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SAN FRANCISCO ART GALLERIES OPENINGS

FIRST THURSDAY - 05.06.10 Part II

(with assistance from DeWitt Cheng, Kira Inglis, Clare Coppel and Gordon Szeto)

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Garage Gallery: Paintings by Arthur Bell - 1970-2010.

Review and images by DeWitt Cheng: Arthur Bell is a San Francisco painter who showed in the 70s and 80s, but has been exhibited rarely since then, except for a couple of times at Pacifica's Sanchez Art Center. The Garage Gallery (which shares space with Embarcadero Automotive, a Saab/foreign car repair shop) is showing around eighty paintings spanning the past forty years, in a comprehensive retrospective; thanks, curator Bram Goodwin! Bell's work is amazingly eccentric-- and genuinely imaginative, with strange characters involved in mysterious and amusing doings; he's a bona fide original. The artist's comments about the works make for some pretty good reading, revealing a quirky, oddball temperament nourished on fantastic literature and pop music. The show is a rare opportunity to see a remarkable body of work that somehow, inexplicably, has escaped art-world notice... so far, that is.

Arthur Bell paintings - "Round Coffin" and "The Fog Machine."

"Summertime" and "Pterodactyl Blinds" - art by Arthur Bell.

"The Bells" and "By the Jersey Shore" - art by Arthur Bell.

Art by Arthur Bell.

"Petitioners of the Gods" - Arthur Bell art.

Art by Arthur Bell - "Pancho Villa Throws a Tortilla Across the Rio Grande" and "The Beach Masters of Ano Nuevo" (yes, it needs a tilde!).

Arthur Bell.

Interactive kinetic sculpture & paintings by Arthur Bell.

Arthur Bell art.

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Hosfelt Gallery: Jim Campbell - New Work.

Review by Clare Coppel, images by Gordon Szeto: 'New Work' by Jim Campbell at Hosfelt Gallery from May 7 through June 19 is a fascinating show. As I walk through the door and enter the darkened gallery, my first impression is of projections, because of the soft warm glow. Then I walk up to "Grand Central Station 5" and discover that it's composed entirely of LED lights. I'm amazed that Campbell has managed to create such human-feeling works with such high tech materials.

The standout piece of the show is "Exploded View (Birds)," one of those rare artworks that can truly connect with a wide audience. The design is incredibly simple with strands of hanging lights making up a square. The programmed blinking of the lights creates the illusion of silhouetted birds in a cage. There is something magical about it all and makes me curios to see Campbell's upcoming installation at SFMOMA.

Art by Jim Campbell - Grand Central 5, custom electronics, LEDs, plexiglass.

Grand Central Station 5 by Jim Campbell closer.

Art by Jim Campbell - Exploded View (Birds), custom electronics, LEDs.

Art by Jim Campbell - Market Street Pause (still), custom electronics, LEDs.

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SF Camerawork: Christopher Sims - The 2010 Baum Award for Emerging American Photographers; Theater of War - Pretend Villages of Iraq and Afghanistan; Jennifer Karady - In Country, Soldiers' Stories from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Review by Clare Coppel, images by Gordon Szeto: "In Country, Soldiers' Stories from Iraq and Afghanistan" by Jennifer Karady at SF Camerawork from May 6 through August 7 is intense and surreal yet all too factual. Karady works with veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars who have returned to the US. Karady and the veterans stage scenes from events that the veterans experienced during their tours of duty at war. These events are staged at home, on the street or at schools, juxtaposing past experiences and present realities in poignant displays of how memories are relived over and over. The color prints are large, square and overwhelming, and suit the topic perfectly.

"Theater of War - Pretend Villages of Iraq and Afghanistan" by Christopher Sims, winner of the 2010 Baum Award for emerging photographers, is also at SF Camerawork from May 6-August 7. Sim's work looks at a similar subject to Karady's, this time in portraits of people who live in simulated Middle East settings that have been created to teach US soldiers about fighting in the Iraq and Afghanistan. In a disturbing irony, most of these residents have moved to the US from the very same places that they have helped recreate in this bizarre trailer-park-like setting. Much like Karady's work, Sims' images call to mind the stereotypes and hypocrisy of our wars with the Middle East. His portraits are beautiful and thought provoking.

Also on exhibit is "Roll Call," a members group show of self-portraits. I really liked the way in which all of the small pieces hang unframed, bringing unity to what could have been chaotic.

Jennifer Karady photography - Inactive duty Sergeant 1st Class Mike Sprouse.

Christopher Sims photography - Jihad Lamp, Fort Polk, Louisiana.

Roll Call photos - SF Camerawork 2010 Members Exhibition.

Roll Call photos - SF Camerawork 2010 Members Exhibition.

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California College of the Arts: Graduate Thesis and Baccalaureate Exhibitions.

Artists: Zarouhie Abdalian, Alexander Beckman, Mara Baldwin, Nicola Noelle Buffa, Angela Camille, Georgia Carbone, Sofía Córdova, Adeleine Daysor, Jay Dion, T. TigerBrooke Fifer, Doron Fishman, Llewelynn Fletcher, Michael Fox, Kaif Ghaznavi, Rema Ghuloum, Eduardo Gomez, Natalia Gomez, Crystal Gonzalez, Isaac Gray, Ben Guttin, Maggie Haas, Erika Lynne Hanson, David Hartwell, Malak Helmy, Rie Hirai, Emily Hoover, Nicholas Hurd, Nanci Ikejimba, Hannah Ireland, Josef Jacques, Hyun Sun Jo, Kelly Lynn Jones, Claire Kessler-Bradner, Sasha Krieger, Sean Leake, Monique López, Anna Ludwig, Dorathy Lye, Erik Madsen, Lauren Marsden, Eric Martin, Brigid Mason, Lynne McCabe, Christian McKay, Brad Menninga, James-David Mericle, Gabrielle Ana Messeri, Rebecca Najdowski, Natalia Nakazawa, Rebecca Ora, George Pfau, Ruth Robbins, Sidney Russell, Ashley Lauren Saks, Maggie Simpson, Danielle Sommer, Kristin Timken, Matthew Waldbillig, Rebecca Wallace, Alice Warnecke, Joshua Per Webber, Anna Martine Whitehead, Hillary Wiedemann, Carmen Winant, Suné Woods, Shoko Yamamura, Wafaa Yasin, more.

Review by Clare Coppel, images by Gordon Szeto: As soon as I enter the CCA Wattis institute MFA Thesis exhibition "We Have As Much Time As It Takes" (on exhibit through July 31) I think, "Wow, it's like a circus." And it is. There is so much work to see, I end up going back the next day as well. An exhibit that stands out in particular is 'Coco Mania!' by Eduardo Gomez. Coco Mania! is appealing because of the humor and attention to detail that Gomez shows in creating his alter ego; a mid-20th century baseball player for the Tijuana Matadors named Coco Rodriguez. People are having a hard time figuring out that Coco is not a real person because he's created so much fake memorabilia. Gomez also has his lovely sister there selling buttons and T-shirts (I buy a button), while Gomez himself tries to hide out so as not to interfere with the mystery.

What it is.

Coco Mania! - installation art by Eduardo Gomez.

Maggie Simpson installation art - Mortal Ebb.

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Ever Gold Gallery: ...Or Obvilion... - Owen M. Takabayashi; Windouus.

Windouus artists: Erik Wilson, Chris Ritson, Shalo P., Shemoel Recalde, Josh Roberts.

Review and images by Kira Inglis: Enter Ever Gold Gallery and begin to experience a warp in time; maybe it's the future or even the past. It begins with every work of art in the show building towards an overwhelming effect. What if in the future you could not see a single image of yourself? Yet there would be an abundance of recorded memories from many others like yourself, from unfamiliar pasts. Search for clues of emotions that may belong to you. By trial and error, you may be reborn. This is a great show of compelling works by local San Francisco artists moving with ease in multiple mediums while leading us into a mystery. Kind of reminds me of the movie "Spirit of '76," a science fiction comedy about time travelers going back from 2176 to 1776, but accidentally ending up in 1976 instead.

Art by Chris Ritson.

Art by Chris Ritson in above image closer.

Chris Ritson art.

Installation art by Shalo P.

Artist Shalo P. and his art.

Art by Erik Wilson.

Artist Erik Wilson.

Art by Owen M. Takabayashi.

Gallery co-owner Christian Ebert nuances display of Owen M. Takabayashi's art.

Art by Owen M. Takabayashi.

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Cafe Royale: Family Ties - Leanne C. Miller.

Review by Kira Inglis: Candy coating and luscious colors veil a dark content matter. Artist Leanne Miller tackles a difficult subject where the unthinkable can only be processed with seductive presentation. This body of work concerns and captivates us with it's urgency, raw emotion, and yet carefully crafted cuteness.

Art by Leanne C. Miller.

Detail of art by Leanne C. Miller (photo c/o Kira Inglis).

Artist Leanne C. Miller (photo c/o Kira Inglis).

Detail of art by Leanne C. Miller (photo c/o Kira Inglis).

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Kokoro Studio: The Path to Dyad - Gregory Ito, Korakrit Arunanondchai.

Review by Kira Inglis: I turn to a fellow viewer and ask what comes to his mind when viewing artist Gregory Ito's paintings. "Cathedrals and pregnant women." he replies without hesitation, and as such, he captures the mysticism of these geometric works pulsating with vibrant color. Compared to Ito's held moment, the artist Korakrit Arunanondchai's abstract works are bursting with energetic movement where 'gray noise' shares the space of canvas with that which we desire to narrate. This show is a great pairing of contemporary abstraction.

Comment by AB: I'm likin' Gregory Ito's cosmic geometry. Good work and priced right-- starting in the low $$ hundreds. Go for it! Korakrit Arunanondchai's dynamic motion-infused abstractions appeal as well. Stop on by.

Art by Gregory Ito.

Art by Gregory Ito closer.

Gregory Ito and his art.

Art by Gregory Ito closer.

Art by Korakrit Arunanondchai (photo c/o Kira Inglis).

Korakrit Arunanondchai and his art.

Art by Korakrit Arunanondchai.

Demographics (photo c/o Kira Inglis).

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111 Minna Gallery: Excellent Condition.

Artists: Rob Reger, Mario Wagner, Chris Sullivan, Jason Vivona, Mildred, Will Laren, Vladimir Kato, David Cook, Bo Heimlich, Cody Cochrane, Beaston, Jake Watling, Audrey Erickson, Stella Huntenburg, Johnny Bonnel, Andreas Trolf,

Comment by AB: Worldwide urban. My favorite? Bo Heimlich. Not only does Heimlich continue to perpetrate his devilishly spectral interventionist ruse, but he also just keeps gettin' better.

Art by Bo Heimlich (like 'em).

Bo Heimlich art.

Art by Jason Vivona.

Brad K. Alder demonstrates spinning "simulated intoxication" art by Rob Reger.

"Simulated intoxication" spinning art mechanism by Rob Reger.

Art by David Cook.

Art by Jake Watling.

Art by Cody Cochrane.

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MIM (Multi-Media Art and Culture) Gallery: Carl E. Smith - Fast Company.

Comment by AB: Polished collage by artist and graphic designer Carl E. Smith. New gallery, nice space, cosmic back yard.

Collage art by Carl E. Smith.

Carl E. Smith collage art in above image closer.

Collage art by Carl E. Smith.

Long view - collage art by Carl E. Smith.

Out back Art MIM Gallery.

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Driftwood Salon: Lost and Found.

Artists: Liz Mamorsky, Allison Adams, Larry Berger, Tyler Bergholz, Cynthia Tom, Lee Nisbet, Boris Koodrin, Martin Zuniga, Rickey Darnell, Agricultura MMX, Andrew Green, Daniel Barron, Tracy Burnham, Barrett Cook, Greg Wilson, Lee Nisbet, Sue Tom, more.

Comment by AB: Worthy exhibit of art from recycled materials. Check it out. Or at least get on the Driftwood Salon mailing list.

Art from recycled materials.

Recycled materials art (kinda like it).

Artist posing with his art (sorry, didn't get name).

Art from recycled materials.

Recycled materials art.

Art from recycled materials.

Recycled materials art.

Out front of the Driftwood Salon.

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Addendum:

Brett Amory pop up show at Gallery Heist.

Brett Amory and his art at Gallery Heist.

One more from Brett Amory at Gallery Heist.

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

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First Thursday - April 1, 2009

First Thursday - March 4, 2009

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