THE LAB - A.MUSE - MEDICINE AGENCY
YERBA BUENA CENTER FOR THE ARTS - CLIMATE THEATER
SPACE - PARK LIFE
07.31.09
(with assistance from Laura Chenault, RWM and Pakayla Biehn )

The LAB : pastforward - The 25th Anniversary Performance Series.

Artists: Ellen Babcock, Jeremiah Barber, Philip Grant Davidson, Ryan Hendon, Raymie Iadevaia, Marielle Jakobsons, JP Kelly, Daniel Konhauser, Darrin Martin & Torsten Zenas Burns, Aaron Rosenstreich, Victoria Wagner, Andrew Wingler, Megan & Blade Wynne.

Review by Laura Chenault: The Lab is filled with installation and conceptual art celebrating their 25th Anniversary Performance Series. The entrance is consists entirely of stencil work done by Scott Douglas Williams. One wall in the foyer features a large, abstract digital print by P. Grant Davidson. "D.U." by JP Kelly projects video words and graphics onto the inside of a glass warhead shape that comes nestled in a crate, while Daniel Konhauser's interactive "Public Phone Booth" is occupied with a duo, one appropriately making a phone call. A large installation by Victoria Wagner fills a corner with a dreamlike landscape, floured floors and an audio piece. "String TV" by Marielle V. Jakobsons is a playable instrument that makes sounds by controlling video interference. Ellen Babcock's "The Viewing Platform" is being used by those in attendance to get an overview of the rest of the show. One corner wall is filled with round, ethereal photographs by Aaron Rosenstreich. Another corner showcases two of Andrew Wingler's large scale collaged mixed media photographs showing fragmented street scenes of the Mission neighborhood.

***

a.Muse Gallery : Edward Moose Maravilla - Curiouser and Curiouser, Of White Rabbits and Orange Marmalade.

Review by Laura Chenault: Impressionistic portrayals of Alice in Wonderland by Edward Moose Maravilla are whimsical and modern. All the classic characters are here created with bright colors and bold brushstrokes, but each is a bit off. The Cheshire Cat is urinating purple onto the pristine white frame. "Eat Me and Drink" me are portrayed as a cheeseburger and soda. The artist, gallery owner and even the snacks are all adorned in true tea party style.

Review by RWM: In twenty-two paintings Edward Moose Maravilla captures the wonder and inspiration of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. Quotes also accompany the works. One might think that though these images are separated, splintering the story into pieces, they certainly hold together for a contemporary retelling. The style is colorful and the works are archetypal. Though hallucinatory, the paintings also look like they can be assembled for a children's book. Here one will find the traditional story told again, but with modern elements.

Comment by AB: Price per painting-- $420.

***

Medicine Agency : Jerod Alexander - Dream Series, Volume I.

Comment by AB: Spirited grand opening for the new location of Medicine Agency, a combination boutique, gallery and all-round nexus of creative endeavor founded by John LaCroix in 2003. Tonight's inaugural art exhibit features a diversity of works by Jerold Alexander.

***

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts : Wallworks.

Artists: Makoto Aida, Edgar Arceneaux, Chris Finley, Tillman Kaiser, Odili Donald Odita, Amanda Ross-Ho, Yehudit Sasportas, Leslie Shows. Curated by Betti-Sue Hertz.

Review by Laura Chenault: Chris Finley's strung together paintings are immediately apparent. Circles and other forms fill the second floor walkway and open space above the lobby. and and are visually linked with brightly colored strings. Organic paintings seem to reveal fish, birds, foliage and other stylized natural imagery. The strings form vanishing points and angular counterparts to the lines of the open lobby.

The first main room is dominated by the geometric paintings of Odili Donald Odita. His soft palette and intricate patterns contrast beautifully with the white architectural features of the building. Counterbalancing the prominent staircase, they wrap the gallery in soft patterns. These forms repeat in the angles of Tillman Kaiser's sculptural piece. Matt black pyramid shapes that jut out of the wall surround a small convex reflective centerpiece that entices the viewer to come close and inspect the shiny focal point.

An entire wall is filled with an intricate piece by Leslie Shows. Dynamically composed, closer inspection reveals miniature mythological creatures and landscapes created from heavily painted cutouts. The bright, dripping, colorful imagery is offset by rows of white silk flags fluttering in the eaves of the gallery. It appears to be the telling of an ancient myth or a modern celebration. Across the room is Amanda Ross-Ho's quilt-like piece featuring massive torn paper squares-- some feature repetitive patterns and others are more deconstructed. They are centered over yards of canvas backdrops that come from the ceiling and slightly cover the floor. On this visual shelf are squirt bottles, utensils, and folded towels all painted matt black.

Makoto Aida's dark and whimsical anime-inspired work fills one massive wall. A central Sailor Moon is shown with cut marks on her outstretched arm-- but a cheerful smile on her face. Nuclear warheads combine with hearts and tentacles to create a bright colorful work with somber themes. The counter piece to this is a graphic black and white work by Yehudit Sasportas. Concentric ovals evoke targets and topographic maps. A dreamy landscape filled with leaves, branches and clouds.

The upstairs room is dominated by an installation by Edgar Arceneaux. Tall rows of rainbow-colored rolls of what look like vinyl flank a large center table. Viewers are invited to choose and unroll the rolls of their choice, each of which which reveals a unique orignal painting. Smudged white gloves are provided to keep the loose pigments from participants' fingers. The large colorful drawings feature galaxies and star charts. It's mesmerizing to watch people choose and unroll the beautiful pieces almost like courses at a formal dinner.

***

Climate Theater : Hypnagogia.

Artists: AC Chuckwagon, Ross Campbel, Gina Clark, Sean Clute &, Alan Disparte, Blake Gibson, Julie Anne Goodman, Jessica Gomula, Sangyon Joo, Presley Martin, Stephani Martinez, Joshua Martinez, Rebekah May, Klea McKenna, Mike Missiaen, Susan Sue-Ah Park, Sonya Phillip, Louis Rawlins, Aaron Rivera, Agnes Szelag, Parker Tilghman, Rebecca Wallace Vanessa Woods, VoxMaids. Musical Performances by The Flip Quartet and Philip and Greenlief.

Review and images by Laura Chenault: Walking up the stairs, videos projected on large sheer screens by Jessica Gomula fill the stairwell as you enter this show. The maze-like galleries are filled with a variety of artwork and performance. Peeking from between branches, Aaron Rivera's monster paintings are reminiscent of Maurice Sendack's creatures. A video by Mike Missiaen's is projected on an outside wall and features household objects thrown across a cloudless blue sky. A face peering out through fragile bubbles is the subject of a large dreamy photograph by Sangyon Joo. One narrow hallway is filled with an installation by Susan Sue-Ah Park that feels like gradmother's laundry day. The VoxMaids are performing on the roof surrounded by Digital Palm trees by Ross Campbell. The Flip Quartet has two stages set up on opposite sides of a large room with chairs facing both directions. Each stage has a pair of tables set up with noisemakers, instruments, random bits, and books. The four performers simultaneously turn over small hourglasses and begin creating sounds. Jazz, percussion and spoken word combine to create a cacophony of sounds that end abruptly when the timer runs out. The musicians rotate to the next station, turn over their hourglasses and start anew. A feast for the senses, the show features an inspiring group of work.

***

Space Gallery : Beyond Recognition.

Artists: Patrick Aguilar, Naomi R Cabral, Jeremy Conant, Gina M Contreras, Skott Cowgill, Delvin, Derty Keven, Dhestoe, Ariel Diaz, Gabe F.M., Loulabelle Gray, Missy Feigum, Amos Goldbaum, Alex Gundlach, Waki Hamatsu, Evan Hayden, HMD, Jay222, Eric Jones, Joaquin Jutt, Akira Kumata, Tandy Kunkle, John C. Liau, BJ Lopez, Junko Maegawa, Kellen Medina, Marco Mejia, Keoko Moriyama, Ray Morrone, Jon Nagel, JP Neang, Taler Nicols, Noa, Pepe Nunez, Akane Ogura, Anne Olson, Piper Robbins, Rohini, Kelli Ryan, Lavit Sea, Seper, Tim Shriver, Stenzskull, Ai Sugano, Sydwoz One, Akko Terasawa, Satoshi Terawaki, Karen Thomas, Roan Victor, Devin Walsh, Aoi Yamaguchi, David Young V. Fashion by fAction. Music by Democ and Lia.

Review and images by Laura Chenault: Space Gallery is filled floor to ceiling with artwork by dozens of local artists and wall to wall with their fans and friends. Photographs hang next to graffiti while collaged skateboards share the space with modified toys. Sharpie drawings hold their own next to traditional printmaking techniques. Except for a handful of pieces, the work is priced at $100 or less and is flying off the walls leaving lonely nails. Eric Jones has a Day of the Dead inspired body of work that is graphic and colorful. A series of small and smaller cartoon characters by Jon Nagel are darkly whimsical. Alice in Wonderland themed graphic gauche pieces by Tandy Kunkle are precious. An eclectic group of work that has attracted such a crowd, there is a line down the sidewalk eagerly waiting to get in the door.

***

Park Life : Christopher Russell - You Are So Balanced; I Don¹t Want to Complicate Things.

Comment by AB: Christopher Russell nuances his visionary landscapes with transcendental overtones.

***