Shinichi Maruyama: Gardens

This series of paintings by Shinichi Maruyana is an impressive display representational of Zen gardens. "The Zen garden is the expression of boundless cosmic beauty in a physical environment, created through intense human concentration, labor and repeated action". These paintings express just that: capturing the essence of liquid, frozen in mid-air.

Maruyama repeatedly throws tempera paint into the air and photographs the results, then arranges the frozen actions in compositions that defy logical physics.



In doing a bit of research on this artist I came upon an earlier project, Kusho, in which Maruyama photographs sumi ink and water.

José Parlá: Walls, Diaries and Paintings

Last weekend I visited Bryce Wolkowitz Gallery in Chelsea and was blown away by the work of José Parlá. His work is an exciting blend of textures, colors, memories and experiences of urban landscapes. Inspiration comes from Istanbul, Havana, Tokyo and New York, to name a few - documenting accumulated memories and experiences of these places he's been.




The layers which each piece are composed of reveal newsprint, street art & posters, thick paint and graffiti. Each reminded me of an urban setting that I may have seen at one time or another, the many beautiful cities, walls and alley's I've stumbled upon. To simulate the experience even further, he even painted an installation in the hall of the gallery, as if you are traveling through an urban alleyway.



I suppose it makes sense that I am drawn to his work, as his paintings are certainly reminiscent of some of my favorite artists: Anselm Kiefer and Jackson Pollock.

Jennifer Trask: Intrinsecus

The final and absolute favorite artist which I discovered at The Dead or Alive Exhibit was Jennifer Trask. This wall installation made from a found 19th century Italian wood and gold leaf frame uses bones, teeth, antlers, silver and gold leaf to create a completely organic and absolutely beautiful piece of art. This installation, Intrinsecus, refers to the Dutch tradition of Vanitas, which is Latin means “emptiness”, and loosely translated corresponds to the meaninglessness of earthly life and the transient nature of vanity.

What's even more interesting is that she is formally trained as a jeweler and metalsmith. I can see how that has transcended into using natural objects to create something so intricate.

These "flowers" are actually made of rattlesnake vertebra.

Tessa Farmer: Little Savages

Two artists I saw at the Dead or Alive Exhibit were so compelling I felt they deserved their own post - Tessa Farmer being of of them. The attention to detail in her sculptures is impeccable. Each tiny scenario has a crazy amount of detail which is hard to even make out with just the human eye alone. Her background working in a Natural History Museum and entomology inspires her work - which I suppose is why I am so drawn to these spooky little scenes.

This series is called "little savages" - quite fitting...

Her work, made from insect carcasses, plant roots and other found natural materials, comprises hanging installations depicting battles between insects and tiny winged skeletal humanoids.

Dead or Alive: Nature as Art

During a recent trip to New York I had the pleasure of stopping into the Museum of Arts & Design for a much anticipated show - Dead or Alive: Nature Becomes Art. Naturally I was drawn to this exhibit because of it's focus on organic materials which were once produced by or part of living organisms - feathers, bones, egg shells, insects, fur, antlers, dried and rotting plants. Once-living parts of flora and fauna were recombined and rearranged into works of art that address the transience of life, and examines beauty in the extreme.

Here a large cascade of 1000's of pigeon feathers emanate from one of MAD's signature glass bands that cut across the gallery ceilings (Kate McGcwire)

Levi van Veluw’s photo series are self-portraits, drawn and photographed by himself: a one-man-process. His works constitute elemental transfers; this youngest artist of the exhibition uses his own head and shoulders as a canvas on which to build natural landscapes.

Some favorites were the skulls by Jan Fabre which use actual Jewel beetle, click beetle and ground beetle shields on synthetic material to create these beautiful sculptures. The texture and colors of actual beetle shells are just amazing, I could look at them for hours.

ArtSpan's ArtLaunch 2010, Saturday Oct.2nd

I recently completed this piece which will be showcased in ArtSpan's SF Open Studios kickoff event ArtLaunch 2010 (formerly The Private Preview Gala) on Saturday, October 2nd.

Featuring over 430 original artworks by SF Open Studios artists, all work will be on sale and will take place at the SOMArts Gallery, 934 Brannan Street at 9th Street. Tickets are available to registered SF Open Studios artists and members for $35 in advance / $40 at the door and to non-members for $50 in advance / $60 at the door. ArtLaunch 2010 will stimulate your creative side with an interactive art project, an open bar with Pernod Absinthe cocktails, fun eats by Thomas John events, music, and a 5% discount (up to $50) for members on the original artwork for sale. The show will run through the end of October.

What: ArtLaunch 2010
When: Saturday, October 2nd. 7-10pm
Where: SOMArts, 934 Brannan Street @ 8th
More info: info@artspan.org 415-861-9838

Official Site: http://www.artspan.org
Buy tickets: http://artlaunch2010.eventbrite.com/

Bar 821 in NOPA

I was invited by Bar 821 to be part of this years 9th annual Divisadaro Art Walk which was held this past September. The Art Walk held in NOPA - from Geary to Haight - is held quarterly, and the event’s tone is much more casual, with a younger, more alternative clientele, and overflowing with community pride. In addition to the community galleries presenting the latest artwork from neighborhood artists, many bars and restaurants also participate in the festivities by curating their own art shows, including Bar 821. My work will continue to be on display through the end of October, and we will hold an artist reception sometime near the end of the month, so stay tuned!

Bar 821

821 Divisadero (btwn McAllister & Fulton)
San Francisco, CA
open 5-11pm daily

SOMA Spring Open Studios Preview Exhibition

Please join me at the SOMA Spring Open Studios Preview Exhibition this Friday.

View artwork by myself and over 65 artists working and exhibiting in San Francisco's diverse South of Market neighborhood at the Opening Reception of the SOMA Open Studios Preview Exhibition.

Friday, April 9th, 7-10pm
ARC Studios & Gallery
1246 Folsom Street
(between 8th & 9th streets)

www.SOMAOpenStudios.org
Official facebook invitation

The evening will feature some of the neighborhoods finest: Fresh fired oven pizzas from Pizza Politana, baked treats from Cups & Cakes Bakery, Hansen's Sodas, MetroMint Water, and aneighborhood favorite - Blue Bottle Coffee. There will also be wine, but feel free to BYOB!

Public showing also on Saturday, April 19th, NOON - 6pm.

This show will be held in the newly opened and renovated ARC Gallery (formerly New Langton Arts), a great new SOMA space and resource, featuring 10 newly renovated artist studios, rental art gallery, & art education center. We are proud to make this new space a "home base" for our artists and hope to grow our community.

As our 4th year officially holding an organized SOMA Spring Open Studios, we are confident that this will be our biggest year yet - and hope to see everyone out at the studios the following weekend! More info to come...

8th Annual Open Studios

I am proud to have just participated in my 8th Annual Open Studios. This was our 3rd year at Clara Street Studios, featuring 5 great artists: Jerry Veverka, Jackson Fahnestock, Nif Hodgson, Ellen Heck and myself. As always, it was an amazing weekend and great to be part of a show with such talented artists. Despite the economy, we had a very good turnout with a constant flow of guests, and the feedback we received about what we are doing over at Clara Street was very positive. We look forward to doing it again next year!

Terrestrial Syndrome

I visited the opening for Terrestrial Syndrome at The Shooting Gallery in San Francisco the other weekend and was blown away. I loved the paintings by Kevin Taylor, his large scale oil on wood paintings were so well done. What I found most intriguing is how the creatures he portrayed were not animal, but not human - almost a combination of the two. The way the creatures interacted with one another reminded me of Hieronymus Bosch, one of my favorite painters from classical times.

The show also featured artist Eric Otto, who uses more recycled materials and found objects to portray images of destruction. I particularly liked this installation, the different sizes and shapes all clustered together with the use of geometric shapes and warm colors was extremely effective.