SFMOMA ARTISTS GALLERY - CATHARINE CLARK

MEDICINE AGENCY

09.05.09

(with assistance from DeWitt Cheng and Kathryn Arnold)

SFMOMA Artists Gallery: Bert Bergen - The Severed Limbs of My Spiritual Overseers.

Review by Kathryn Arnold: Interesting exhibition venue-- show windows on Minna and Natoma Streets-- and I know my photographs through glass do not do it justice. Logistical issues aside, using a complex symbol system from literary sources, Bert Bergen displays artful appendages from what appear to be the human body. Color plays a significant role with vivid blacks, cadmium reds (mid-range), and bright yellows. Detailed linear patterning is evident on many of the sections of the window displays. I am really into storefront displays and this one take on an ominous ring-- perhaps because of all of the sprawled out body parts! Nice environment-- the Natoma side is isolated, chefs are gearing up grills for what seems to be an amazing dinner, according to Alan B, courtesy of the Greens restaurant.

Comment by AB: This display is part of the SFMOMA Artists Gallery "Windows Program Exhibition," on exhbit at 147 Minna and 150 Natoma Streets 24 hours a day.

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Catharine Clark Gallery: Sandow Birk - American Qur'an; Packard Jennings - Afghanistan 1985 (in the Media Room).

Review by Kathryn Arnold: Most, if not all, of Sandow Birk's works on exhibition are gouache and ink (maybe some other media such as gold leaf) on paper, 16 x 24 inches each, and reference illuminated manuscript traditions along with, according to my understanding, renditions of the Koran. There is no print technology going on here, everything appears to be handwritten and incorporates with the hand-painting. I imagine holy men spending hours and hours creating these types of works and am amazed at the intensive work going into each of these. This is a huge project and I note that the exhibition is almost sold out! Birk incorporates beautiful calligraphic script considered art in itself and uses jewel-like hues and tones to create these masterworks. Even along the outside edge of the paper, ornamentation and elaboration become part of the image, the overall composition designed to look like a two-page spread. The detailing references the manner in which the ancients embellish. The works are operating with themes that attempt to relate the Islamic world to contemporary culture in the United States. Powerful and complex identities are at play.

In the video room Packard Jennings' "Afghanistan 1985" is playing. The world begins to feel smaller and smaller. The shots that he uses in his video are outstanding and take on a Sundance quality. I did not have time to view it in its entirety and plan to return soon for this very reason. The visuals are incredible!

Comment by AB: Fascinating, decisive, prodigious and intrepid endeavor by Sandow Birk could ultimately help narrow the gap between Western and Islamic cultures. We gotta get the dialogue going somehow and this is certainly a start. Definite go see.

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Medicine Agency: Rony Alwin & Gino Perez.

Comment by AB: Artful upbeat slice-o'-life images by LA fashion and celeb photographer Rony Alwin. Also on the docket-- reconstituted portraits sourced from a vintage how-to art instruction book, and totem-esque urban abstractions by LA artist/designer/scenester Gino Perez.

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