San Francisco based sculptor Jud Bergeron's current show Becoming at Mark Wolfe Contemporary Art runs through Oct 31st. ~Photos

Exploring the multi-faceted experience of becoming a parent, Bergeron’s works address the various stages and emotions involved in the transition, ranging from confusion to euphoria. Works such as “Quack-Quack” – a child’s antique pedal car featuring an atom bomb explosion-shaped eruption of rubber duckies – embody the surreal and sometimes overwhelming experience of new parenthood in sculptural form. As a whole, the combination of works on view is intended to be an immersive experience for viewers, effecting a sense of disorientation and wonder.

A few photos from the opening of Future Colors of America at FFDG back on Oct 13th. Be sure to swing through FFDG before the show closes this Saturday --- view the artworks here.

Matt Furie and Ray Potes of Hamburger Eyes

Rachel Ralph of Fecal Face looking shocked to be speaking with Jeremy Fish

SAN FRANCISCO --- White Walls hosted their third solo show with painter Augustine Kofie (Los Angeles) and his newest group of works, Structurally Sound. Obviously alluding to the architectural compositions created through his immense abstractions, the show included hints at his process, with smaller drawings and paintings which, although complete, felt like sketches for the building of the other massive works in the show. I'm sure a crowd gathered later, but I got to stop in just as the sun had set, and it felt like I had the paintings all to myself, bringing me a great sense of peace. These paintings soothe my soul, and if you're in the Tenderloin in the next few weeks, I would suggest you stop by. Also go up a block to Post Street, where Kofie has returned to his graffiti roots with huge mural on the back of the gallery.

The project space, housing Destructionis Hostis Vespa by Ludo (Paris) also feels very peaceful, but in more of a clean almost laboratory way. With drawings and small sculptures made of resin in the form of his cyborg insect, the Destructionis Hostis Vespa, the show feels like a scientific study of a new species, with examples housed under plexi-glass. Again contrasting the stench of the outside street, Ludo gives us a refuge where things are nice and clean, and you can look ahead without risking the inevitable step in human waste.

Augustine Kofie, Different Plane of Existence, 2013, 47 x 47 x 1 1/2 inches, Acrylic and spray paint on primed duck canvas Finished in satin gel medium framed by artist in mahogany stained pine

Augustine Kofie

Ludo

Ludo, Destructionis Hostis Vespa 305º View, Graphite and oil on paper, 32x24" framed

The Energy That is All Around (thru Dec 14th) at the San Fracisco Art Institute's Walter and McBean Galleries is hands-down the best gallery show I've seen in a while. Showing the work of Chris Johanson, Margaret Kilgallen, Alicia McCarthy, Barry McGee, and Ruby Neri, the show commemorates these Mission School artsits after gaining two decades of recognition not only in the Bay Area, but worldwide. The works alone are obviously phenomenal, but the way in which the gallery intertwined them with each other brought a sense of balance and community that speaks to more than the geographical proximity which links these artists.

The night started with a small and mature crowd but quickly snowballed when students and the public were allowed in. Several rock bands played on the patio as the beer and wine flowed, and it was so clear that we could see the new Bay Bridge sparkling in the distance. It was exciting. Students could not only gather with each other, but look at work of SFAI alumni who have clearly made an impact on both the local and international artworlds. Hopefully, one or two of them will return in twenty years with their impactful work, continuing this energetic evolution.

Margaret Kilgallen, Untitled, 1997

Alicia McCarthy, Barry McGee, and Ruby Neri, Untitled, 2013

Margaret Kilgallen, Untitled, 2000

There's a reason 111 Minna has been open for twenty years. Consistently showing good work and hosting fun events with a helpful and friendly staff is never a bad business model. To celebrate the space and two decades of raising the bar as a gallery, they opened their doors to a ton of people who came out to enjoy it all.

As Indian summer has finally hit here in SF, that meant a hot and sticky crowd, but no one seemed to mind as they rubbed elbows with the best and brightest that the Bay Area art world has to offer. Complete with work from over 50 artists, this show spans the first 20 years of Minna's existence and if they keep going at this rate, they'll have to expand when they celebrate 25 and 30. No matter what the future may bring, this space has rooted itself firmly, and will only be growing from here. PHOTOS

Doze Gree, Sylvia Ji, Ferris Plock and Kelly Tunstall

Bringing out the anniversary cake.

Doze Green, Dave Kinsey, and John Trippe

Ricky Powell photo of those guys... whoever they are.

Everyone was very excited about this Robert Williams

View Photos

A couple years ago we had the pleasure of traveling to Sao Paulo for a show we put together with the fine folks at LOGO Gallery (blogging). While there, we also got to meet the talented SESPER whose show is currently running there at LOGO. Enjoy some photos.

Sesper, Herbert Bablione, and Flip

Director of The Water McBeer Gallery, Henry Gunderson, emailed over some images of their current show with Tom Betthauser who currently lives and works in the small desert town of Califorina City, California. He is faculty at Ridgecrest community college where he works to mold the young minds of rural desert youth. This is his first exhibition with the venerated Water McBeer Gallery featuring a new series of hypothetical paintings and drawings that give landscape new substance. Tom received his MFA from Yale University.

For a fun good read, check out our interview with Water McBeer. It served up a hefty 54 comments.

Tom Betthauser

Henry Gunderson of Water McBeer

Loading
Works by Kelly Tunstall & Ferris Plock
Aug 16 - Sept 5, 2013
@FFDG, San Francisco
www.ffdg.net

Shipping and Recieving
by Kelly Tunstall & Ferris Plock
Acrylic on Panel with Gold leaf, 72" x 50"

Daffy
by Ferris Plock
Acrylic and Graphite on Panel, 18" x 24"

Paintings by Kelly Tunstall

File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
by Kelly Tunstall & Ferris Plock
acrylic on panel
30" x 40"

Search
by Kelly Tunstall & Ferris Plock
Acrylic on Panel, 36" x 48"

Works by Ferris Plock

Photos from last Friday's opening of Loading @FFDG in San Francisco featuring works by Kelly Tunstall & Ferris Plock. We'll be adding works online later in the day. For now, enjoy the fine folks who came out to support the talented SF couple.

Adam Feibelman with the brand new Gus Plock-Tunstall

CLICK HERE <-- to view all the photos

Oakland based Scott Greenwalt emailed over some images of his current group show POSSESSED running at Los Angeles' Keystone Art Gallery -through August 31, 2013. Works by Scott Greenwalt, Helen Bayly, David Young V, Casey Jex Smith, Justin Pape, Micke Tong, Miri Chais and Derek Weisberg

Scott Greenwalt in front of his work

People enjoying the company of others while enjoying beverages and artwork attached to walls.

The artwork stylings of David Young V

Work by Helen Bayly

The Eleanor Harwood gallery opened its doors last Saturday night for Anti-Art, a show of Anti Hero skateboard decks made by Dennis McNett.

The show commemorated the 18th birthday of Anti Hero Skateboards, and I can't quite believe they're only now legal. McNett is one of my personal favorite artists and it was great to see the woodblock, the print, and the deck all displayed together. It really brought the creation of the boards to life, and the energy imbued in the woodblock is unmistakable in the completed deck. I got there just as it opened, and the prints were already selling like hot-cakes, and I'm sure it only accelerated through the night. It was awesome to see it all together, and I hope it got more rowdy as the beers were drunk and the sun went down. Happy birthday, Anti Hero!

Designer Matt W. Moore emailed over some images from his show An Abstract Dialogue running now at Heidelberg, Germany's Galerie P13 through September. The works are in collaboration with painter Tim Clorius (Portland, Maine).

The exhibition is sponsored by the Maine Arts Commission, through the National Endowment for the Arts.

Japanese skate photographer Rip Zinger and skate legend and musician Tommy Guerrero stormed the Book and Job Gallery on Saturday night to host an evening of good old-fashioned skate rock (pics).

Marking the one-year anniversary of the Book and Job, people gathered in the gallery to see and buy Rip Zinger's photos, and spilled outside the door to catch a show by Tommy. Rip Zinger was selling his photos for super cheap, starting at $5, and displayed them in a way that made you feel like you couldn't help but buy a few and support the cause (it probably also helped that he seems like one hell of a salesman).

People were enjoying themselves in the casual atmosphere and I'm told that the cops who came because of the noise were even pretty cool about it and didn't kick anyone out. If this is only year one, the Book and Job Gallery has developed a growing community, and I can't wait for next year's anniversary party.

Rip Zinger chatting up gallery visitors.

Tommy Guerrero and friends playing live music.

For more photos from the night, click here.

A little bit gaudy, a little bit cheeky, and a whole lot of quality describes the work which can now be seen in the Shooting Gallery's newest show I <3 LV. The artists in the show responded to the luxury designs of Louis Vuitton with work that reads as both literal and loosely-based. (PHOTOS)

Bringing the work of Niels "Shoe" Muelman in through video and that video's object output tied the show together, and connected it with the other spaces in the show. Forgoing the traditional logo of the company, several artists, such as Casey Gray, Chad Hasegawa, and Ferris Plock focused on the checkerboard pattern the company frequently uses, and provided a break from the heavy presence of the icon. Even more solace was provided by Meryl Pataky's Cellar Door which can be seen in the project space. Combining foliage and neon lights, this show reads like the garden outside of a glamorous ball, perfect for the concept of the main gallery and its luxury goods. But no matter how lost you may get in the high-priced world of this show, remember, the Tenderloin is just outside the door.

Niels "Shoe" Muelman

Lauren Napolitano, Present, Ink on antique photo from 1896, 21.5" x 26" (framed)

Meryl Pataky, He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe

Word to Mother, LV Cat, Mixed media on canvas, 36" x 42"

Interwoven
Sylvia Ji, solo show
thru August 10, 2013
@FFDG, San Francisco

Photography: Chloe Rice

Sol de Oro
acrylic and gold leaf on wood panel, framed
36" x 24"
inquires: info(at)ffdg.net

Artist Sylvia Ji and FFDG's John Trippe

View all photos

Niels "Shoe" Muelman (Amsterdam) opened his latest shows Unism and Unpire! here in San Francisco at White Walls last Saturday night. The first title cleverly prevents his categorization into an art-historical 'ism' and his Calligraffiti seals the deal. (+Photos)

His process is clearly seen in a video produced by Louis Vuitton and was shown in the space of the Shooting Gallery, as he sweeps paint across a boxing ring to read "Word" as Yasiin Bey recites a poem about Muhammed Ali. Like a Chinese warrior, his broom reads like a sword as he paints the surface with his aptly named Calligraffiti. This was a nice touch to the show, as although you can see most of his paintings unfold on canvas as you imagine a palette knife spreads the thick letters into formation, the video allows a different and dynamic process to be revealed.

His second show, Unpire! follows the same tropes but takes on the world of baseball, or as the advertising postcard says "A Tribute to Baseball (The Essence of Life in the Universe)." In our baseball-crazed city, I'm sure these pieces sold like hotcakes. Painted with traditional umpire's brushes, these works follow his style, but infuse it with the essence of baseball, read clearly through common phrases like "Infield Fly." These pieces provided more diversity to the entire show, and although people weren't flocking there on Saturday night, I'm sure more will come through the door before the show closes on August 10th.

A little late getting this post up, but San Jose, CA based photographer Jai Tanju emailed over a little update from an hour or so south of SF.

San Jose Ca - "Here She Comes" paintings by Aaron Frisby at Seeing Things gallery opened on June 7th 2013

Aaron and Jocko hanging out before the show

paintings by Aaron Frisby

SAN FRANCISCO --- The Book and Job Gallery opened their new group show L2 with not one but two nights of events, including a Saturday night hip-hop show in their tiny space.

Curated by our friend Mario Ayala, the show includes work by Alex Ziv, Henry Gunderson, and several other local San Francisco artists. The show was packed full of diverse works and had a fitting DIY feeling with work priced low, and I have a feeling some of these artists will be asking for much higher prices in their shows soon to come. Get down to the Tenderloin and snatch some up while you still can.

Nathan Harris

Andrew Luck

Mario Ayala

SAN FRANCISCO --- The Shooting Gallery opened both Madness by Yumiko Kayukawa (Seattle) and Bastion by Aaron Nagel (Oakland) on June 8th with Kayukawa in the main gallery and Nagel in the project space.

Kayukawa's work is very interesting, combining a deliberate flatness with immense detail, all perfectly constructed on their canvas supports. She was also there during the opening, approaching visitors and initiating conversations with them, and was a very refreshing and inviting presence. However, I was more attracted to the paintings of Aaron Nagel. They are not only beautiful, realistic portraits but with the inclusion of several small blue dots, the compositions become more complicated and move from basic nudes to a more personal vision of both spirituality and sensuality. These are not the fashion models seen in the front of White Walls, these are real women, and their depiction is executed perfectly, and the blue dots add a distinctive touch.

Aaron Nagel, Urchin, Oil on Panel, 20x30"

Aaron Nagel, Bastion, Oil on Panel, 51x40"

Yumiko Kayukawa, KYOUKI (Madness), Acrylic and Ink on Canvas, 22x30"

Yumiko Kayukawa, TEREYA (Shyness), Acrylic and Ink on Canvas, 20x16"

ROCHESTER, NY --- Portland based Ryan Bubnis emailed over some images of his current show Black And Blue with Lucas Irwin running through June at 1975 Gallery in Rochester. Ryan Bubnis and Lucas Irwin work through a series of new drawings, paintings and sculpture. This exhibition explores themes of restraint, resilience, friendship, collaboration and mark-making. objects, paper, wood, canvas, aerosol, acrylics, cel vinyl, Papier-Mâché, graphite and India ink. He draws inspiration from life, love, graffiti, folk and outsider art from a variety of cultures.