CATHARINE CLARK - BRIAN GROSS - JOE GOODE ANNEX

STEVEN WOLF - ELEANOR HARWOOD - 60SIX - ARC

11.08.14

(with assistance from RWM)



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Catharine Clark Gallery: Wanxin Zhang - Totem; Ligorano Reese - IAMI (in the Media Room).

Review by RWM: Great to be among these figures, to visit with these totems from the past. Wonderful personages depicted in memorable styles. Profound and moving.

Comment by AB: Ceramic effigies by Wanxin Zhang stand not only as silent testaments to the past, but additionally offer glimpses into their own personal histories. In the media room, Ligorano Reese's electronic art mysteriously "weaves itself" right before our eyes. Great show on both counts.

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Brian Gross Fine Art: Rex Yuasa - Nascent; Keira Kotler - I Look for Light.

Comment by AB: In the main gallery, effervescent uplifting abstractions by Rex Yuasa pleasure the psyche as well as the eyes. In the side gallery, Keira Kotler's luscious color fields have both depth and luminescence.

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Joe Goode Annex at Product Artaud: Friday the Thirteenth Retro Show.

Artists: Babalou, Philip Buscemi, Michael Carey, Gilles Combet, Greg Conover, Francois Egron, Jerry Frost, Qorey Golob, Jack Howe, Rose Kelly, Andrew Knipe, Craig LaRotunda, Suzanne Mailloux, Paul Moshammer, Robert Bagnasco Murray, Alon Picker, Nelson, Cheryl Phelps, Beth Ross, Rik Ritchey, Norm Rosenberger, Paula Settle, Eddie Valentine, Selina Wintersteen.

Comment by AB: Back in the good old days, there used to be a wacky, wiggy, wonderful place on Potrero called Friday the Thirteenth West where you could indulge yourself in roomful upon roomful of endlessly entertaining art-for-art's-sake oeuvres, and about as far removed from the commercial realm as you could get. This show is a tribute to that.

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Steven Wolf Fine Arts: Chris Finley - The Cure for the Uncanny Valley; Olivia Mole - LOOSE-Y, Part I: THIS SHIT IS GOLD.

Comment by AB: Chris Finley recycles with style incorporating atypical ingredients like shoes, clothing, hair, books, string, old game boards, puzzle pieces and more. His circuitous puzzle-piece sculptures are slathered together with gobs and gobs of wood glue. The upshot of it all makes for a rather engaging array. In the rear gallery, a wild video by Olivia Mole stars a human eyeball embedded in what looks like an animated pile of poo, and which is at times surrounded by undulating gilded female torsos.

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Eleanor Harwood Gallery: Paul Wackers - New Works.

Comment by AB: Paul Wackers tells me these paintings are based on views and objects around his studio. With a studio like this, why travel? You're already ensconced in a perfect environment. So he's either got a wonderful studio, a fantastic collection, a vivid imagination or all three... plus the technical skills to materialize the vision. My guess is he's got it all. Definitely recommended.

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Gallery 60SIX: Related Categories - Paintings by Kathleen Martin, Isabelle Maynord, Anastasia Faiella.

Comment by AB: Spontaneity, stream of consciousness and drawing with one's eyes closed describe the unfettered essence of the art on display.

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Arc Gallery & Studios: Dark.

Artists: Kanako Abe, Kimberly Ayers, Jamie Azevedo, Paige Bradley, Richard Bruce, Arthur Comings, Jeannine Cook, Robert Corwin, Barbara Danin, Elaine M Erne, DebiLynn Fendley, Barbara Fisher, Ron Geibel, Stanislav Groz, Mary Hood, Paul Jermann, Maria Kazanskaya, Drew McSherry, Liz Morrison, Sagan Newham, Jesse Payne, Jenifer Renzel, Sima Schloss, Amy Siqveland, Amanda Strain, Roi Tamkin, Joni Marie Theodorsen, Jordan Weintraub.

Comment by AB: Art with a sinister edge... more or less.

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