SAN FRANCISCO ART GALLERIES OPENINGS

FIRST THURSDAY - 11.03.11 - Part III

(with assistance from Anneliese Vobis, Mairead O'Connor, Kathryn Arnold and RWM)



Art, artists and activism. Click Here.

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Sandra Lee Gallery: Allegories of the Human Figure.

Artists: Brett Amory, Lawrence McAdams, Sara Scribner, Jeff Palladini, Michelle Jader.

Review by Kathryn Arnold: First taken in by these bubbles, very cool-- and the idea of illusion within crystal clear works. Along with that, the almost Hopper-like paintings with separated figures within ambiguous environments, not clearly defined yet completely recognizable at the same time. In another artist's works, the abstract painterly quality of paint yields the human figure in near movement. Super classy renditions of flat 2-dimenional surfaces create fragmentations within the picture space are seen in another artist's works. Overall this exhibition runs the gamut-- a great survey of multiple figural themes.

Comment by AB: Five artistic interpretations of the human form... well, four actually. Brett Amory is more about shadowy city streets, kinda like Hopper except that the alienated are probably adrift in Prozac stupors at home.

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Hespe Gallery: Richard Ambrose - New Drawings.

Review by RWM: Five stars for effort and detail in these wonderful drawings by Richard Ambrose that transit you through crowded streets in unpredictable weather. You can scour his images closely for meaning, marveling at all sorts of emotions expressed by the players in these expansive urban settings. Despite the sunshine, some may be feeling the cold winds of winter approaching.

Comment by AB: Superb oversized graphite drawings by Richard Ambrose, so dense with action that by the time you've assessed and analyzed each little detail, it'll be time to start all over again. Endlessly amazing entertainment. Definitely worth a visit.

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Kokoro Studio: The Squared Circle - William Emmert.

Review by Anneliese Vobis: Mixed Media works in paint, pens, paste, gouache, woodgrain, contact paper, old magazines and trading cards. Playful at first sight, but on closer look we see the obsessive attention for detail, handiwork and collections. Plenty of meat for further investigation.

Comment by AB: William Emmert loves professional wrestling and his art shows it. His paint, ink and wood VHS tape "sculptures" and meticulously impasto painted VHS sleeves are the best. But it's all good here. Amble on by.

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Ever Gold Gallery: Jessie Rose Vala - Future Teller.

Review by Anneliese Vobis: Future Teller by Jessie Rose Vala transforms the gallery space into a stage where various Art forms merge into a breathtaking visual experience. This otherworldly black and white environment gives us the feeling of being part of the scenery. The richness of symbols and epic structure guides us to the depths of the narrative. A magnificent site-specific installation experience which shouldn't be missed.

Review by Mairead O'Connor: This opening entitled "Future Teller" by Jesse Rose Vala, explores the theme of man's departure from his divine or spiritual existence and the return to it. The work presented is both somber and beautiful. I enjoy the limited palette and clean geometric shapes. While the graphite drawings display excellent draftsmanship skills, I feel that the sculptures are the strong points of the exhibition.

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12 Gallagher Lane Gallery: David Molesky - A Journey Back.

Comment by AB: The au naturel inhabitants of David Molesky's murky primeval world range from contemplative to distressed.

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Project One Gallery: GOLD. Curated by Brooke Waterhouse.

Artists: Jet Martinez, Nick Flatt, Ryan Stubbs, Justin Young, Kelly Allen, Matthew Dean, Chrystie Cappelli, Ricky Watts, Apex, René Garcia Jr., Robert Ogden, Mani Motarjemi, Peter Samuels, Merkeley???, Marcos LaFarga, Rebecca Rose Vandersteen, Zach Egge, Dexter Simmons.

Comment by AB: Yes, this show's about gold and the California Gold Rush-- and San Francisco in particular-- but it's more about new beginnings, leaving the old life behind, and taking brave risks in our Golden Gate haven of freedom, acceptance and opportunity.

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Fifty24SF Gallery: Andrea Sonnenberg aka Teen Witch - My So-Called Life.

Comment by AB: A youthful slice-of-life salmagundi. 21-year old Andrea Sonnenberg shoots all her photographs with cheap film and disposable cameras... and develops and prints 'em too. Intemperate in tone but precocious just the same.

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Mina Dresden Gallery: Death and Sensuality. Curated by Jim Ricks.

Artists: Nina Amazing, Roisin Byrne, Alan Butler, Benjamin De Burca, Breda Lynch, James Mc Cann, Leo Mc Cann, Tom Molloy, Not Abel, Alan Phelan.

Review and images by Anneliese Vobis: This all-Irish artist multimedia exhibition deals with contemporary social issues.

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Addendum:

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Yes, I do it all for free, but also yes-- it makes me feel really good to know that you appreciate the incredible amounts time and hard work that go into bringing San Francisco artland to your computer screen. So maybe... just maybe... even an itsy bitsy bit of maybe... kindly support the cause. I know you can do it.

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First Thursday - October 6, 2011

First Thursday - September 8, 2011

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