Mina Dresden Gallery : The EnviroMENTAL Paradigm - Closing Reception.

Artists: Paz de la Calzada, Maria Adela D?az, Cristina Ferrandez, Julie Poitras Santos, Hrafnhildur Siguroard?ttir, Patricia Tinajero, Jessica Resmond.

Comment: Group show focuses on the increasing awareness of global warming, environmental concerns, and efforts at sustainability, not only in terms of those who are trying to help, but also those who are trying to profit. These days, it's not that easy to tell whether "green" means good for the environment or money in somebody's pocket.

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CompassPoint : Rebeca Garcia-Gonzalez - Undocumented, Latino Immigrant Portraits.

Comment by AB: Rebeca Garcia-Gonzalez puts a very human face on the issue of undocumented immigrants simply by painting their portraits. Somehow, immortalizing these ordinary hard working individuals in paint on canvas requires you to see them as people just like you and me, rather than as how they're far too often portrayed by politicians and the media.

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Eleanor Harwood Gallery : John Chiara - Lands End, Starr King.

Comment by AB: I'm a big fan of John Chiara's unique extended-exposure landscape, cityscape, and coastal scene photographs. They're so subtle and otherworldly it's almost like he crafts his own realities, like he transcends what is, perhaps envisioning how earth might look if it was really another planet. But the prices-- my goodness. What was $3000 about 2 1/2 years ago is now $8500. I thought only gas went up that fast. Helpful artist hint #474, paragraph B, subclause 2: You don't want your ante escalating faster than your profile (plus you risk leaving your most ardent collectors in the dust). Good show; go see. Like it.

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Jack Fischer Gallery : MIJU - Effigies and Demagogues.

Comment by AB: MIJU is actually the collaborative consequence of husband/wife artists, Michelle Muennig and Juan Carlos Quintana. Michelle Muennig tells me the way the deal works is that the two of them shuttle paintings and drawings back and forth from one to the other, the only rule, she adds, is that there are no rules. Anybody can do anything at anytime-- add, subtract, erase, paint over, and so on and so forth ad infinitum until, lo and behold, it's done. As for the ambience, Jack Fischer attracts a rather peppy posse for this one.

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Secession Art and Design : One-Year Anniversary Party.

Review and photos by Libby Nicholaou: My first visit to Secession Art & Design introduces me to another version of arts collectives in San Francisco. The reception celebrates the end of a two month exhibit featuring guest artists. Paintings by Clare Kuo are reminiscent of current South American art with abstracted fine lines over brightly colored canvases. The photographs by Trish Tunny capture rich colors in everyday objects. Apart from the hanging art, some eclectic jewelry from estate sales is on view in a glass case. Worth checking out!

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