VELVET DAVINCI - AMPERSAND - PING PONG

THE LAB - BELLJAR - PAINTED BIRD - GALLERY 666

TRIPLE BASE - GIANT ROBOT

FIVEPOINTS ARTHOUSE - GALLERY 1988

(with assistance from RWM and Pilar Vree)

09.18.09

Velvet DaVinci : also known as jewelry - Contemporary French Jewelry. Curated by Christian Alandete and Benjamin Lignel for la Garantie.

Comment by AB: Survey of contemporary French artist jewelry features seventeen jewelers. The show has previously traveled to London and Rome. Velvet DaVinci-- best artist jewelry selection in town.

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Ampersand Gallery : CF01 - Alan B. Callander; Dusseldorf Paintings - Emi Winter. Curated by Patricia Maloney.

Comment by AB: Dynamic kaleidoscopic geometric video by Alan B. Callander in the rear gallery; peppy upbeat abstractions by Emi Winter in the front gallery.

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Ping Pong Gallery : Branden Koch - Valet.

Review by RWM: Attention grabbing abstracts with elements of form. Look closely and can discover images inbedded in the color plays. Though the paintings are "messy" and "dirty," faces "come out of the rain," i.e. figures, usually unrecognizable, materialize out from the backgrounds. Are they ghosts in the paint or only the unformed?

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The LAB : SYZYGY. Juried by David Cunningham and Misako Inaoka.

Artists: Rand Colosky, Eric Larson, Liesa Lietzke, Hye Yeon Nam, Dominic Nguyen, Flynn O'Brien, Benji Rowan, Gretchen Till, Jessica Westbrook, and Alan Disparte & Yoram Wolberger (in collaboration with the AArrow Sign Spinners).

Comment by AB: According to the spec sheet, syzygy "generally can be defined as a kind of unity achieved through coordination or alignment of two or more things without the loss of identity." So that's the deal with that. Jurors David Cunningham and Misako Inaoka do it up right with a diverse and absorbing selection of work. Plus I gotta put in a brief word for Cunningham who, via endeavors like this as well as through his gallery (David Cunningham Projects), consistently presents challenging work by a variety of artists in a variety of formats and mediums-- not always commercially viable, but inevitably necessary to augment the mix of what art and art-making are all about.

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BellJar : Jason Fiske - I'm Trying to Get Home.

Review by Pilar Vree: Jason Fiske's show at BellJar showcases six modest pieces that combine whimsical natural motifs with dreamy patches of pastel colors and eloquent line work. Although small in size, each piece packs a different punch, ranging from moody color work to electric with strong lines and images. Fiske is adept in manipulating his well-evolved style to express different aesthetic ideas, and his work exudes a simple elegance that shows a mastery of composition. The store, too, echoes the theme with its well-edited collection, and offers art goers the opportunity to browse a superb vintage clothing selection and Victorian knickknacks.

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Painted Bird : Air Waves - Group Show.

Artists: A.C.Way, Hana Lee, Nate Archer, Jasmin Lim, Nate Boyce, Corinne Mastesich, Joshua Churchill, Sean McFarland, Peter Coffin, Keegan McHargue, Chris Fallon, Zane Morris, Michael Guidetti, Paul Schiek, Noel V. Harmonson, Sunny Walker, Dana Hemenway, Lindsey White, Daniel Hipolito.

Review by RWM - image c/o Painted Bird: Tantalizing and titillating depictions of the natural world. Seen here are some of the wonders and oddities of the outdoors. Ideas sparkling with works that are sexual, transcendental, wondrous, and astonishing. One needs to search to find the places and things depicted. They have become extraordinary.

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Triple Base Gallery : Painting Spiritual Painting - Todd Bura.

Comment by AB: Art intertwined with the repercussions of life - elemental response-based painting by Todd Bura.

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Giant Robot : A Small # of Things.

Artists: Scott Barry, Damien Correll, Justin Fines, Andrew Holder, Mike Perry.

Review and images by Pilar Vree: "A Small # of Things" at Giant Robot presents a melee of colors and shapes and lines that mirror a frenetic perception of popular culture. Each artist has a distinct style that lends to the cohesiveness of this show, with each suggesting the different possibilities that pop art offers. Taut lines and punchy colors run throughout, manipulated in playful abstraction or coupled with nature and typography themes. Several pieces offer a mélange of pattern work and toy with delicate Escher-esque geometry. Others build shapes on top of shapes, piling up a playroom aesthetic. Overall, it's a bright fun show that couples well with the many toys, gadgets and Murakami books that are also available.

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666 Gallery : Eli Harris - Banal Obsessions.

Comment by AB: It's always challenging to develop a show out of sketchbooks and sketch-type art, but Eli Harris is game, here presenting an array of assessments on day-to-day life. A number of the pieces are on old book pages.

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Addendum:

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