.

Political Fictions artists: Taha Belal, Kota Ezawa, Jeanne Friscia, Alfredo Jaar, Todd Lavine, Dinh Q. Lê.

Comment by AB: In the main gallery, an international group of artists offer commentaries, interpretations and perspectives on notable news events. In the rear gallery, Nigel Poor exhibits the results of her work with San Quentin inmates. Three groups of images are on display. In one, inmates write comments on photographs of famous photographers. In another, they write comments on photographs from the San Quentin archives. The third is a display of select photographs from the prison's archives. Worth seeing.

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Addendum:

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Maintaining this coverage ain't easy. In case you care to support the cause in a tangible way, you may do so here.

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First Thursday - August 7, 2014

First Thursday - July 10, 2014

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