While We Were Away at 941 Geary is a great show. That's almost enough to say, other than the fact that you should go see it. Curated by gallery director Tova Lobatz, the show features artists from the US and Europe (except for Chanoir who is from Columbia) whom Lobatz encountered in her travels. Along with their works, most of the artists included a suitcase with all the necessary items for their creative process. Whereas How & Nosm obviously carry stencils, Poesia carries a camera and paint-stained T-shirt. Eachartist's label was also in the form of a passport page, giving both biographical information and a quotefrom them. This personal insight, literally seeing into the internal objects of their reality as artists, givesthe show an intimate relationship between curator and artist, and therefore artist and viewer. Now, that is enough to say. Just go see the show before it closes March 2nd.
Words & Photos: Rachel Ralph - rachel(at)fecalface.com
Miss Van, Sol y Luna, Acrylic on canvas, 28.5”x36”
Hebru Brantley, My Secrets Keep Secrets, Mixed media on canvas, 56”x56”
Jaybo Monk, I Lay Deaf to Death, Spray paint, acrylic and charcoal, 59”x1.5”x59”
Sten Lex, Untitled 3, Acrylic and stencil poster on wood, 28”x40”
Apex @941 Geary Friday, 30 November 2012 /// Written by Rachel Ralph
Work by Apex
Reflected, an exhibtion of street artist APEX's newest work opened at 941 Geary last Friday. The space was packed with people looking at several large works on canvas, a wall mural, and framed sketches, most of which had sold by the end of the night. The work shows APEX's interest in the dualistic characteristics of nature and unfolds symmetrically across his black canvases. The matte and shiny black stripes that extend across the gallery floor and walls contrast perfectly to his curling and undulating forms. The space and the work support one another, and this is one show you should check out for both aspects before it closes on January 5th.
The Aussies really do have it. Maybe it’s all of that isolation all the way over in Australia, but the opening of Young & Free: Contemporary Australian Street Artists on September 10th at 941 Geary (SF) proved that the deserve a place on the international stage. It was the largest collection of new Australian street work that has ever been exhibited in the United States, featuring the likes of Anthony Lister, Kid Zoom, Dabs Myla, Ben Frost, Everefresh founding members Meggs, Reka and Rone, and many many more.
Nearly 1,000 people floated through from the two entrances in the first hours. Entering from Geary Street was like walking through one of Melbourne’s bombed out alleyways as the artists had taken the liberty to ‘decorate’ the walls beyond recognition.
The artists were working up until the last minute to prepare the final details for the show. Below are some of the images of the final day leading into the exhibition’s opening night. Young & Free: Contemporary Australian Street Artists is showing at 941 Geary in San Francisco until October 22nd.
Stencil artist Ha-Ha with the final layer of one of his iconic face stencils, used a little more literally in this sense.
Two thirds of Ha-Ha’s main exhibited work was actually of fellow artist Ben Frost, who is shown here against his homage pinning one of his prints to the wall.
Dabs Myla spent the day finishing a mural collaboration with members of Seventh Letter, the infamous crew that they were recently asked into.
Reka, a founding member of Everfresh known for his perfect lines and vivacious characters, mapping out the beginning of carcass character.
A gallery crew member placing ‘sold’ pins on Ben Frost’s work before opening.
Why oh why did we stay out till 3:30 last night?! Ugh, anyway... be sure to get to 941 Geary tonight for their YOUNG AND FREE Show (our preview) @941 Geary here in SF. Featuring works from Australian street artists Anthony Lister, Kid Zoom, Dabs Myla, Dmote, New2, Ben Frost, Meggs, Ha-Ha, Reka, Rone, Sofles and Vexta. 7-11pm ~complete details
Dabs Myla getting started on their mural the other day.
Young & Free is the biggest Aussie street art exhibition outside Australia, ever, and it is exactly as chaotic as you'd imagine it to be. It features new artwork by Anthony Lister, Kid Zoom, Dabs Myla, Dmote, New2, Ben Frost, Meggs, Ha-Ha, Reka, Rone, Sofles and Vexta.
Having thirteen of not only Australia but the world's best street artists compressed into one city space is the artistic equivalent of a paint-splattered war zone. Tiny multi-coloured flecks of stencil cut outs adorn the floor like creative confetti, half painted canvases are stacked up against walls, dozens and dozens of boxes of spray paint are pilled in corners and the sounds of circle saws and dubstep are floating into the alleys of downtown Tenderloin in San Francisco.
The show opens this Saturday at 941 Geary and will be accompanied by a series of local walls painted by the artists. In-progress shots below. - By Georgia Frances King
The warehouse space as it looks on Day 1.
Meggs adding his own throw-up to the ‘laneway' with the iconic San Franciscan buildings reflecting in the front window of Geary 941.
Around half of the aerosol ordered to paint over five walls in San Francisco.
Young & Free: Class of 2011.
Dabs Myla getting started on their mural.
Some The Shining-esque drip down effects by Vexta.
A small taste of a great show featuring some of Australia's best street artists creating works from stencil to spray paint on all mediums filling 941 Geary's large walls. Should be a great show that you should get to when SF's art season gets kicked off in a couple weeks. Now go back to sitting on the beach or by the pool while your vacation lasts.
941Geary in San Francisco is pleased to present The Belle of the Brawl, a solo exhibition of new work from Oakland-based artist, Jesse Hazelip.
In The Belle of the Brawl, the artist continues his ongoing examination of the sociopolitical patterns of repetitive historical mistakes. As the dust settles from the war in Iraq, the anxiety of crisis looms large over Afghanistan. The artist seeks to address the pending inevitability of violence and destruction through a visual examination which will include iconographic imagery from the artist’s earlier work: herons, buffalo and WWII weaponry, while introducing a new assembly of symbols and motifs. The exhibition will feature over 20 mixed media works on found wood as well as a transformational approach to 941Geary’s 3,000 square foot space with a 16’ x 46’ ft installation piece and a second clandestine installation to be unveiled at the opening reception.
The opening reception The Belle of the Brawl, will be held at 941Geary on Saturday, January 15, 2011 from 7-11 PM. The exhibit will be on display through February 26, 2010 and is free and open to the public.
Glen E. Friedman has shot some seriously iconic photos over the last 3 decades and will be displaying Fuck You All @941 Geary wtih an opening set for Saturday, Nov 6th. The traveling show is in its 13th year, and it's the first time shown in San Francisco... Don't miss it. ~details.
Got to preview Mike Shine's show last night @941 Geary. Games, music, food, drinks, performances. Be sure to get there tonight for the grand opening of Flotsam's Wonder World... Below is a little taste without giving too much away. Saturday, 7-11pm. show details
Ferris Plock, Brixton, and Kelly Tunstall
The parade into the show.
Cheer up, Charlie.
Jessica and Mr Mike Shine... He's the one in the face paint.
Mike Shine is going bonkers and has created a complete circus over at the newish 941 Geary and his show, Flotsam's Wonder World, opens this Saturday. From what we've neard so far, this is not going to be one to miss. I believe that Mike has pulled out all the stops with an art "opera" complete with films, music, carnival tent, games, and over 200 mixed media pieces. Remember his show @FFDG or our studio visit?
This month the crew of White Walls / Shooting Gallery open the doors to another addition, 941 Geary (which is right around the corner from White Walls), a gallery that is anticipated to show established and international artists alike. Though mums the word on who all the gallery will be lining up, the space itself is beautiful, and impressive (it's also huge, so artists will have an insane amount of space to work with).
Hi guys! ArtBusiness.com dude Alan Bamberger with David Choong Lee (who paints his own hats too).
Wowzas, there's a lot of art happenings this weekend, and while you're making the rounds, be sure to stop at SFAI's MFA show Currency opening Friday, May 17th at the beautiful old SF Mint Building (88 5th Street).
SFAI's 2013 MFA graduates—working in painting, photography, printmaking, film, sculpture, installation, digital media, performance, and across media—will present work that embraces the Institute's signature spirit of experimentation and conceptual risk-taking.
Opening reception: Friday, May 17, 7–9 pm & running through Sunday 11-6pm daily. -- complete details
London based Pedro Matos opens the solo show Building Castles Made of Sand this Friday in Los Angeles at the Martha Otero Gallery featuring a new series of oil paintings on canvas and azulejo panels - a traditional Portuguese medium of hand-painted, tin-glazed, ceramic tile work.
San Francisco -- CCA opens their 2013 MFA Thesis Exhibition this Thursday, May 16th at their SF campus. Every year another graduating class produces steller work. One of the best SF art events worth getting to, but be sure to get there early as there's always a long line. ~details
Our buddies at Needles & Pens celebrate their 10th anniversary on Friday, May 10th, and it's not to be missed with this steller lineup - all going down at The Luggage Store.
Check the details, mark it in the calendar, and we'll be seeing you there!
San Francisco based photographer, Michael Jang, who's been shooting for decades and who has captured some great shots over the years (Reagan and Frank Sinatra is a good one) turned his camera on his family while growing up in the suburbs in the 70s. An intimate portrait of a Chinese-American family inside their Pacifica home living their lives. Sounds benign, which it is, but what also makes the images fascinating.
The Jangs - Opening reception, Thursday, May 2, (5:30-7:30pm) Stephen Wirtz
"The Jangs" photography by Michael Jang opening Thursday
British artist Ian Francis opened up the solo show Season 1 Episode 0 last night, April 25th at NYC's Joshua Liner. We've been fans of Ian's work for years. ~show details & works.
Although I missed the opening of Northern-California photographer Michael Garlington's newest show, Constructed Realities, I was fortunate enough to see the work still up during the Metaphysical fundraiser a couple weeks back at 111 Minna. Metaphysical fundraiser, an auction to benefit Wayne Ernzer. --- The ghoulish photographs in their heavy, hand-made frames are reminiscent of photos from the old west, and the glass crucifixes, complete with fetuses and guns, emphasize the accumulated time within the works themselves. Whether you're looking at the frames, the photos, or both, this show deserves a visit, and a walk through the golden archway Garlington constructed around the front door.
Fecal Face contributor Rachel Ralph (rachel(at)fecalface.com) has been profiling this Oakland based painter as he travels about Japan. In this segment, we feature some photos as he prepared for this show and residency at Spes-LaB in Tokyo which opened last weekend. Arnold will be featured in SFMoMA's Minna Street windows on June 8th.
Last Saturday, here in SF's Mission district, Guerrero Gallery opened two new shows with Philly based Alex Lukas and SF based Richard Colman respectively. Colman's work occupied the project space while Lukas' work and foliage was presented in the main space. Worth getting to if you haven't already.
Just got back to SF after a little trip south to Sayulita, Mexico. After 10 years without a vacation, me and the Mrs. headed south for some mental time off sitting in the sun, swimming and enjoying the watery Mexican beer. Here are some photos as we get back into the swing of things again.
Athens, Greece based designer, architect and artist Dimitris Polychroniadis emailed over more of his work which consists of mixed media, pop-humorous diorama sculptures that make a comment on the harsh realities my country and much of the world is facing at the moment.
FFDG will open a group show with the artists from the famed Skull & Sword Tattoo on Friday, May 17th (6-9pm). Artists: Grime, Henry Lewis, Yutaro, and Lango. Below are a series of videos on Grime for Vice's Tattoo Age produced in 2011. Fascinating look at one of the greatest tattoo artists alive today.
ARYZ (Spain) opened his newest gallery show at Fifty24SF last Friday and, if you live in the Bay Area, you need to go. This dude can obviously paint, and he doesn't need an entire building to show his impecable skill. The show has lots of small works on paper which contrast his highly-defined line work to his hard-edged painted objects. The contrast between the hard and soft was the most striking thing to me about his work, since I had never seen it in person before, and the washes blend with the thick paint seamlessly. The show also contains a larger work on canvas, a huge head suspended in the back of the room, and a big wood sculpture of a wolf figure. This diversity in such a small space was impressive, and those of us that went to the opening even got to meet the man in person. If you didn't make it out this weekend, check it out before May 31st when it closes and these works will be off to some very happy new homes.
Water McBeer is please to announce its latest exhibition "Precious" a solo exhibition by David Bayus (April 6 - May 4, 2013) -- David Bayus born 1982 holds his BFA from the Savannah College of Art and his MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute. David lives and works in San Francisco and is a founding member of the basement collective. This will be his first exhibition with the world renown Water McBeer Gallery highlighting his most recent achievements with paint and digital media. David Bayus will be exhibiting 5 relatively large-scale mixed media works along with a collaborative object featuring Hungarian sculptor H.R KOONS.
The Shooting Gallery handed over the reins to the Red Truck Gallery (a New Orleans based gallery) which curated their new show, Hard Time Mini Mall and opened the it on Saturday night. This is my favorite show (so far) in the Shooting Gallery's new space and was packed full of art, a mini bar, and cowhide rugs. The Red Truck Gallery chose works with clear craftsmanship and it was easy to see in Ian Berry's denim assemblages and Chris Roberts-Antieau's awesome quilts. The space was completely packed, making it hard to see each piece individually, but this show deserves a second trip anyway. I look forward to spending more time with the chandeliers, automatons, and paintings before the show comes down on May 4th.
Toronto based photographer Nathan Cyprys emailed to let us know about his newest series "Neighbour State", and we were about to post it when we spotted this series on his site entitled "Ayre (of Distances)" and had to post this one instead. After you view this one, view "Neighbour State" on his site. Both are visually enjoyable.
Working from found photographs, Lyle's paintings are created through a reductive painting process where each piece is rendered using only black paint and turpentine. Lyle begins this process by priming a panel with white gesso. He then paints a thin, rich, oily black veneer over the primed panel, slowly and systematically developing his images by removing some of the black paint with a cloth. In doing so, Lyle renders layer upon layer of various values of black paint resulting in his signature-style of luminescent works.
London based David Shillinglaw who's blogged it up for Fecal Face in the past recently completed this mural in London as he prepares for his solo show at Stolen Space opening on April 26th.
Our buddy Henrik Haven, who brings us some goodies from his native Copenhagen, has been shooting some of his city's graffiti and street art. Last week we brought you part one of his camera's explorations.
San Francisco based artists Raphael Villet and Sean Vranizan are currently showing Just the Two of Us at Adobe Books through April 21. Here are some photos from the opening and works.
Two twin brothers from Brooklyn, Skewville brought the fun to their opening at White Walls last Saturday night with their new show, Amusement. After all, you can't take a show that starts with a sign reading "Sucks either Way" too seriously. Besides the simplistic yet detailed paintings, visitors got to ride on a bike-powered merry-go-round and throw bean bags at bottles like a carnival game. Even the works made of found materials, like the Battleship boombox and the suitcase made of tin lunch pails, brought a sense of humor to the night. After seeing the work in the back of the gallery, which was much more crowded, Skewville provided a light-hearted atmosphere in which viewers could drink beer, play games, and see some really great artworks.
Brooklyn based artists Sheryo and The Yok recentely completed the mural "Pipe Dreams" in Long Island City at 5 pointz. The Yok also emailed over some photos fom a recent trip to Mexico for the Festival Anonymous held near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico from this past January... Awesome, we're heading to Mexico in a couple weeks.
In the ever-expanding genres of vinyl and resin based sculptural art, there are often players behind the scenes making some of the most impressive pieces come together. Whether you hang out at ComicCon or Art Basel Miami, you've seen sculptural works that PIP (Pretty in Plastic) literally had a hand (or several) in fabricating. Here, Fecal Face interviews PIP founder, owner and fabrication mastermind Julie B., to find out more about how their work all plays out.
I live in SF. I drove across the US last summer in a 30 ft. RV from SF to Brooklyn and did portrait series called Darth Across America, every day people in every day situations, wearing a Darth Vader mask. I raised $2600 through Kickstarter along the way, that paid for gas and beer. I was travelling with 2 other photographers who also did a series of portraits. Mine drew the most attention. It was an experiment in a way, to see if I could use a pop culture icon to unite people that had nothing in common. I was right. I created a community of people across the United States that continue to follow my project, which is soon to be a book. -Julie Schuchard
Our buddy Henrik Haven, who brings us some goodies from his native Copenhagen, has been shooting some of his city's graffiti and street art. Much to offer, we've broken the posts into 3 and will be posting more in the coming days.
Our friend Nicolas Le Borgne, who's shown with us for The Diamond Sea, emailed over some pics from his current show at Spacejunk Art Centers in Lyon, France. Incredible watercolor, pen & ink or acrylic works from this talented 28 year old Frenchman.
Material published on FECAL FACE DOT COM online service is copyrighted by Fecal Face or its licensors, including the originating wire services. Such material is protected by U.S. and international copyright laws and treaties. All rights reserved.
Users of the Fecal Face online service may not reproduce, republish or redistribute material found on the web site in any form without the express written consent of the copyright holder.
xhamsterwarez