BUCHEON - VELVET DA VINCI - CROWN POINT - CAIN SCHULTE - LIMN - ELECTRIC WORKS - GALLERY 16 - GALLERY 1988 - EDO SALON - 01.09.09 (with assistance from Dormain Geyer Bucheon Gallery : Coming Attractions.
Artists: Eckhard Etzold, Michael Ferris Jr., Mars-1, Sarah Ratchye, Gordon Henderson, Lordan Bunch, Laurel Connell, Olive Ayhens, Danny Keith, Alex Luke, Megan Wolfe, Robert Hardgrave, David Choong Lee, Lucho Pozo, Dan Nicoletta, Christina Empedocles, Phillip Dvorak, Martha Sue Harris, Jacqueline Cooper.
Review by Dormain Geyer: Bucheon Gallery kicks off the new year with a preview of new works by artists familiar and new. Various mediums are represented, including painting, assemblage and works on paper. The show, which is meant to emphasize narrative works, is largely figurative, but varies in mood from playful to somber to downright dark. Something for everyone!
Art (David Choong Lee on the left).
Art (Lordan Bunch - photo c/o Dormain Geyer).
Art (Eckhard Etzold - photo c/o Dormain Geyer).
Art (Phillip Dvorak - photo c/o Dormain Geyer).
Art (couple of tasty morsels by Mars-1 on the right).
Art.
Art.
***
Velvet da Vinci : Hilary Pfeifer - Natural Selection.
Review and images by Dormain Geyer: For the month of January, Velvet da Vinci is featuring an installation by Portland artist Hilary Pfeifer. Pfeifer's ecosystem of plant organisms are housed in a botanical greenhouse-like structure. Despite their resemblances to species of the plant kingdom, her bonsai-like creations are reflections of more human conditions, with names like "Proles Nonfecundus." With some "newer" species "growing" on the greenhouse structure itself, the installation has an enchanting quality that must be experienced in person.
Art by Hilary Pfeifer.
Art.
Art.
***
Crown Point Press : Tom Marioni - Fabliaux.
Comment by AB: A satisfying thirty-year survey of etchings and woodblock prints by influential San Francisco conceptual artist Tom Marioni.
Art by Tom Marioni.
Tom Marioni - art.
Art.
Art.
***
Cain Schulte Gallery : Michael Tole - What World Behind Those Ruby Eyes; Ofer Rotem - Stations.
Comment by AB: Sumptuous large paintings of super high-end luxury items like Faberge eggs and solid gold showpieces literally radiate opulence. Nicely done. In the anteroom, Ofer Rotem shows drawings of train stations that are so realistic and accurate, they look like photographs (they sure fooled me). Don't believe it? Check 'em out. Worth a visit on both counts.
Art by Michael Tole.
Art (Michael Tole).
Art (Michael Tole).
Art (Ofer Rotem).
***
Limn Gallery : Harry Siter - An Avatar Collective; Cathy Stone - Black.
Comment by AB: Harry Siter shows a variety of sculpture from desktop size to large imposing full figure works (which I find most enjoyable) in solid wood, bronze, and wood/bronze combinations (I think). He tells me he hews the bigguns from single pieces of wood-- like tree trunks-- sometimes combining them with bronze. Other times he carves only part of the trunk and leaves the rest as-is because it just plain looks finished. Good show. As for Cathy Stone, according to the testimony, her art results from "marrying two movements - Art Povera and Urushi." Well, I look up urushi and it's a Japanese lacquer, and Art Povera is characterized by the use of extremely cheap or free materials. Her art is abstact and nicely done... but beyond that I'm toast. I wonder if the marriage includes a prenup?
Sculpture by Harry Siter.
Art.
Harry Siter - art (he tells me this one looked finished, so he stopped carving - I agree).
Sculpture by Harry Siter - like it.
Sculpture by Harry Siter.
Art (Cathy Stone).
Cathy Stone.
Cathy Stone.
***
Electric Works : Amanda Hughen and Jennifer Starkweather - The Airport Project.
Comment by AB: "The Airport Project" is a collaborative series of six prints based on seven airports. In one print, two airports are combined-- SFO and OAK. Individual works by each artist are also on display.
Airport Project prints - Amanda Hughen and Jennifer Starkweather.
Airport Project prints - Amanda Hughen and Jennifer Starkweather.
Art.
Pinkie cam detail of center painting in above image.
Art.
Art.
Art.
The opening's practically over and the free chicken is still here.
Frankly, I prefer the bag.
***
Gallery 16 : Darren Waterston - Recent Editions.
Comment by AB: Darren Waterston and Gallery 16 Editions present "The Flowering (The Fourfold Sense)," a portfolio of thirteen prints by Waterston, and text by writer and literary critic Tyrus Miller (limited to only 20 copies). The prints combine traditional and contemporary techniques including relief printing, digital pigment printing, and hand coloring by the artist. Larger sized individual works are also available.
Art by Darren Waterston.
Art.
Art.
Art.
***
Gallery 1988 : Nathan Stapley - Faces and Spaces.
Review by Dormain Geyer: For his first solo show, Nathan Stapley displays over 80 small paintings. Loosely organized into sub-collections, like musicians, movie characters, or urban features, the portraits are of widely familiar subjects. Almost entirely watercolor or gouache on paper, Stapley's paintings are largely playful and lighthearted.
Comment by AB: Nathan Stapley demonstrates he can paint pretty much anything-- and pretty good at that. Plus prices are exceptionally reasonable with almost everything in the $100-$200 range. Perfect for the curio cabinet. Buy now.
Art by Nathan Stapley (photo c/o Dormain Geyer).
Art.
Nathan Stapley - art.
Pinkie cam view of one of the smallest.
Art (photo c/o Dormain Geyer).
Art.
Art.
***
Edo Salon : Kylea Borges - Polydactyly.
Comment by AB: Kylea Borges shows clean crisp black and white collages comprised of Victorian era illustrational elements. Small works are also available.
Art by Kylea Borges.
Art closer.
Kylea Borges.
Small one.
***