SF FINE ART FAIR - artMRKT SAN FRANCISCO - ARTPadSF

05.19-21.11

(with assistance from Kathryn Arnold , Susan Dunlap and Randy Pi)



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SF Fine Art Fair at Festival Pavilion, Fort Mason Center.

Review by Kathryn Arnold: I arrive early on Friday close to 12 so as to find a space to park, difficult even so. On my way to the Art Fair I drop in to the SFMOMA Artists Gallery's 4-day exhibition, a group delight, and then onward to the main event. Artistic treatment to the outside of the Festival Pavilion, dots and strings mixed with large-scale sculptures. Inside I am treated to multiple exhibitors who've each created mini-galleries, and in some cases mini-salons to showcase their artists. Much to choose from and more than can be discussed. Cain Schulte Contemporary keys into a minimalist vantage point with works falling into blacks/whites/grays completing their environment. Sandra Lee Gallery is exhibiting abstractions-- large almost non-objective works and figurative pieces as well. Hang Art displays a small series' of painterly figurations while Hanna Regev Productions exhibits select works from her Seduction of Duchamp show.

Comment by AB: Wanna help caption the galleries? Please email me .

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artMRKT San Francisco at The Concourse Exhibition Center.

Review by Kathryn Arnold: This show at the concourse is overwhelming-- in a good way. I begin slowly and notice as I walk through, the many artworks being carried out (as in purchases), so I imagine the day went well for all. One can see the influence of digital technology with the paintings and related works-- clean and crisply edged abstractions, painted images from founded in photography, and the appropriated pop-influenced artworks created anew with technology. Also available are master prints from the likes of Roy Lichtenstein, Chuck Close and Andy Warhol. I thoroughly enjoy seeing photographs of Andy Warhol and David Hockney as they give a tone of historical insight. Such an impressive amount of art all in one place-- fascinating.

Comment by Susan Dunlap: Browsed through both the SF Fine Art Fair and artMRKT San Francisco over the weekend. If I had money and space, I would purchase paintings by Colette Calascione represented by Nancy Hoffman, ceramics by Sergei Isupov represented by Ferrin Gallery, a book from Hexton Gallery about Frederick Hart, a digital piece by Kim Joon represented by Sundaram Tagore Gallery, and would be tempted by paintings of Gail Roberts represented by Luis De Jesus (want to see more of her work).

Comment by AB: Wanna help caption the galleries? Please email me .

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ARTPadSF at the Phoenix Hotel.

Review by Kathryn Arnold: ARTPadSF clearly gives an idea of how good the Tenderloin can be-- tamed by the art deities. The event is more on the comfortable and relaxing side with the gallerists given options of whether to have a bed, or beds, or no beds at all in their rooms-- or furniture for that matter. The venue is the Phoenix Hotel and includes performers, panels and of course, art.

The gallerists are creative in managing their artworks-- some of my favorite painters are hung in bathrooms and stashed in closets. In any other setting-- this might seem ludicrous but here, it adds to the ambiance of the place which becomes, in itself, almost a performance piece. There's also a playback effect, taking me back perhaps 10-12 years ago to an artists' event near another Fort Mason Art Fair where each artist created an installation in a single motel room-- in this case it was a Salon des Refuses. Here at the Phoenix Hotel is a truly San Francisco feel and an alternative vision as well.

Comment by AB: Wanna help caption the galleries? Please email me .

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