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SAN FRANCISCO ART GALLERIES OPENINGS

FIRST THURSDAY - 04.01.10 Part II

(with assistance from Anneliese Vobis, Kathryn Arnold,

Geoff Smith, Pilar Vree and RWM)

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George Lawson Gallery: Roger Herman - Flora, Selected Paintings; Judith Foosaner - Night Flight, Collage Drawings.

Comment by AB: Vigorous expressionist landscapes and florals by Los Angeles artist Roger Herman complement black and white collages by Judith Foosaner composed of her very own repurposed drawings from days of yore.

Art by Roger Herman.

Roger Herman art.

Art by Roger Herman.

Art by Judith Foosaner.

Judith Foosaner art.

Art by Judith Foosaner.

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Dolby Chadwick Gallery: John Di Paolo - New Paintings.

Review Kathryn Arnold: The abstractions of John Di Paolo hanging in Dolby Chadwick are large and appear to follow in the traditions of Joan Mitchell and the abstractions of Gerhard Richter. Layers and surfaces are formed with thick applications of oil paints and enamels. Often layers of sumptuous thick white paint are combined with areas of multiple variations of violets, blues, reds and ochres and greens creating sense of the types of colors one sees at sunset/sunrise in a landscape. Gorgeous and nice to see such generous applications of paint!

Art by John Di Paolo.

John Di Paolo art.

Detail of painting in above image by John Di Paolo (photo c/o Kathryn Arnold).

Art by John Di Paolo (photo c/o Kathryn Arnold).

Painting by John Di Paolo.

John Di Paolo art.

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Jack Fischer Gallery: Lucy Gaylord-Lindholm - New Work.

Comment by AB: Lucy Gaylord-Lindholm skillfully refurbishes Old Master compositions with amusing contemporary elements. Worth a visit.

Art by Lucy Gaylord-Lindholm.

Bandaged babe art by Lucy Gaylord-Lindholm in above image closer.

Art by Lucy Gaylord-Lindholm.

Art by Lucy Gaylord-Lindholm (nicely done).

Lucy Gaylord-Lindholm art.

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Adler & Co. Gallery: Gina Werfel Exhibition.

Review and images by Geoff Smith: This group of abstract paintings by Gina Werfel demonstrates her successful transition from landscape to abstract works. The representational imagery is gone but nature remains an underlying theme. The colors are bright and well balanced with delicious combinations of opacity and translucency. The term impressionistic abstractions could be used to describe these paintings, with the addition of embedded tensions concerned with boundaries, time, and structure. From Werfel's website-- "Natural forces serve as a starting point for my paintings about space and energy. The paintings are about a search for balance between chaos and structure." Werfel is a Professor of Art at UC Davis, where she served as Chair of the Art and Art History Department from 2000 to 2005.

Art by Gina Werfel - Gesture, 2010, 48 by 48 inches.

Art by Gina Werfel - Foliage, 2010, 48 by 48 inches.

Gina Werfel and her art.

Art by Gina Werfel - Clean Sweep, 2009, 40 by 30 inches.

Art by Gina Werfel - Battle, 2009 (left) - Interlude, 2008 (right).

Detail of Fast Forward, 2010 by Gina Werfel - 72 by 60 inches.

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Hespe Gallery: Works in Resin - Featuring Eric Zener and Melissa Hutton.

Review by Anneliese Vobis: Melissa Hutton's resin and mixed media "paintings" invite us into abstract otherworldly situations. The drippings on the pictures bottoms are an elegant break from the traditional rigid picture geometry.

Art by Melissa Hutton.

Art by Eric Zener.

Art by Eric Zener in above image closer (photo c/o Kathryn Arnold).

Art by Melissa Hutton.

Art by Melissa Hutton (left) & Eric Zener (right).

Detail of art by Melissa Hutton in above image.

Art by Melissa Hutton (left) & Eric Zener (right) .

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Sandra Lee Gallery: No Fooling - Evri Kwong.

Review by RWM: Discord despite oddly fashionable "cornfield" faces. Cute depictions of pegged-nosed protagonists battling it out before distant horizons. Sad that even animations cannot escape the trials of life.

Review by Anneliese Vobis: Evri Kong's faceless Pinocchio-like figures act in social critical story telling manners, introducing us to the hidden other real world in our society.

Art by Evri Kong.

Art by Evri Kong closer (photo c/o Anneliese Vobis).

Evri Kong art.

Art by Evri Kong (image c/o Anneliese Vobis).

Evri Kong art.

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Hangart Gallery: Sukey Bryan and Piero Spadaro - Uphill and Downstream.

Review by Kathryn Arnold: The paintings on exhibit in Hang Gallery focus on natural forms developed by natural processes creating a statement. In the future, we might acknowledge this environmental statement with greater meaning if/as it disappears. Paintings of glaciers, waterfalls are combined with abstractions which mirror, in part, the same. There is an amazing large glacier painting. Nice pairing of works of these two artists.

Review by RWM: Hang Art succeeds again in capturing the environmental zeitgeist, this time with reminders of polluted rivers and diminishing icecaps. The stark images remind of our lack of acknowledgement of the ecological connection of all things. We see here our extended ecological footprint and the possible calamities that can await us.

Art by Sukey Bryan.

Sukey Bryan art.

Art by Sukey Bryan (left) & Piero Spadaro (right) .

Art by Piero Spadaro.

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Kokoro Studio: Magic Mountains by Kristin Farr. Curated by Lars K & Kokoro Studio.

Comment by AB: Kristin Farr's art show is so unabashedly optimistic, it's almost un-American (considering the overall tone of the dialogue these days). And don't you think it's high time for some of that good old fashioned home cooked positivity? All the downer "decline and fall" art that's floating around out there gets really depressing sometimes.

Art by Kristin Farr.

Kristin Farr art.

Kristin Farr even does up her nails to match the occasion.

Art by Kristin Farr.

Kristin Farr art.

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Ever Gold Gallery: American Cinema - Ryan Coffey & Jason Grabowski; Viva Novelitas - Nicole Buffett.

Comment by AB: Ryan Coffey and Jason Grabowski opine on American popular culture via this exhibition of fundamental paint and collage combinations. In the rear gallery you'll find Nicole Buffet's Novelitas, handmade mini-books, which recount life's ordinary moments. To accentuate the essence, Buffet's plastered the walls with Novelita-style artwork, while projecting Novelita readings onto a screen at the back at the room.

Art by Ryan Coffey and Jason Grabowski.

Ryan Coffey and Jason Grabowski art.

Art by Ryan Coffey and Jason Grabowski.

Art by Ryan Coffey and Jason Grabowski.

Me doing my Robert Redford impersonation (art by Ryan Coffey and Jason Grabowski).

Pinkie cam view of Novelita art by Nicole Buffett.

Art by Nicole Buffett.

Art and video by Nicole Buffett.

Ambiance.

Demographics.

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Fecal Face Dot Gallery: The Fool - Marco Zamora and Derek Albeck.

Review and images by Pilar Vree: Fecal Face Dot Gallery's latest offering of skate art par excellence hits the nail right on the head. Expertly executed paintings depicting homeless people and bits of trash-- much like the hobos loitering by the corner who we all ignore before stepping into the gallery-- induce a subtle sense of malaise. Although neither shocking nor grotesque, the conflict between the calm, wittily colored veneer and the silent but distraught subjects shed the light of an unexpected humanity on bag men and shopping carts full of cans. This is countered by an upside-down crucifix mirror and plaid-clad mirrors, as though we are being asked to look at ourselves after bearing witness to the ugliness of the street.

Art by Marco Zamora.

Marco Zamora art.

Art by Marco Zamora in above image closer.

Marco Zamora art.

Art by Marco Zamora.

Art by Derek Albeck.

Derek Albeck art.

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Fifty24SF Gallery: Jason Jagel.

Review and images by Pilar Vree: The most recent work by this hip-hop favored artist features not only art inspired by the likes of MF Doom and Sub Roc but also fantastic illustrative pieces that reflect the hazy sense of city living. Watery shapes and lines blend into work populated with strange people doing strange things-- fighting, sleeping, living otherworldly existences.

Jason Jagel art.

Art by Jason Jagel.

Jason Jagel art.

Jason Jagel art.

Art by Jason Jagel.

Art by Jason Jagel.

Jason Jagel art.

Art by Jason Jagel.

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111 Minna Gallery: The Last Gasp 40th Anniversary Show.

Comment by AB: Yep. I've saved the best for last-- Ron Turner's legendary counterculture dynasty, the Last Gasp press, turns 40. Tonight's hootenanny is all about that. Luminaries too numerous to mention, a fine and varied selection of vintage and contemporary underground art and memorabilia, and endless reminiscing on old times while simultaneously surmising on what's to come. Happy Birthday Last Gasp! You know what they say... Life begins at 40.

What it is. 40 years of Last Gasp publishing.

Ron Turner (center), Last Gasp founder and CCO (Chief Countercultural Officer).

Vintage Last Gasp art and memorabilia.

Last Gasp 40th anniversary art show.

Chuck Sperry of Firehouse Kustom Rockart (left) & author Jon Longhi (right).

Artist Ferris Plock ogles the perfect woman.

Noted Punk Era photographer Ruby Ray & art by Chris Mars.

San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi & art by Ron English.

Last Gasp 40th Anniversary bash art.

Vintage Last Gasp comic book covers (along the top).

Vice President Joe Biden and his agenda.

The one, the only, the original Mr. Natural in da house.

Last Gasp 40th Anniversary anniversary art.

Last Gasp 40th Anniversary celebration art.

Vintage bark art out front at Last Gasp 40th Anniversary party.

All good things must end... time to head on home.

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Addendum:

Helen Arianna Bayly paintings at Cafe Royale.

One more from Helen Arianna Bayly paintings at Cafe Royale.

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Here's a thought.... support the cause.

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First Thursday - March 4, 2009

First Thursday - February 4, 2009

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