John Pence Gallery : Douglas Flynt and Chris Thomas.

Comment by AB: For the best in classical realism-- not only here in San Francisco, but anywhere-- John Pence is the place to go. This time around, he presents top drawer still lifes and trompe l'oeil paintings by Douglas Flynt from Florida and Chris Thomas from Kentucky. Highlights include a fine American flag painting by Flynt and delightful still lifes of toys by Thomas. Technically superb; go see.

***

Haines Gallery : David Nash - New Works.

Comment by AB: Imposing organic wooden sculptures, some charred or partially charred, by English artist David Nash are discerningly offset by austere straightforward red and black paintings.

***

Steven Wolf Fine Arts : Dustin Fosnot - Cyanide.

Comment by BTN: In this show, Dustin Fosnot inventively experiments with materials that have a photographic quality: paintings created from a type of adhesive photo paper and mattresses treated to react to exposure. The glossy adhesive paper invites a tactile experience from its seemingly tacky surface on which Fosnot has "splattered" delicate dots of white along with other external elements such as dust, hair, and fox tails. Similarly inviting outside elements into the white gallery space are his "cyan" mattresses that were covered with a cyanide-based chemical solution, exposed and darkened in the sun, all except for the "photographed" portions of the mattress on which Fosnot himself lay his body during the exposure. The result is a collection of pieces that poignantly refer to the works' constructed nature and the equally ephemeral nature of bodily traces and memory.

Comment by AB: "Dust collages" (glazed arrangements of dust on black board) mimicking the night sky are complemented by self-portrait cyanatypes of Dustin Fosnot's prostrate body on found mattresses. It's kind of like fine art meets urban blight meets homeless on the streets. In the rear gallery, Fosnot shows miniature wall-mounted cast rubber stairways to nowhere, and upright heavy cardboard mailing tubes with embedded speakers. Not quite sure what the essence is there, but they look nice.

***

Varnish Fine Art : Carlos Huante and Jose Ismael Fernandez - Fallen.

Comment and images by BTN: Fallen pairs a collection of works by two artists who capture the human form in movement, dynamism, flight, and anguish. Carlos Huante's materials are described as digital media on archival paper and they combine the qualities of pencil, charcoal, and water color, and through digital enhancements create a palette of rich and subtle dark hues. His renderings of the human figure and monstrous derivations thereof appropriately incorporate characteristics from film, graphic novels, and tattoo art and when combined with his often religious subject matter, they make Huante a wonderful candidate for a new rendition of Dante's Inferno. Through primarily bronze sculpture, Jose Ismael Fernandez, like Huante, takes on the human form and often religious and sometimes possibly mythical subject matter. In some works such as "Fallen," Fernandez aligns himself with the figural forms and movement of sculptors such as Bernini. In others such as "Jane" or "Struggle," he freely enlarges, elongates, and alters the human form to convey a spiritual or emotional strain that the body manifests.

***

1AM Gallery : Grand Opening.

Comment by AB: Pure urban is the tale of the tape at 1 AM Gallery (short for First Amendment). The group show grand opening showcases art born in the streets and formatted for galleries. 1 AM also offers provisions for today's aspiring street artists including lines of high end spray paints), limited edition toys, and classes on the history of graffiti, screenprinting, and spray painting. Worth a visit.

***

Art Rock : Malleus Rock art Lab - The Hammer of God.

Comment by AB: Urlo, Poia and Lu comprise the Italian rock art poster collective Malleus, and they're here in Ess Eff to brandish their portfolio. An extensive selection of their posters is on display and available for purchase as well as their newly released book, "The Blood of the Mountain Is The Hammer of God," which cataloges a decade of Malleus poster and art designs. Good show; go see.

***

Gallery 1988 : Monster Art Rally - A Frightening Show of Plush and Custom Vinyl Creatures.

Comment and images by BTN: For Monster Art Rally, Gallery 1988 owner Katherine Cromwell gathers together a long list of artists with whom she has worked in the past and asks each of them to create a set of monsters for this show. The result is a dense collection of one-of-a-kind plush and vinyl objects. Some parts of the collection move in their own creative direction while others work in a broad but shared Gama-Go/Kogepan-style sensibility. The pieces are colorful, compact, and present a balance between a strong design sense and cuteness overload. The show is part elevation of the art and craft of inventive plush creations and part etsy-type showcase that has a clear awareness of its own irresistible charm.

***

Triple Base Gallery : Jay Nelson - The Autonomous Zone.

Comment by AB: Jay Nelson's paintings, drawings, and sculptural works represent his "his quest for individual autonomy within the modern American landscape," particularly The West, particularly particularly the ocean, and particularly particularly particularly, Ocean Beach. And that, as they say, is that. I like it all; go see-- particularly the oceanscape paintings.

***

Studio GSD, 1458 San Bruno Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94110: Master Cleanse.

Artists: Shawn Barber, Henry Lewis, Coro, Mike Davis, Kim Cogan, David Choong Lee, Eric Joyner, Paul Urich, N8 Van Dyke, more.

Comment by AB: It's an art studio blowout with prices starting as low as zero, most $20-$500, offering older works, seconds, experiments, curiosities, posters, irregulars, etc. And lots and lots of it. Good buys to be had here tonight.

***

Workspace Limited : Open Studios Opening Reception.

Comment by AB: Party to celebrate Open Studios 2008, starting tonight and running through the weekend. Workspace Limited houses approximately 65 artist studios producing art in a variety of mediums including painting, drawing, ceramics, sculpture, installation, photography, and electronic media.

***

Addendum:

***