Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi : Triangulation - Experiments in Green Printmaking.

Artists: Parker Ito, Jeanne Lorenz, Billy Sprague. Curated by Nick Santoro.

Comment by AB: "Green printmaking" is about experimenting with and developing less hazardous methods and techniques for producing fine art prints. The products of these ecological endeavors-- "experimental hybrids of traditional print processes"-- are on display here.

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San Francisco Center for the Book : Banned and Recovered - Artists Respond to Censorship.

Artists: Guillermo Bert, Mary Laird, Sandow Birk, Wendy Miller, Jonathan Burstein, Elyse Pignolet, Enrique Chagoya, Nigel Poor, Alejandra Chaverri, Favianna Rodriguez, Ala Ebtekar, Louis Delgado, Roberto Rovira, Brian Dettmer, Jos Sances, Emory Douglas, Liz Sher, Terri Garland, Anne Hicks Siberell, Beth Grossman, Livia Stein, Art Hazelwood, Hadi Tabatabai, Justin Hoover, Tim Tate, Woody Johnson, Nancy Worthington, Barbra Kossy. Curated by Hanna Regev.

Review by DeWitt Cheng: Americans with short attention spans and poor critical thinking skills have probably already forgotten how the shock and awe of 9/11 caused them to forsake the principles they loudly proclaim every July Fourth. One of these principles, of course, is free speech, which the Bush administration managed to suppress through intimidation before the Iraq War, in probably the worst clampdown on political dissent since the Red Scare of the 1950s. Now that the country is awakening from the Bush nightmare, it is tempting for some to pretend that it was The Decider who let them down, and to ignore the role that they-- Nascar dads, security moms, a complaisant media and a spineless loyal opposition-- took in abetting this disaster. Will "real Americans" face up and fess up, or just continue to abdicate responsibility? ?

This art show on the theme of banned books, assembled by independent curator Hanna Regev, presents the work of over 60 artists, including Sandow Birk, Enrique Chagoya, Emory Douglas, Mildred Howard, and Naomie Kremer. Each artist has chosen one banned book-- from The Bible to The Color Purple to the deeply seditious, America-hating, terrorist-loving Harry Potter series-- as the theme for a work of art. ?It's a great show dealing with an important issue. Anyone who cares about creative freedom should visit the SF Center for the Book now through November 26, and the African American Museum and Library in Oakland from September 5 to December 31-- and perhaps even drag along some surly, recalcitrant friends who need loving intervention. ?

Because of the very crowded reception, I'm unable to get good shots of the art, but SFCB and AAMLO are usually not crowded. A series of events has been scheduled as well... details on the San Francisco Center for the Book website . Banned and Recovered is part of a national series of Art of Democracy shows this fall examining the Dubya Debacle.

DeWitt Cheng writes for Artweek, Art Ltd., www.SanFranciscoArtMagazine.com, www.Shotgun-Review.com, and the East Bay Express.

Artist Hadi Tabatabai and his hydrocal Braille 'book', "To See One Must Want to See," based on a Tolstoy quotation from The Kingdom of God Within Us (photo c/o DeWitt Cheng).

Artist Anne Hicks Siberell and book on censorship theme, "Knowledge Like Love is Dangerous and Very Catching" (photo c/o DeWitt Cheng).

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DA Arts Gallery : Bryan Schnelle - CHAOS A.D.

Comment by AB: Bryan Schnelle masks up all kinds of famous people and then enhances the essence with ominous macabre elements and Gothic text. In so doing, he contemplates the concept that even though we wear no masks in our daily lives, we hide plenty. Is anything the way it seems? Is anybody entirely safe? Perhaps not. But wait; there's more. Those of you who prefer fun and games to fatalistic contemplation can try to guess the personalities behind Schnelle's added masks.

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20 goto 10 Gallery : Laureano Faedi - Recent Paintings.

Comment by AB: In Laureano Faedi's own words, "I make crappy little paintings on wood that people really like." They are kinda likable.

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Gallery 1988 : Paper Pushers.

Artists: Aaron Jasinski, Acorn, Andrew Hem, Benji Williams, Chet Zar, Cory Benhatzel, Dan Goodsell, David Habben, Dia, Elizabeth Ito, Gene Guynn, Ghostpatrol, Handiedan, Irma Rivera, Isaac Pierro, Jeannie Lynn Paske, Jonathan Bergeron, Julian Callos, Juri Ueda, Krista Huot, Lani Imre, Laura Laine, Lawrence Yang, Lindsay Campbell, Matt Dangler, McBess, Melissa Haslam, Noferin, Patrick Gannon, Roland Tamayo, Rude, Seiji Yonehara, Skaffa, Steven Bossler, Tin, Walt Hall, Yuka Yamaguchi.

Comment by AB: Super dense group affair offers up container loads of works on paper. No shortage of affordable buying opportunities here.

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Space Gallery : Oro Universal.

Artists: Augustine Kofie, Siloette, Eric Coleman, Mitsy Avila Ovalles, JAO, Puede One, Allysun Marie Dutra, Riostoro, theHumanzee, Isla Prieto, Shane Sakanoi, Tyer, Dom, Kalflife, WyldeFlower, Neto, Ixchel Lara, Mister G, Alfonso Salcido III, Krystal Ying, Jon Loomis, Thu Ha Tran, Lucille Javier, Alex Rando, G-Know, Damon Bell, Christina M. Felice, Cesar Pardo.

Comment by AB: According to the prologue, the show promotes the betterment of basically everything. So that's good. The artists are from Los Angeles and the Bay Area.

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