SAN FRANCISCO ART GALLERIES OPENINGS
FIRST THURSDAY - 03.06.14 - Part II
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Altman Siegel Gallery : Shinpei Kusanagi - so far so close.
Comment by AB: The explanatory notes suggest that Shinpei Kusanagi's bare canvas abstracts are representations of architectural elementas and urban landscapes. You can see it (thanks to the power of that suggestion). To prove that he can paint, which makes everything else in the show all that much easier to respect and appreciate, he throws in a couple of righteous representational garden-scapes. Good art; check it out.
Art by Shinpei Kusanagi at Altman Siegel Gallery.
Shinpei Kusanagi art closer.
Art by Shinpei Kusanagi.
Shinpei Kusanagi (center) explains his art at Altman Siegel Gallery.
Art by Shinpei Kusanagi closer (like it).
Shinpei Kusanagi art.
Statistical sample - Shinpei Kusanagi art show at Altman Siegel Gallery.
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Stephen Wirtz Gallery : Larry Sultan and Mike Mandel - We Make You Us... Billboards and Evidence.
Comment by AB: This look-back exhibition in two parts presents a series of photographs and a video of temporary billboards that these two artists created circa the 1970s and 1980s. Also on the docket is a wall of unsettling found photographs that were originally part of government, industrial and other institutional archives. These and additional images were originally published in 1977 as a book titled Evidence. Worth seeing.
Photography by Larry Sultan & Mike Mandel at Stephen Wirtz Gallery.
Larry Sultan & Mike Mandel photographs.
Survey of the work of Larry Sultan & Mike Mandel.
Video shows how billboards were installed by Larry Sultan & Mike Mandel.
Billboard photography by Larry Sultan & Mike Mandel.
Wall of found photographs by Larry Sultan & Mike Mandel.
Photograph in above image closer.
Photographs from found photographs image closer.
Playing field - Larry Sultan & Mike Mandel art show at Stephen Wirtz Gallery.
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The McLoughlin Gallery : Organic Fusion - Christopher H. Martin.
Comment by AB: Dynamic multi-layered reverse paintings on acrylic.
Art by Christopher H. Martin at The McLoughlin Gallery.
Art by Christopher H. Martin.
Reverse painting on acrylic art by Christopher H. Martin.
Christopher H. Martin and his art above closer at The McLoughlin Gallery.
Art by Christopher H. Martin.
Christopher H. Martin art.
Long view - Christopher H. Martin art show at The McLoughlin Gallery.
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Ever Gold Gallery : Sean McFarland & Jake Longstreth.
Comment by AB: Perfect pairing of Sean McFarland's small format landscape photographs with Jake Longstreth's landscape paintings. The works are practically interchangeable with one another. Plenty of room for viewer interpretation as these spare and mysterious compositions are purposely absent of any details that might give hints as to their origins or locations.
Photography by Sean McFarland at Ever Gold Gallery.
Sean McFarland photograph closer.
Photographs by Sean McFarland.
Jake Longstreth and his art at Ever Gold Gallery.
Art by Jake Longstreth.
Jake Longstreth art.
Relative density - Sean McFarland (left) at Ever Gold Gallery.
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Et al. : Chris Hood - Tony Clifton Eats for Free.
Comment by AB: Combination oil, acrylic and inkjet transfer paintings are accompanied by an eminently impenetrable explanation. Here's a snippet-- "The hybrid paintings in oil, acrylic, and inkjet transfer offer an insouciant look into the ontology of the self as negotiated amongst digital and physical territories. These are not endgame or absolutist maneuvers." We must always remember to keep the potential viewing audience as small as possible. Good visuals though. Time to take what's left of my brain and leave.
Art by Chris Hood at Et al.
Chris Hood art.
Art by Chris Hood.
Overview - Chris Hood art show at Et al.
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The Emerald Tablet : Robert Fischer Photography.
Comment by AB: This is the surprise show of the night. Robert Fisher has the talent to portray ordinary people in extraordinary ways-- over and over and over again. You really get the feeling when you look at his work that you've just crossed over into another world and left this one way far behind. Definitely worth seeing.
Photography by Robert Fischer at The Emerald Tablet.
Photograph by Robert Fischer.
Robert Fischer and his photography at The Emerald Tablet.
All kinds of photographs by Robert Fischer.
Photographs in above image closer.
One of my faves - stranger than strange. Photograph by Robert Fischer.
Robert Fischer photography.
Daughter of Robert Fischer with portraits by her father.
Photograph by Robert Fischer.
Robert Fischer photography.
Photograph by Robert Fischer.
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Ramon's Tailor : Slide Carousel - Robin Hill.
Comment by AB: Robin Hill is fascinated with machines from the past, in this case, a slide carousel from the 1960s. She's so fascinated with it that she makes multiple graphite rubbings of it and plasters the gallery walls with the results. To top it all off, she also casts it as a pie-shaped sculpture.
Homage to the slide carousel by Robin Hill at Ramon's Tailor.
Instructional video on slide carousel rubbings by Robin Hill.
Casting of a slide carousel by Robin Hill.
Installation view - Robin Hill art show at Ramon's Tailor.
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Addendum:
Abstract landscapes by Addie Shevlin at Hang Art Gallery
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Addie Shevlin paintings at Hang Art Gallery.
Small art closer by Addie Shevlin at Hang Art Gallery.
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Reviewing all these shows and shopping up all these photos is really hard work. If you're ever so inclined, you're always welcome to contribute to the cause .
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First Thursday - February 6, 2014
First Thursday - January 9, 2014
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