A Glimpse from Mission Open Studios

I didn't make it to as many open studios as I anticipated, but definitely enjoyed what I saw. Here's a bit, there's more on my Flickr page.

My Favorites from Varnish's Current Exhibit

Adam Flores at Gallery 3

Some photos from the opening last Friday.




Fantasy Fairy Tales Fiction

What another site has to say

Hamburger Eyes Opening Photos

Skateboarding is really sexy. There is some allure that hits whenever I am around skateboarders (surfers too).

A. I want to be able to cruise down the street myself
and
B. I suddenly have this great desire be enmeshed in their culture.

Maybe it's because I don't really know what subculture I fit into and like to think it is one that requires some guts.






I would equate the Hamburger Eyes opening to a family gathering. If you've been around enough you will find yourself in a photo on the wall.

Adam 5100 "Formerfunction"

Artist Adam 5100
Gallery: Stussy
Opening Reception: April 12, 2008



I was able to run into Alan Bamberger, while making my gallery run last night. Fortunately, he reminded me of the opening reception at Stussy.





I found the stencils Adam uses to be beautiful pieces of art as well. Their paint residue along with the time and attention it took to create their fine details, makes them seem more valuable than what they are, a stencil.




They must hold some significance to the artist, since he included them in the exhibit.

Root Division: Taste 2008 Exhibition

A handful of photos I got at the Root Division opening Saturday. Not too busy of night for them. I think everyone was out chillin in the streets with the killer weather.

Nathan Phelps

I enjoyed chatting with Nathan last night at 20 GOTO 10. It was my first time in that space and this exhibit, apart from the concept, seemed right for the whole visual appeal the gallery maintains. Nathan is self instructed and uses time spent traveling and living apart from society to explore new adaptations of his work.

Opening Reception for Oehlen

Artist: Albert Oehlen
Gallery: John Berggruen






When I introduced myself to Mr. Berggruen, saying I write an art blog about San Francisco artists and openings, he commented, You can refer to this one as quiet. And, I will say he was correct but it made for an easier time to look at the work.

Anyway, I enjoyed Oehlen's paintings. It was fun to discover little hidden pictures throughout, which in other publications have been said as Oehlen's way "to taunt the viewers impulse to identify subject matter."(Art In America, December 2004 by Stephen Maine)

Casey Logan invites you to "come celebrate the knowledge you never knew you had"

I enjoyed talking with Casey Logan about his approach to sculpture and his background in art, at Little Tree Saturday night. Originally from Texas, he still has a trace of an accent, while now living in the bay area. The materials and configurations found in his sculptures are often inspired by the wood working and packaging used in his day job. His work merges everyday objects, a bit of existentialism/philosophy, and art.

Picture from First Fridays and The Following Saturday

Soap Gallery




Receiver Gallery




Space Gallery




Triple Base

Pictures from Last Weekend's Openings

Tricycle Gallery





Fifty24SF





David Cunnningham Projects





Hotel Biron

Stella Im Hultberg, "Silent Spring"

Artist: Stella Im Hultberg
Gallery: Gallery 1988
Exhibition Dates: March 28, 2008 - April 19, 2008
Exhibition Title: Silent Spring


Stella's paintings and drawings offer a sense of peace and meditation. Extended brush strokes, transparency in bodies, lively female hair, and beauty.

Stella Im Hultberg, originally uploaded by libbynicholaou.

Fecal Face Dot Gallery and Gallery 3 Opening Pics

Last night I got to meet Justin Giarla, who directs White Walls, Shooting Gallery, and Gallery 3. It was refreshing to meet someone, who has similar experiences as me, with going into galleries and feeling out of place, then to see him do something about it that takes the SF art scene by force. Below is the beginning of his "about" statement on the Gallery 3 site.




Justin's about statement from Gallery 3.

Whimsy recap

Photos I got of the opening last night at Rayko.


I see why Kirk Thompson's photo was used to publicize this exhibit, since his images embody most the theme, Whimsy. He messes with your initial notion of what is in the composition.

I found myself leaning in for a closer view to understand which objects were 3D and which were painted in the background. I like that instead of photoshopping in images, he finds creates a unique placement of objects with found backgrounds.

A Weekend for Getting Out

I made it out to Triple Base and Blue Space Gallery this weekend before I headed up to Sonoma County for a sweet hike over looking the coast.

Check out some of the pictures I got.




Talking with the directors at Triple Base I realized how crucial they are to our community. I came away, with the desire to do away with the hierarchy of status and value in the art world, at least SF. And a desire to give artists a more open platform for sharing their work.

Looking through the maps at Blue Space, as the gallery folks prepared for the hunt/exhibit, ended up being a good time to check things out, before the crowd came to eat BBQ deliciousness and take the maps to hunt. There was a great turnout and many interesting maps. My favorite: the magnifying glass with tiny print.