Archive for the 'San Fransisco' Category
Tuesday, February 9th, 2010
Keep the Fire Burning: SFMOCA to House Fisher Collection for Next Century
Gerhard Richter, Two Candles, 1982. (Image © Doris and Donald Fisher Collection/Gerhard Richter, courtesy SFMOMA via Chez Namastenancy)
This past September SFMOMA announced it had reached an initial agreement to house the collection of GAP founders, Doris and Donald Fisher (Mr. Fisher past away days after the announcement). While early reports speculated a 25 year arangement, exact terms were not revealed until late last week.
Eclipsing initial estimates, SFMOMA will become the official home of the Fisher collection for the next 100 years. The museum also announced that an additional $250 million in endowment funds have been raised (largely a result of donations from the Fisher family, trustees and museum chairman, Charles Schwab), and that a new wing would be built to house the 1,100+ piece collection which currently resides in GAP corporate headquarters.
Donald Fisher at Gap headquarters (Image: Mike Kane/The San Francisco Chronicle)
The century long partnership will kick off June 25, when the museum opens Calder to Warhol: Introducing the Fisher Collection. The exhibit, part of SFMOMA’s ongoing 75th anniversary celebration, is slated to feature some 160 pieces from the Fisher’s astounding contemporary art collection, including works by Ellsworth Kelly, Gerhard Richter, Roy Lichtenstein, Richard Serra, Dan Flavin, Philip Guston, Lee Krasner, Joan Mitchell, Frank Stella, Cy Twombly, Willem de Kooning, Richard Diebenkorn, and Brice Marden to name a few.
David Hockney – Interior With Sun and Dog. (Image © David Hockney/Doris And Donald Fisher Collection, via SFGate)
Brice Marden – The Sisters, 1991-93. (Image © Brice Marden/Artists Rights Society/Doris & Donald Fisher Collection, via MuseumViews)
More at the Wall Street Journal, SF Gate and LA Times
Tuesday, February 9th, 2010
Tomokazu Matsuyama at Frey Norris, San Francisco
(All Images via Frey Norris Gallery)
Around the turn of the century 20th century, the U.S. embarked down a road of increasingly restrictive immigration policies, including the Chinese Exclusion (1882) and Emergency Quota Acts (1921, 1924). Such foreign policy effectively stifled the influx of immigrants, while appeasing growing nativist concerns. Included here was the Gentleman’s Agreement (1907), a mutual arrangement whereby the U.S. would not extend such restrictions to Japan, as long as the island empire agreed to cut off all further emigration to the U.S. And while the goal was partly to cool relations between the two nations, competing imperialistic hungers eventually reignited tensions that sparked the Pacific front of the Second World War. By 1942 FDR had signed Executive Order 9066, forcibly relocating over 100,000 Japanese-Americans to internment camps. It was only in 1988 that the federal government acknowledged the prejudice of its past policy, paying over $1.5 billion in reparations.
With In Case You’re Lost, Tomokazu Matsuyama not only works towards reconciling the cultural tensions of his own Japanese-American identity, but addresses larger issues of nationalism and global relations. Here is a complex mix of autobiographical and socio-political commentary.
Surrounded by new paintings are the show’s centerpieces – two large-scale sculptures that contemplate notions of cultural heritage and nationalism, flip-flopping symbols of American and Asian identity. Wherever I Am, a life-size reworking of Frederick Remington’s Bronco Buster, recasts the famed late 19th century American sculpture with a Japanese-pop sensibility, replacing the iconic cowboy rider with a Playmobil character. Chogen, based off the original 13th century Japanese treasure, substitutes the praying monk’s prayer beads for beer cans and cigarette butts, and his original meditative state, for a glazed-over drunken one.
Speaking of the new sculpture, Matsu notes, “I wanted to keep that rigourous, very expressionistic feature but flip to an American context, so what I did was I made him an alchoholic – like a drunk man in a sports bar…From a distance, he looks somewhat fanatic like its original. Close up, you’ll see his eye focus is gone and he’s just drunk. The eyes are actual glass eyes, made of gold leaf inside with the addition of my painting color scheme of neon pink and dark brown. The sculpture looks aged and few centuries old but the material used to paint it looks like 70s auto paint…[colliding] aged with the contemporary art material.”
Tomokazu Matsuyama - In Case You’re Lost
Frey Norris Gallery
456 Geary Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
Monday, October 12th, 2009
Wild Things Arrives
Final Drawing for Where the Wild Things Are. (Image: © Maurice Sendak, 1963. All rights reserved.)
There’s lots going on in anticipation of this week’s theatrical release of Spike Jonze’s adaptation of the children’s classic, Where the Wild Things Are. While much of the spotlight is on MoMA’s survey of Jonze’s accomplishments in film, several other events focus on Maurice Sendak, the story’s creator.
The Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco is hosting There’s a Mystery There: Sendak on Sendak, on view now through Jan. 19, 2010. The exhibit features watercolors, preliminary sketches, drawings, and dummy books from more than 40 of Sendak’s books. All works are on loan from the Rosenbach Museum & Library in Philadelphia, which holds the world’s largest collection of Sendak’s art, including some ten thousand items including drawings and manuscripts for over one hundred books, as well as prints, paintings, hand-made books, and a wide range of other ephemera.
Bruno, 1979. Concept Drawing for Where the Wild Things Are Opera (Image: via Animazing Gallery, © Maurice Sendak. All rights reserved.
The Rosenbach Museum has aslo lent twelve drawings and two manuscript pages for Where the Wild Things Are: Original Drawings by Maurice Sendak, taking place at the Morgan Library in New York.
Coinciding with these exhibits is Sendak in Soho, the largest ever sale of original art directly from the artist’s collection, including over 200 works, as well as a limited edition bronze sculpture. The show is currently on view at Animazing Gallery and runs till Nov. 8.
Lastly, The Rosenbach is currently holding two of their own Sendak exhibits. While And It’s Still Hot: Where The Wild Things Are focuses on the popular book, Too Many Thoughts to Chew: A Sendak Stew presents a refreshing curatorial approach that does not focus on Wild Things, and instead explores the reoccurring themes of food, eating, and being eaten in Sendak’s books.
Wednesday, September 16th, 2009
Modern Tradition :: Tony Curanaj at John Pence Gallery
For the past decade Tony Curanaj, better know in graffiti cirlces as SUB, has been diligently dedicating himself to a mastery of realist painting that has more in common with Renaissance humanism than popular street aesthetics. After earning his BFA from the School of Visual Arts in 1995, Curanaj honed his craft at the prestigious Water Street Atelier, a highly selective four year studio program steeped in the tradition of realism. From there, Curanaj became a founding member and core teacher at the Grand Central Academy, which evolved from the original the WSA. Curanaj’s paintings reflect the disciplined hand of a classical painter thrust into a modern world, and are on view now through Oct. 10 in a new solo exhibit at John Pence Gallery (San Francisco). Not to be missed.
Tony Curanaj – Recent Paintings
Sept. 11 – Oct. 10
John Pence Gallery
750 Post Street
San Francisco, CA 94109
Tuesday, September 15th, 2009
Walrus TV Artist Feature – Henry Lewis Tattoos Sylvia Ji
Upper Playground has been producing viral videos via Walrus TV in ‘09 aimed at capturing the zeitgeist as the decade draws to a close. In this installment, San Francisco artists Henry Lewis and Sylvia Ji share the unique experience of acquiring a tattoo…
Wednesday, August 12th, 2009
Preview :: Shawn Barber at the Shooting Gallery
(All Images: © Shawn Barber/The Shooting Gallery SF)
Shawn Barber opens a new solo show this Sturday, August 15 at The Shooting Gallery SF, continuing his deeply personal and human series of Tattooed Portraits. As you can see from our preview of some of the new paintings that will be on view, this one’s well worth your time.
Video © Fecal Face
Shawn Barber – Tattooed Portraits: Snapshots
August 15 – Sept. 8
The Shooting Gallery SF
839 Larkin St.
San Francisco, CA
Monday, July 20th, 2009
Barry McGee Monograph Coming Soon
Image: Alleged Press
Does anyone know how to fast forward time? Not too much, just a few months is all we’re asking. Waiting for this is going to be a tough one.
Barry McGee by McGee, Barry
Publisher: Damiani / Alleged Press
SBN: 9788862080965
Format:Hardcover
Pages:176
Publish Date: 10/31/2009
Image: Alleged Press
Tuesday, June 9th, 2009
Andrew Schoultz Coming to Roberts + Tilton, LA
Image: Detail of painting on paper on view with Morgan Lehman at Pulse Miami, 2009.
San Francisco based artist Andrew Schoultz is gearing up for a new solo show at Roberts and Tilton in Los Angeles. Schoultz’s work is strongest on a grand scale, when space permits his seamless incorporation of individual paintings and drawings into larger murals and sculptural installations. With full reign over R+T’s sizable main gallery, expect to see the artist at his best. Keep an eye on this one.
Andrew Schoultz - White Noise and Silence: New Paintings and Drawings
June 13 – August 1
Opening reception: June 13, 6-8pm
Roberts + Tilton
5801 Washington Boulevard
Culver City, California 90232
info@robertsandtilton.com
Friday, November 28th, 2008
Bobby Hutton Benefit Featuring McGee, Swoon + more
The Bobby Hutton Memorial Benefit art exhibit opens tomorrow, Nov. 29, at the Luggage Store in San Francisco. Hutton was amongst the earliest members of the Black Panther Party, who lost his life at the age of 16 during a 1968 confrontation with police. Proceeds from the show (not auction) will help fund the completion of a memorial sculpture which will be placed in Oakland California’s (the birthplace of the Panthers) De Fremery Park.
The exhibit includes works for sale by Barry McGee, Swoon, Rigo 23, Andrew Schoultz, Date Farmers, Monica Canilao, and many others. The Luggage Store opening will be followed by a party at On Six Gallery, and will feature a performance by Digital Underground.
Here’s a brief biography of Hutton, courtesy of Babylon Falling:
For those of you who might be familiar with the name but not the story, Lil’ Bobby Hutton was the first member of the Black Panther Party and was also the first Party member murdered by the police. Having joined the Panthers as a 15 year old, by the time of his death in 1968 (just two weeks shy of turning 17) Lil’ Bobby was the Treasurer of a rapidly growing organization. Although the circumstances leading up to the confrontation that resulted in his death are the subject of dispute, there is no confusion over the fact that members of the Oakland and Emeryville Police Departments gunned down (12 shots, the first to the head at point blank range) an unarmed black teenager who had surrendered and was in their custody. His murder was the catalyst that increased the urgency and the intensity of the implementation of the Black Panther Party platform.
Bobby Hutton Memorial Benefit
organized by Sham Saenz
Nov. 29
Art Show and Sale
8 – 10 pm
Luggage Store
1007 Market St. (at 6th)
After Party
10pm – 2 am
On Six Gallery
60 6th St.
San Francisco, CA 94103
Friday, October 31st, 2008
Must See::Jim Houser at White Walls SF
We previously told you about Awful Mountain, Jim Houser and Richard Colman’s upcoming joint show at White Walls in San Francisco. Here are some wonderful shots the gallery sent over (thanks goes out to Jeff Luger) of Jim working on his installation, as well as some of the individual pieces available.
Jim’s installations are fantastically inspirational, and he possesses the unique ability to create an environment that is at once warm and welcoming, yet thought provoking an densely layered. Through his use of reoccurring characters, symbols, and text, Jim has created a language and ongoing narrative that is distinctly his own, and represents a form of pure artistic and emotional expression that is often void from much contemporary illustrative art today. Simply put, he is one of our favorite working artists. Read on for more images of the installation in progress.
Richard Colman and Jim Houser – Awful Mountain
Opening: Nov. 1, 7 – 11pm
White Walls SF
835 Larkin St.
San Francisco, CA, 94109
andres@whitewallssf.com