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  • CATHARINE CLARK - ELI RIDGWAY - SFMOMA GARAGE WINDOWS

    VARNISH - MARKET STREET - FABRIC8

    PHOTOBOOTH - SF ART INSTITUTE

    11.03.12

    (with assistance from Tami Tsark and RWM)



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    Catharine Clark Gallery : A Pilgrim's Progress - Chester Arnold.

    Review by Tami Tsark: Chester Arnold's show presents panoramas of canyons, creeks, and chasms; journeys to countrysides, forests, and mines; and dialogs with bones, pails and hats. As you enter the gallery, the paintings strike you as contemporary work created by an "old-world" painter. The paintings take you to places you feel you might know, but know you have never been. Look beyond the rich, expertly rendered layers of paint and you'll find, upon closer examination, familiar but unknown objects and memorabilia. The tools, the skeletons, and other magical things that are lodged into the crevices and the nooks and crannies of the majestic environments, revealing a hidden yet palpable unknown story (unless you're fortunate enough to hear the stories told by the painter himself).

    The show's opening reception on November 3rd includes an artist's "walk-through" and gives a lucky audience insight into his work, his paintings and his teachings-- as a journey-- which he fondly describes as the "disorganized religion of art." (The show's title comes from-- and references-- the Christian allegory by John Bunyan.) He explains that the work is idea-driven and reflects his childhood of "Sixty Years in the Forest." Profoundly in love with painting at an early age, it is clear that this could not be more true for Arnold now.

    This show is one of discovered narrative. At first glance, you are presented with rich moody environments. Look closer and you'll uncover and be taken-in by work which is cleverly embedded with humor, and with deep translucent light. The content is one of rich allegory and delicate spirit. Chester Arnold describes the work as "a physical objectification of detail... an inseparable union of interests" which he coins as a new genre of painting, "Psycho Realism." Every paint stroke and every object reveals his love, his acute exploration, and his celebration of these worlds.

    If you've not yet seen the show, I encourage you to journey into these spaces and embark on the passage of time and experience through which these paintings might lead you.

    Review by RWM: Observers and testifiers are lost here in these woods which show human impact. One could say that landscape paintings need not always be about beauty. They can also document the damage we are causing the environment. In this case, we see the resource removal in action. We also see our footprint with the associated garbage left behind. Wonders abound, but it is important to note that they may one day cease to be.

    Comment by AB: This dude can paint. Definitely worth seeing.

    Chester Arnold artist art

    Art by Chester Arnold at Catharine Clark Gallery.

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    Chester Arnold degraded environment art.

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    Art by Chester Arnold at Catharine Clark Gallery.

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    Chester Arnold discourses on his art (image c/o Tami Tsark).

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    Environmental art by Chester Arnold at Catharine Clark Gallery.

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    Human impact art by Chester Arnold.

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    Art by Chester Arnold at Catharine Clark Gallery.

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    Chester Arnold art.

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    Post-Chester-Arnold-art-show redux at Catharine Clark Gallery.

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    Eli Ridgway Gallery : James Sterling Pitt - On A Clear Day We Were Lightning.

    Comment by AB: James Sterling Pitt tells me that each of his abstract sculptures represents a specific memory or event in his life. I point to two or three of them and ask what they signify. Without hesitation, he details their stories. Several complex chronological drawings reveal more about how his journalistic process works. Good show; go see.

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    Memory sculpture by James Sterling Pitt at Eli Ridgway Gallery.

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    Art by James Sterling Pitt closer.

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    Artist James Sterling Pitt at Eli Ridgway Gallery.

    James Sterling Pitt art

    Conceptual diary art by James Sterling Pitt.

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    James Sterling Pitt art in above image closer at Eli Ridgway Gallery.

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    Art by James Sterling Pitt closer.

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    James Sterling Pitt sculpture at Eli Ridgway Gallery.

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    Lower level - James Sterling Pitt art show at Eli Ridgway Gallery.

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    Varnish Fine Art : Isabel Samaras - Making a Better Yesterday Today.

    Review by RWM: Hard on those who are not iconoclasts here, but great to see these pop icons on display. None are taking themselves too seriously. The observer is likely to enjoy the playful images, but one's heroes or stars are made fun of in this. They are probably not likely to mind, though, because they have our attentions once again.

    Comment by AB: No dearth of wry at this irreverant bacchanal. Those of you with some art knowledge can try and guess which famous paintings are parodied. Check it out.

    Isabel Samaras artist art

    Self-portrait with assistant by Isabel Samaras at Varnish Fine Art.

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    Planet of the Apes art by Isabel Samaras.

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    I Dream of Genie art by Isabel Samaras at Varnish Fine Art.

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    Bouguereau update (right) - art by Isabel Samaras.

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    Art by Isabel Samaras at Varnish Fine Art.

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    A little bit of everything here - art by Isabel Samaras.

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    Conviviality - Isabel Samaras art show at Varnish Fine Art.

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    Market Street Gallery : Paste - Denise Fiedler.

    Comment by AB: Whimsical mixed media collages by Denise Fiedler are composed mainly of antique documents and news clippings. Nicely done; sidle on by.

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    Collage art by Denise Fiedler at Market Street Gallery.

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    Art by Denise Fiedler.

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    Denise Fiedler and her art in above image closer at Market Street Gallery.

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    Collage art by Denise Fiedler closer.

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    Art by Denise Fiedler at Market Street Gallery.

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    Head count - Denise Fiedler art show at Market Street Gallery.

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    San Francisco Art Institute : Return to SFAI Party + Winter Art Festival.

    Artists: Charles Linder, Jeremy Fish, Carlos Villa, John de Fazio, Cat U-Thasoonthorn, Jeremiah Jenkins, Amanaa Rendall, more.

    Comment by AB: Combination alumni party and alumni art show serves up an abundance of food, beverage, live music and a special guest presentation by noted SFAI alumna Karen Finley in the lecture hall.

    Charles Linder artist art

    Art by Charles Linder at San Francisco Art Institute.

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    Carlos Villa art.

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    Art by Jeremy Fish at San Francisco Art Institute.

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    Jeremiah Jenkins and his found object Samurai art.

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    SFAI alumni and New Generes instructor Tim Sullivan.

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    Presentation in progress by Karen Finley at San Francisco Art Institute.

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    Overview of the alumni event at SFAI (everyone's listening to Karen Finley).

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    Addendum:

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    Five Ton Crane art show at SFMOMA Garage Windows c/o SFMOMA Artists Gallery .

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    Five Ton Crane installation closer c/o SFMOMA Artists Gallery.

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    Art by Romanowski at Fabric8 Gallery .

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    Art by Brian Barneclo at Fabric8 Gallery.

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    Ursula Xanthe Young art at Fabric8 Gallery.

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    Underwater photography by 81 Bees at Photobooth .

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    Group show of underwater photographs by 81 Bees at Photobooth.

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    Aerial - photography group show by 81 Bees at Photobooth.

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