Lucid Gallery : Illuminat8 - Emerging Art by Dan Tran; T-Shirts by Modern Armor.

Comment: Invigorating airy 2-floor art bar/gallery down on Sutter St. Art shows well on both floors. Other art by other artists is on display in addition to tonight's featured artists.

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Axelle Gallery : Philippe Vasseur.

Comment: Soft tasteful tonal mature figure and landscape paintings by French artist Philippe Vasseur. Priced $2K-$12K. Helpful artist hint #1622-- make sure you get your art to the gallery on time, when they want it, no later. Vasseur got his art to the gallery in plenty of time for the opening, but not in time to have it photographed for a catalogue that was supposed to be published in conjunction with the show. That's not the kind of opportunity you wanna blow.

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Jack Hanley Gallery : Carter.

Comment: Carter's paintings and photo collages incorporate dissociate facial features, body parts, and landscape elements into cohesive satisfying wholes, however his minimal use of color and connectivity keeps the primary focus on the act of articulation and on the component relations rather than on the complete combined effect. I speak briefly with Robert Shimshak about Carter's art, and he tells me he's partial to the way Carter configures three-dimensional qualities on a two-dimensional plane. Between you and me, Shimshak only buys art that's worth buying, and he buys a big one here. Carter's impressive rap sheet includes inclusion in the 2006 Whitney Biennial. The show's pretty much sold out.

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Garzoli Gallery : Art Party.

Comment: Well, the party's not exactly at Garzoli Gallery-- that's in San Rafael. Gallery principals Joel and Josh Garzoli present periodic cultural events at their San Francisco digs. Most art is priced and for sale. The all-you-can-drink pineapple infused Vodka is free.

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