ROMER YOUNG - FFDG - SF CAMERAWORK

CARTE BLANCHE - WORKSPACE LIMITED

09.14.12 Part II

(with assistance from Laura Chenault)



Artists and Hollywood. Does your art belong in the movies? Click Here.

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Romer Young Gallery: Gwenaël Rattke - New Work.

Comment by AB: Appreciate the visionary graphic mastery of Berlin artist Gwenaël Rattke's silkscreen and collage work here. He combines so many images from so many sources in such a variety of ways, but at the end of the day, everything looks just right, like it's meant to be, precisely as it stands. Worth a visit.

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FFDG: Glint - Henry Gunderson & Eric Shaw.

Comment by AB: We've got the geometric precision of Brooklyn artis Eric Shaw facing off against the amorphous forms of Ess Eff artist Henry Gunderson. Two fresh and energized approaches to contemporary abstract/representation blends. Check it out.

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SF Camerawork: Gerald Slota - Story .

Review by and images by Laura Chenault: Gerald Slota's work is instantly appealing to me. His heavily altered photographs incorporate imagery that's familiar, yet new. Found photographs, fairytales and text combine in a playful and chilling manner. Like those of the original Brothers Grimm, his stories have dark sides hidden in the bright colors. The photographic imagery peeks through layers of color, hand marks, scratches and occasional text. The text is handled expertly and doesn't detract from the imagery, or attempt to simply illustrate. I'm especially intrigued by Home.Sweet.Home, a collaboration with playwright Neil LaBute, and the fact that they didn't meet in person until the work was completed. For me the highlight of the show is the inclusion of Slota's sketchbooks and maquettes. I always really love to see the process that an artist uses when creating.

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Carte Blanche Gallery: A Survey of Documentary Styles in Early 21st Century Photobooks. Curated by Darius Himes and Larissa Leclair.

Photographers: Eliott Dudik, Matt Eich, McNair Evans, Michael Jang, Erica McDonald, Lacey Terrell, Willson Comer, more.

Review by and images by Laura Chenault: This show features 70 books from the Indie Photobook Library and photographs by six of the artists. I'm really excited to go to this opening and it doesn't disappoint. As a photographer and book artist, I've been following Larissa Leclair and her work creating the Indie Photobook Library, so seeing selections from the library in a local gallery is exciting. If you like books and/or photographs, this is a show that you must check out.

The books are lined up on slim staggered shelves and are labelled with QR codes in addition to the artist name and book title. Being able to browse, handle and really experience these photo books is a satisfying tactile experience. For me, it is especially thrilling since I've seen many of these photographed and reviewed online. Some of the books are hand bound, some are print-on-demand and others are traditionally published. Small single signature books share the space with giant tomes. The photographs chosen are beautiful and I am especially taken by the photos by Erica McDonald. The photos are only a small glimpse into the depths of this show.

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Workspace Limited: Pigeons and Stuff.

Artists: Denis Lonergan, Rommel Romo, Phil McGaughy.

Comment by AB: This quirky convocation features intricate wood and topographical sculptures by Phil McGaughy, big pigeons by Rommel Romo, and textured wood and paint wall pieces by Denis Lonergan.

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