SAN FRANCISCO ART GALLERIES OPENINGS
FIRST THURSDAY - 02.06.14 - Part I
(with assistance from Anna Rotty
)
Fantasies artists have about the art world. Click Here.
***
John Berggruen Gallery : Above and Below the Surface - Eight Artists.
Artists: Tauba Auerbach, McArthur Binion, Troy Brauntuch, Thomas Eggerer, Charline von Heyl, Suzanne McClelland, Sarah Morris, Josh Tonsfeldt.
Comment by AB: According to the preamble, this one's all about "sensitive handling of the painted surface." OK. Fair enough. Good art; stop on by.
Art by Thomas Eggerer at John Berggruen Gallery.
L-R, art by McArthur Binion and Suzanne CcClelland.
Tauba Auerbach art.
L-R, Art by Sarah Morris, Tauba Auerbach, Charline von Heyl.
L-R, art by McArthur Binion and Josh Tonsfeldt.
Overview - group show at John Berggruen Gallery (Thomas Eggerer art, center).
***
Dolby Chadwick Gallery : Two Geologies - Stephen De Staebler & Danae Mattes.
Comment by AB: The inescapable commonality here is cracks, and plenty of 'em. Stephen De Staebler's imposing ceramics, aged in appearance, look a little bit like diminutive examples of the towering sculptures at the entrance to Egypt's temples at Abu Simbel. Complementing the sculptures are earthy abstract clay, paper and pigment compositions on canvas by Danae Mattes, also all about cracks, perhaps presaging what California's gonna look like if we don't some serious rain soon. These paintings my look great now, but I can't help but wonder whether this rather novel pre-aged artform will withstand the ravages of time.
Art by Stephen De Staebler at Dolby Chadwick Gallery.
Stephen De Staebler sculpture.
Sculpture by Stephen De Staebler.
Art by Danae Mattes.
Danae Mattes art.
Pinkie cam detail of art by Danae Mattes above.
Art by Danae Mattes.
Turnout - Stephen De Staebler & Danae Mattes art at Dolby Chadwick Gallery.
***
Scott Richards Contemporary Art : Brave New World - Currents in Contemporary Abstraction.
Artists: Tim Bavington, Sophia Dixon Dillo, Peter Fox, William Metcalf, David Ryan, Patrick Wilson, Eric Zammitt.
Comment by AB: Admirably adept abstraction is the unifying aspect here.
Art by Patrick Wilson (left) - Tim Bavington (right).
Art by David Ryan (left) - Tim Bavington (right).
Pinkie cam detail of David Ryan art above at Scott Richards Contemporary Art.
Sumptuous layered paint art by Peter Fox.
Pinkie cam detail of Peter Fox art above.
Laminated acrylic plastic art by Eric Zammit at Scott Richards Contemporary Art.
L-R, art by Eric Zammit, William Metcalf & Patrick Wilson.
***
Patricia Sweetow Gallery : Yesterday the Devil Came Here - Laura Corallo-Titus.
Comment by AB: These abstract works originate from the artist's ruminations on the Hugo Chavez quote,"Yesterday the Devil came here. Right here. And it still smells of sulfur today." You can really see what she's painting about. Worth a visit.
Art by Laura Corallo-Titus at Patricia Sweetow Gallery.
Laura Corallo-Titus art.
Art by Laura Corallo-Titus.
Detail of art in above image.
Art by Laura Corallo-Titus.
Laura Corallo-Titus art.
Setting - Laura Corallo-Titus art show at Patricia Sweetow Gallery.
***
Robert Koch Gallery : Transition - Lauren Marsolier; Kenneth Josephson.
Review by Anna Rotty: Illusions through the lens, both past and present, line the walls of the gallery. Exhibiting photographers Kenneth Josephson and Lauren Marsolier remind us of the role imagination can play in viewing and understanding a photograph. French photographer Marsolier constructs convincingly real landscapes by compositing photographs of Venice Beach. She carefully blends the natural landscapes of the beach, mountains and desert with "manmade" places such as a concrete patio or parking garage, leaving you to question how these compositions came to be.
Unlike Marsolier's seemless collage-work, Josephson's layered photographs from the 1960s, 70s and 80s allow you to see exactly how they're made, but you may still find yourself ignoring what you know is real and letting your imagination take the reins.
Comment by AB: Lauren Marsolier tells me she concocts her alternate realities by combining elements of sometimes as many as thirty photographs. Inexplicably believable. Check 'em out.
Composite photography by Lauren Marsolier at Robert Koch Gallery.
Lauren Marsolier image contains elements of over 30 photographs.
Lauren Marsolier and her art at Robert Koch Gallery.
Composite photograph by Lauren Marsolier.
Photography by Kenneth Josephson.
Kenneth Josephson photograph in above image closer.
Photograph by Kenneth Josephson.
Ambiance - Lauren Marsolier & Kenneth Josephson photos at Robert Koch Gallery.
***
Toomey Tourell Gallery : New New New Abstraction. Curated by Jenny Sharaf.
Artists: Maya Hayuk, Alicia McCarthy, Claire Colette, Desirée Holman, Bridget Klappert, Alia Penner.
Comment by AB: A good looking group of abstracts by six accomplished practitioners encompass a variety of approaches to the discipline, from geometric, controlled and minimal to pure unadulterated color.
L-R, art by Maya Hayuk, 2 by Desirée Holman, Alia Penner at Toomey Tourell Gallery.
L-R, art by Bridget Klappert and Maya Hayuk (in above image closer).
Art by Claire Colette.
Subtle graphite art by Claire Colette.
Pinkie cam detail of Claire Colette art in above image.
L-R, art by Maya Hayuk and Alia Penner.
Attendance figures - group art show at Toomey Tourell Gallery.
***
Care to contribute a little coinage to the cause? You are more than welcome to do that here .
***
First Thursday - January 9, 2014
First Thursday - December 5, 2013
***