distractions | inspirations

Miranda July

2011-02-08T11:37:00.000-08:00

I <3 Miranda July.

This is from a series of kids' activity pages she made:

PROJECT: Nancy Chan

2011-01-31T17:26:00.000-08:00

(image taken by Pro Arts)

Up in the PROJECT space at Pro Arts Gallery in Oakland.

Duration: now - Feb 18
Reception: Feb 4, 6-9p

Pro Arts Gallery
150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza
Oakland

New American Paintings, no. 91 (Pacific Coast edition)

2011-01-29T09:44:00.001-08:00

curated by Lawrence Rinder, director of the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (Berkeley, CA)

Installation in progress

2010-12-24T12:40:00.000-08:00

Czech police on board

2010-12-09T11:41:00.000-08:00

Freedom Haters | Are Caricature Artists The Assholes of the Art World?

2010-05-12T12:34:00.000-07:00

http://www.freedomhaters.org/content/are-caricature-artists-assholes-art-world?page=show

GOAL: To venture to San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf and get caricatures of myself drawn by every damn caricature artist in the vicinity.

Upcoming Shows: Paper! Awesome! & Monster Drawing Rally

2010-02-17T21:44:00.000-08:00

PAPER! AWESOME!
(Curated by Brion Nuda Rosch)

February 20 - March 27, 2010
Opening Reception: Saturday, February 20, 4-7pm

Baer Ridgway Exhibitions
172 Minna St
San Francisco, CA 94105

***

Southern Exposure's 10th Annual Monster Drawing Rally
A live drawing event and fundraiser
Friday, March 5, 2010, 6-11 pm
Donation: $10 & up

Verdi Club
2424 Mariposa St (between Potrero & Hampshire & 17th & 18th)
San Francisco, CA

(I'll be in the 8-9pm timeslot, btw)

Book Cover Archive

2010-02-03T15:54:00.000-08:00

ReadyMade magazine mentioned this interesting site:
http://bookcoverarchive.com/

I love well-designed book covers. I'm hoping they also catalog nice embossed hardcovers (without the dust jacket).

New Stuffed Animals

2010-02-01T13:06:00.000-08:00

JP and I made some stuffed animals. They are now in the arms of some very rambunctious 3-year olds - (hopefully they'll last!):

Upcoming: Monster Drawing Rally

2010-01-29T15:17:00.000-08:00

Hey folks, I just got a 8-9pm slot at the 10th Annual Monster Drawing Rally at the Verdi Club. It's a fundraiser for Southern Exposure and should be a fun time. I'll have an hour to make a piece (or more) that will be sold at the end of the hour for $60 each. I don't know if it's possible for me to make anything within an hour, so we'll see!

Southern Exposure's
10th Annual Monster Drawing Rally
A live drawing event and fundraiser

Friday, March 5, 2010
6:00 to 11:00 PM

$10 & up

Verdi Club
2424 Mariposa
(between Potrero & Hampshire & 17th & 18th)

Drago Persic

2009-12-17T14:00:00.001-08:00

Cat & Girl

2009-12-16T11:53:00.000-08:00

Mary Anne Kluth and Laurel Roth: Theory of the Unforeseen

2009-08-29T12:01:00.000-07:00

My good friend Mary Anne has a show coming up. Go and check it out!

Frey Norris Gallery
September 03, 2009 – October 04, 2009

456 Geary Street
San Francisco, CA 94102

Reception
September 03, 2009
6:00 to 9:00 pm

Get High Now (Without Drugs)

2009-08-27T22:50:00.000-07:00

Look what I got in the mail today!

My first gig illustrating a book. Pretty neat.
Available from Chronicle Books.

Niche

2009-08-10T12:52:00.000-07:00

Hey all;
the fine folks at Niche magazine did a little piece on me in their newest issue:

Alternative link:
http://fittheniche.com/current-issue/

Telegraph | Pigeons can tell good art from bad

2009-07-20T13:36:00.000-07:00

Pigeons can tell the difference between a beautiful piece of art and a messy scribble, according to research.

Watch those jobs of yours, art critics. ;)

The Sky

2009-07-15T09:29:00.001-07:00

Google Calendar has this "helpful" feature of guessing the location of your event.

Polaroid Mirror

2009-06-24T13:48:00.000-07:00

It's silly and probably simple to recreate, but I still want one.

site: http://www.designboom.com/shop/polaroid_mirror.html

Quimby the Mouse

2009-05-24T12:25:00.001-07:00

Fecal Face reminded me of the Chris Ware animated short I saw at the recent This American Life live event:

Quimby The Mouse from This American Life on Vimeo.

*sigh* I adore Chris Ware. (It's too bad he spelled my name wrong in one of the books he signed for me!)

Personality maps

2009-05-19T11:19:00.000-07:00

Selection from a blog post called "The Geography of Personality":

The New Yorker || The Art Doctor: How do you restore works made with latex, caviar, or elephant dung?

2009-05-18T09:47:00.000-07:00

There's a fascinating article on Christian Scheidemann, a conservator of contemporary art, in the May 11, 2009 issue of The New Yorker. I'd post a link to the article if I could, but since it's not the current issue, it's hidden in their subscriber-only archives. There are many good parts in the article, but this is one of my favorite bits:

The Guggenheim had recently held a symposium at which conservators examined the minimalist artist Ad Reinhardt's "Black Painting," which had been scratched during preparations for an exhibition and then subjected to misguided attempts at restoration. "It was a multimillion-dollar painting, and it was a total loss -- the painting is totally dead," Scheidemann told me. "It is a good study for other paintings -- like cutting open a body to look at the organs. But you would no more put it on your wall and say it is an Ad Reinhardt than you would unbury your grandfather's body and say it is your grandfather."

Photos from "Spaces"

2009-04-15T17:13:00.001-07:00

Megan Wolfe took some great photos of the opening reception at Hyde St. Gallery.

Check it out:
http://www.fecalface.com/SF/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1509&Itemid=90

"Spaces" @ Hyde St. Gallery (SF)

2009-03-30T22:08:00.000-07:00

SPACES
Brett Amory & Nancy Chan

April 3-May 1, 2009

Opening Reception: Friday, April 3, 6-10 PM

Hyde St Gallery
1987 Hyde St (@ Union)
San Francisco, CA 94109
415-359-9800
www.hydestreetgallery.com

Gallery Hours
Wed-Fri: 1-9 PM
Sat-Sun: 12-8 PM

Curated by Julianne Yates

Catering by
SUSHI GROOVE

The Artist Statement - as written by another

2009-03-30T17:31:00.000-07:00

My friend Jason is unusually (not unusual for him, but unusual for people) adept at writing descriptions of my work. I've not seriously submitted these synopses as an artist statement to galleries, but I do think they deserve recognition.

I asked him if I could put them up here, and he agreed. He could make a killing on writing press releases for galleries!

The first one, from 2007:

Chan's portraits are bereft of the usual plethora of props and environmental fluff that infects less focused artists' work. Her subjects inhabit this vacuum as though they have been plucked out of their lives and frozen in time. Strangely, rather than leave the subjects deflated and breathless, this *negative* space of sorts only serves to intensify them, as though the air so extracted has been blown into their personalities.

And a recent one, for 2009:

The announcement that Nancy Chan will be showing new work at a show called Spaces reaffirms her bipolar relationship with the concept of enclosure. From a distance, the isolated elements of intricate black within an ocean of white force an obsession on the microcosm, like the huge badge your cool friend had in school that said "piss off" in 1 point text. Up close though, the figures inflate to provide a spatial universe of their own, as though the viewer was drawn through the singularity to live in their world.

Late Winter Updates

2009-03-04T18:24:00.000-08:00

Oh, and I suppose I should mention dates and whatnots for upcoming things.

I've been rather busy since November, and it'll be pretty nonstop until August, looks like.

The above drawing is one of many illustrations I recently completed for an upcoming publication called "Get High Now (Without Drugs)." It's sort of a meditative book with descriptions of poses you (and possibly with the assistance of friends) can do to achieve states of ... er, high-ness. Or something.

It's mind/body/soul stuff for you booksellers out there.

The book will be out in August or September this year. Can't wait to see how it actually turns out.

In exhibition news, I have a show coming up quick in the beginning of April. Opening April 3, Brett Amory and I will be putting up a show called "Spaces" at the Hyde St. Gallery in the Russian Hill area of San Francisco. It's a small gallery, but they're allowing us to paint the walls for installations so I'm pretty excited. Should be a lot of fun.

Following that, I'll have two large pieces (one made a year or so ago, one brand new) up in the San Francisco Chinese Culture Center biennial opening in May. There will be a catalogue and everything. Will keep you posted on the dates for that.

And following that (July) is a group show with Jesse Schlesinger and Matt Momchilov at Eleanor Harwood's gallery. I believe all three of us are aiming to make new work for that one. Last I spoke with them, they were all very psyched.

So that's my busy first half of the year. Will have to get down to LA at some point and celebrate a friend's recent nuptials. Otherwise, I'm down and out this Spring. It's all work, but it's all love, too.

When art calls, it's hard to say no.

2009-03-04T18:09:00.000-08:00

This photo is from the photo shoot I did recently with Annie & Michael...

When I took this photo (this was the first of the both of them for the night), he made some comment about how I "always make it look like [they're] breaking up!"

Haha, so true.

This series very much makes it look like they're going through couple's counseling.

I never intend for that. Instead, I'm looking for interesting body poses, and I guess I'm naturally attracted to drawing "sad" faces. Smiling faces almost seem too difficult to market...?

Maybe I think if the subjects are smiling, viewers won't be as interested in trying to figure out what's going on.

Although this series, which has a lot of smiling, is still one of my favorites.

Who knows what I'll pull next? Crying? Hysterical laughter?

Hm, the more I look at this photograph, the more I like it. I thought Michael's expression would be too difficult to use, too silly or out of context, but it might be better than I originally thought...

2 More Shows to See: 1/10

2009-01-04T18:52:00.000-08:00

Sorry about the incorrect dates in the last post. They've been edited. I must've been way out of it when I wrote that entry. Think I was trying to write it quick so I didn't give up halfway through.

I forgot about 2 other excellent shows that I won't miss on Saturday the 10th, along with the Mat O'Brien show:

* "The Big Three" @ Michael Rosenthal Gallery
co-curated by my friend Mary Anne Kluth and featuring work by my other friends Christine Monohan and Annie Wong.

(annie wong)

Deth P. Sun @ Rowan Morrison Gallery, just three blocks away from my apartment!

(deth p. sun)

Saturday night's all booked up, folks. Take your parties elsewhere.
Or, er, elsewhen?

Upcoming Shows to See: 1/8 - 1/10/09

2009-01-03T15:15:00.000-08:00

Despite the crazy stress I will no doubt be under this time next week, I'm still very much looking forward to seeing these shows. With any luck, I'll even get to say hello to the artists - all of whom I haven't seen in ages.

1/8 Paul Urich @ Fecal Face Dot Gallery

1/9 Amanda Hughen and Jennifer Starkweather @ Electric Works

1/10 Mat O'Brien @ Eleanor Harwood Gallery

It's a new year - keep that secret resolution you've always had about going to see more art shows.

Busiest time of the year

2008-12-26T19:19:00.000-08:00

Hope you all are having a pleasant holiday season. It's a bit chilly here (mid 40s here in Oakland) but thankfully my heater works and my room is fairly well insulated.

It's been a very busy December and will be a very busy January for me as well. I've been commissioned by Chronicle Books to do all the illustrations for an upcoming book. It's quite a task - more drawings than I've ever done in just a month and a half, but I'm hoping for the best. All I can say is thank goodness that I have these two weeks off to work full-time (that's the plan, at least) to complete them all.

I've also been speaking with Eleanor Harwood about putting together a show at her gallery at the beginning of the new year, but that has been moved to the middle of 2009. It's quite a relief, of course, but I'm also very anxious to see what Jesse Schlesinger and Matt Momchilov have in mind for their walls.

Too many things on my plate! Honestly, I'd been hoping since October that I'd be playing video games nonstop or vacationing in LA during this break, but I can't sincerely complain. I'm grateful for the opportunities and can only hope that I can produce work that I and everyone else will enjoy.

NY Times Magazine | My Game Face

2008-11-24T13:07:00.000-08:00

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/11/18/magazine/20081123-games_index.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Robbie Cooper captures young video warriors midbattle.

After the Imperial Presidency | NYT Magazine

2008-11-10T14:11:00.000-08:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/magazine/09power-t.html

...The Oval Office images, created for the magazine by the German photographer Thomas Demand, depict a life-size set made primarily out of cardboard and colored paper. "We see the Oval Office as a representational device or a bit of stagecraft for presidential power," Demand told us...

A few of the images from the magazine:

Upcoming Show: "Portrait" @ Hallway Bathroom Gallery [SF]

2008-10-08T15:08:00.000-07:00

I hope you are enjoying the lovely and varied weather of October (it's currently in the mid-70s in Oakland).

The Hallway Bathroom Gallery in San Francisco will have an opening reception on the fine Saturday of October 18th for the upcoming show, "Portrait." I will have a new piece up in this second portion of HBG's 3-part exhibition, "Landscape Portrait Pattern."

Join the festivities if you can - hopefully I'll see you there!

*****

PORTRAIT
October 18th through November 30th
Opening Reception Saturday October 18th 3pm to 8pm
Gallery Hours Saturdays Noon to 5pm

391A South Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco California USA

An international group of artists has been invited to respond to an assigned theme by producing one small work. Through this survey, Hallway Bathroom Gallery wishes to explore the subtle similarities (as well as differences) existing within contemporary art being made today, extending an invitation to the artist and the audience to identify a wide range of aesthetic values as determined by the assigned starting point.

More info @ http://www.hallwaybathroomgallery.com/

You Are There Canceled

2008-08-30T23:07:00.000-07:00

Hey, sorry folks. The You Are There show I mentioned in the last post has been canceled/postponed. Sad times. So far, the next happening to look forward to is the Hallway Bathroom show. The first part of their 3-part exhibition opened today; go and check it out if you have a chance.

Cruel Summer

2008-08-20T15:34:00.000-07:00

It's really not that bad of a summer, but it's certainly been much busier than past years.

New apartment in Oakland, and various art goings-on:

FasTrak will be ending this weekend, while The Magical Rainbow Pony Show continues through the end of August (I'll get to see it in person this weekend! That should be quite nice).

I plan on having a new piece (fingers crossed) in a temporary gallery space during next month's (in two weeks!) Oakland Art Murmur. A new bike shop will be opening up, but before that happens, a rather exciting Oakland-only show called You Are There will take place. After that, a nice month or so will pass before part 2 of Landscape Portrait Pattern goes up at Hallway Bathroom Gallery in San Francisco.

Busier than I'd anticipated for this time of year, but it's better that it comes in spades rather than not at all.

More details about the above shows here: http://events.seeinsidefordetails.com/

Also, saw the Beautiful Losers documentary at YBCA over the weekend and found it quite inspiring, as all good art movies should be. They said at the screening that it should be on wider release in September, so keep your eyes peeled.

Okay, and I've effectively gotten this stuck in my head - overalls, bananas, and all.

To Be Seen (TBS): San Francisco, 7/12

2008-07-11T15:20:00.000-07:00

It's both amazing and terrifying that it's July. The older I get, the faster the days pass. I heard that all the time when I was young, but I was too bored and lazy to take it to heart.

I'm back from an Independent weekend in Los Angeles. The trip down was much too short and stressful. Instead of enjoying fireworks with rarely-seen friends and taking in the all-too-sweaty weather, I cooped myself up at a friend's home, straining to finish a triptych for this show.

Unfortunately, this last weekend also marked the opening of some very good shows that I would have liked to have attended. Will have to make sure I plot out some time to check out the following:

3: Ernesto Burgos, Kyle Ranson & Derrick Snodgrass
Curated by Chris Duncan
Gregory Lind Gallery
July 3– August 16

Michelle Blade: The Elliptical Good-Kind
Jack Hanley Gallery
July 5 - August 8

Will hopefully see those tomorrow, when I hope to be able to make it out to these:

Summer '08 | New work: Photography & Sculpture
Stephen Wirtz Gallery
July 8 - August 23, 2008

Jennifer Merrill: Demikhov's Hands of Glory
Iceberger Gallery
July

Go out and see some shows. I know that it's very hard to get yourself motivated to leave the house, to walk around, to be attentive to others' work, but you've gotta do it. If not for yourself, then for the sake of the egos of others.

Three good ways to find out about shows in the SF Bay Area:

http://www.fecalface.com/calendar/calendar.php
http://www.artbusiness.com/1open/calendar.html
http://www.happenstand.com/

Call for Artists: New American Paintings - Deadline Extended

2008-07-06T06:57:00.000-07:00

For those of you who missed the June 30 postmark deadline for New American Paintings (Pacific Coast Edition), the date has been extended to July 28th. Submit! It's a great magazine, and you should be a part of it. More info at newamericanpaintings.com

"30 Under 30" @ Varnish [SF]

2008-06-11T17:53:00.000-07:00

Images from the 30 Under 30 show up now until June 28th @ Varnish Fine Art in SF:

Oakland Art Murmur (April)

2008-05-24T23:09:00.000-07:00

A bit dark, but a few shots from April's Oakland Art Murmur / First Friday:

24th & Mission Artwalk

2008-05-24T22:52:00.000-07:00

Little Tree Gallery got all the 24th & Mission area galleries rallied around something called the 24th & Mission Artwalk back around the first weekend of April. Here are a few shots of the work from that night:

I found the little heart sold stickers so terribly charming at Matt Gonzalez's show at the Soap Gallery. The night was fun; Ruth and I went to quite a few galleries we'd never been to before, so it was great opportunity to explore the area. I'm looking forward to the next artwalk (tentatively suggested as a quarterly event).

"Kick Out the Jams" @ Luggage Store [SF]

2008-05-24T22:35:00.000-07:00

Hold & Cold just came out with their second issue, and it's super sweet. Stood around at the opening reception the other Friday and got a few pics. Check out the show before it comes down June 14.

Call for Artists: New American Paintings (Pacific Coast)

2008-05-19T16:41:00.000-07:00

New American Paintings is currently accepting entries for their 2008 Pacific Coast competition (CA, OR, WA, AK, HI).

Postmark deadline : June 30, 2008

Submission Checklist:

*4 35mm slides OR 4 printouts (no larger than 8.5" x 11"; no discs please)
All styles: painting, drawing, monoprints/types, mixed media; 2-D only.

*Resume (with contact info : name, address, email, telephone number)

*Entry fee $35 (check made out to The Open Studios Press)

*Self-addressed, stamped envelope (letter size for notification and/or large enough in which to also return your materials.) Caveat: no envelope will mean a delay in notification

Send To:

The Open Studios Press
450 Harrison Ave #304
Boston, MA 02118

Questions: (617) 778-5265 or visit: http://www.newamericanpaintings.com
Prospectus: http://www.newamericanpaintings.com/artistinfo.htm

"30 Under 30" @ Varnish [SF]

2008-05-17T23:37:00.000-07:00

Will have one of the pieces from the Annie & Michael V series in this juried show put on by Artspan and CCA.

The 30 under 30:

Rita Alves, Ian Amberson, Seth Armstrong, Peter Belkin, Nancy Chan, Deanna Charles, Ariel Clute, Lauren Cohen, Demon Cutler, Joseph Findeiss, Julia Goodman, Joshua Hagler, Queena Hernandez, Josh Hershman, Jessican Laurent, Carol Anne McChrystal, Matt Momchilov, Argishti Musakhanyan, Kara Nelson, Ian Norstad, Kate Nichols, Ernesto Ortiz, Leah Rosenberg, Theo Rigby, Noah Sakamoto, Sam Snowden, Estee Stevens, Hilary Williams, Gavin Worth, Judy Wu

More info: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/5/prweb926824.htm

My friend, Mary Anne, said a very sweet thing, that being in a "30 Under 30" show means two things: "It means you're young, and you're tight."

News: California's top court overturns gay marriage ban

2008-05-15T10:46:00.000-07:00

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080515/ap_on_re_us/gay_marriage

SAN FRANCISCO - The California Supreme Court has overturned a voter-approved ban on gay marriage, paving the way for the state to become the second in the United States where gay and lesbian residents can marry.

The justices released the 4-3 decision Thursday, saying that domestic partnerships are not a good enough substitute for marriage in an opinion written by Chief Justice Ron George.

... In striking down the ban, the court said,

"In contrast to earlier times, our state now recognizes that an individual's capacity to establish a loving and long-term committed relationship with another person and responsibly to care for and raise children does not depend upon the individual's sexual orientation, and, more generally, that an individual's sexual orientation — like a person's race or gender — does not constitute a legitimate basis upon which to deny or withhold legal rights."

CCA Open Studios (MFA & BFA)

2008-05-06T15:33:00.000-07:00

Back in April, before I flew down to LA for a few days, I threw myself into a very art-heavy weekend. Oakland Art Murmur/First Friday, the first 24th & Mission Artwalk, and CCA's Undergraduate and Graduate Open Studios. Have finally gotten around to posting just some of the images from that weekend. Prepare yourself for more.

Mary Anne Kluth

2008-05-02T11:44:00.000-07:00

My friend, Mary Anne, with whom I attended CCAC, has a website (and it's about time)! I only just found it a few moments ago after a look at my site statistics.

Looks really good, and I can't wait to see her stuff at the upcoming SFAI MFA exhibition.

Example (w/ details):

Website: Mary Anne Kluth

Her work is amazing and just keeps getting better. Come out to the reception May 16th and check this stuff out in person - it's well worth the trip out to Fort Mason.

NPR is not the same thing as PBR

2008-04-29T15:53:00.000-07:00

I admit it: I've turned into that person who mentions NPR over and over again. Is it because it's one of my last channels for entertainment, news, and trivial information wrapped into one? Almost certainly yes.

These NPR fans... I'd always eyed them with a slight stink-eye, imagining them sitting back easily, their hands clasped slightly above their sweatered bellies, laughing fully and lengthily as droll voices on their antique-style radios discussed the follies of the American government.

A few hairs always prick up at the back of my neck when I feel the compulsion to mention the most recent item I'd heard on NPR.

"Have you heard the name of the woman who won the 'worst name ever' contest?"
"Yeah, I heard about Twitter on the radio the other day."
"There's a fantastic joke they told about McCain on 'Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me' this past weekend."

I listen to NPR at work to keep myself awa-, er, alert as I haven't had much time to get new music. One of my staples is "This American Life" and they replayed a fantastic episode recently.

Give it a listen for free here:
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?episode=328&date=05022008

It's so good for so many reasons.
And for the record, I still feel the same way about NPR as Summer feels about TAL. Listen to the podcast, and you'll know what I'm talking about.

Thomas Demand

2008-04-22T14:10:00.001-07:00

thomas demand - bathroom
Originally uploaded by bestbeon.

Currently distracted by Thomas Demand's infinitely impressive photographs.

He constructs various environments exclusively out of paper and photographs them.

More: Flickr

Call for Artists: New American Paintings [West Ed.]

2008-03-26T10:28:00.000-07:00

EDIT: This deadline is only for the "West Region" (AZ, CO, ID, MT, NE, NV, KS, ND, NM, OK, SD, TX, UT, WY)
[I knew something seemed odd about how early the deadline was... Sorry for confusing everyone.]

Postmark deadline: Wednesday April 30, 2008

New American Paintings Competitions are conducted annually in each of six regions of the country. Competitions lead to publication in our bimonthly journal, New American Paintings, which, juried by curators from prominent museums, has extended the reach of artists and expanded the resources of collectors since 1993.

Juror:
Andrea Karnes, Curator, The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth

Submission Checklist:

*4 35mm slides OR 4 printouts (no larger than 8.5" x 11"; no discs please). All styles: painting, drawing, monoprints/types, mixed media; 2-D only.

*Resume (with contact info)

*Entry fee $35

*Self-addressed, stamped envelope (letter size for notification and/or large enough in which to also return your materials)

Send To:

The Open Studios Press
450 Harrison Ave #304
Boston, MA 02118

Swarm Gallery, Rowan Morrison [Oak]

2008-02-27T12:16:00.000-08:00

Ricky Allman + Zachary Royer Scholz
Project Space: Installation - Christine Wong Yap, "Dark Into Light"
February 8 - March 9, 2008

Swarm Gallery
560 Second Street
Oakland CA 94607

Info: http://www.swarmstudios.net/gallery/exhibitions/Zach_Ricky.htm

Christopher Russell
"Part of Everything"
February 6th - March 9th

Rowan Morrison Gallery
330 40th St.
Oakland, CA 94609

Info: http://rowanmorrison.com/chrisrussell.html

Upcoming show to check out: Chris Russell @ Rowan Morrison [Oak]

2008-02-15T12:00:00.000-08:00

Christopher Russell
"Part of Everything"
February 6th - March 9th
Artist's Reception: Saturday, February 16th, 6-10pm

Rowan Morrison Gallery
330 40th St.
Oakland, CA 94609

Hours: Wednesday - Saturday: 11am -6pm or by appointment.

Info: http://rowanmorrison.com/chrisrussell.html

Chris is a schoolmate from CCA and has always made very lovely paintings. Should be an excellent show at a very cozy gallery.

Thom Yorke on "All Songs Considered"

2008-02-15T11:37:00.000-08:00

Some Valentine's Day love (<3) from Thom Yorke and "All Songs Considered":
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18960914

(cc photo: "Thom Yorke Cat" by JO87)

"Juried Annual 2008" @ Pro Arts [Oakland]

2008-02-13T13:46:00.000-08:00

Selections by Laura Hoptman
Senior Curator, New Museum, N.Y.

Jan 22 - Mar 9

Pro Arts Gallery
550 Second Street
Oakland

Info: http://www.proartsgallery.org/exhibitions/2008_ja.html

Pro Arts Juried Annual

2008-01-29T11:02:00.000-08:00

Annie and Michael V (2 of 5) will be on display at the

Juried Annual 2008

Jan 22 - Mar 9
Reception: Jan 31, 6 - 8 pm

Pro Arts Gallery
550 Second Street
Oakland

The reception is this Thursday - hope to see you there! Lovely Annie will have two pieces up, too.

Paul Urich Podcast on Fecal Face

2008-01-07T10:59:00.000-08:00

Good guy Paul has a lovely lil' podcast interview up on Fecal Face right now. Check it out for some refreshing insight into his work:

http://www.fecalface.com/podcasts/

Britney & Kari

2007-12-25T13:56:00.000-08:00

Commission piece finished up yesterday.

15 x 22", sumi ink on arches watercolor paper

(Paul said Kari started crying when he gave this piece to her [it was a surprise]. I hope that means she liked it.)

"I Do Adore" @ Receiver Gallery [SF]

2007-12-08T23:22:00.000-08:00

a day19 photography show
December 8, 2007 - January 25, 2008

Receiver Gallery
1415 Valencia St
San Francisco, CA 94577

Info: http://receivergallery.com/shows/idoadore.php

Artists: Angela Boatwright, Abbey Drucker, Cheryl Dunn, Helena Kvarnstrom, Ye Rin Mok, Chrissy Piper, Zen Sekizawa, Emily Shur, Deanna Templeton, Claire Weiss, & Andrea Longacre-White

A few photos of photos:

Thoughts: A very nice assortment of photographs from an all-female, international group of photographers. The works of each individual manage to stand on their own, a difficult feat considering how easy it is at photo shows to observe one moment and forget the next. Installation works well, too - clean space, but the arrangement is also not so tight as to forget that this is a show in the Mission (not a bad thing, of course).

Aidan (triptych)

2007-12-07T12:27:00.000-08:00

Commission piece completed the other day.
As always, sumi ink on arches watercolor paper. 8.5" x 11.5" each.

"The There, There" @ Esteban Sabar, Oakland

2007-12-06T15:00:00.000-08:00

http://www.estebansabar.com/exhibitions.htm#there
November 23 to December 16, 2007

480 23rd Street (at Telegraph Ave.)
Oakland, CA 94612

A benefit show featuring some fine, talented folks from Oakland and parts nearby. Proceeds from this show will help pay the medical bills of local writer and curator Theo Konrad Auer.

Percy Feils

Obi Kaufmann

Some good stuff from some very nice local artists. They'll be open also for the First Friday Murmur tomorrow, so make sure you stop by.

Kari Byron's Top 10 Female Artists

2007-12-03T17:13:00.001-08:00

Fantastic artist and all-around-nicest-guy-in-the-world Paul Urich just sent me a link to Kari Byron's "Top 10 Modern Female Artists" list:

http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/mythbusters/top-ten/artists/artists.html

I am absolutely amazed that my name is up there with the likes of Wangechi Mutu and Josephine Taylor.

Thank you thank you thank you, Kari!

"Strange Fruit - Bad Seeds: John Casey & Martha Sue Harris" @ Receiver [SF]

2007-11-30T13:54:00.001-08:00

Of course, I've had this sitting in my drafts folder for weeks on end, and now the show's done! It's up for a few more hours - catch it if you can.

More on

Receiver Gallery
John Casey
Martha Sue Harris
(all 3 are fine, fine folk)

Yerba Buena Arts & Culture Free 4 All

2007-11-09T15:26:00.000-08:00

www.yerbabuena.org/Free4All

Nov 10, 11a-5p

Visit the Yerba Buena Neighborhood for the first-ever Arts and Culture Free 4 All when 12 cultural institutions, located within 3 blocks, are open for free.

Participating Institutions:
California Academy of Sciences
California Historical Society
Cartoon Art Museum
Contemporary Jewish Museum
GLBT Historical Society
Museum of the African Diaspora
Museum of Craft and Folk Art
SF Camerawork
SFMOMA
The Society of California Pioneers
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Zeum

New Statesman: Information Overload

2007-11-09T14:49:00.000-08:00

Information Overload | Conceptual art should be allowed to speak for itself
http://www.newstatesman.com/200710180036

Excerpt: It is a commonly held view in the art world that the public resists conceptual work because it is difficult to understand. Its reputation for being pretentious and "not as good as painting" would improve, they argue, if it were properly explained.

****
Related article:

The Guardian
Cracked! | Tate Modern's dramatic new installation - a great gash in the floor of the Turbine Hall - has already delighted both critics and the public. But the question everyone's asking is: how on earth did it get there? Its creator, Doris Salcedo, refuses to say. But yesterday Jon Henley took along a team of experts to try to work out how it was done ...

Call for Entries: Pro Arts Juried Annual

2007-11-09T11:50:00.000-08:00

Juried Annual 2008
Pro Arts Gallery
Oakland, CA
January 22- March 9, 2008

Selections by Laura Hoptman
Senior Curator, New Museum, New York, NY

Artists' Reception: Thursday, January 31, 6-8pm
Artists' Talk: Saturday, February 16, 1pm
Deadline: ~~December 12, 2007~~ Dec 19 (extended)

http://www.proartsgallery.org/exhibitions/upcoming.html#JA2008

$10 cheaper to submit online rather than through paper.

"Paint By Needle" @ Rowan Morrison [Oakland]

2007-11-08T12:41:00.000-08:00

Paint by Needle
The Textile Art of Ako Castuera & Narangkar Glover
Nov 2 - Dec 22

Rowan Morrison Gallery
330 40th St. (at Broadway)
Oakland, CA 94609

Hours: Wed - Sat, 11 am -6 pm or by appt

Lovely work by two very nice artists. Go and see! Not just any plain ol' needlework. Definitely more to it than that. Make sure to check out their art books and prints, too.

Updates

2007-11-06T18:33:00.000-08:00

in the time it takes reviewed in the latest issue of Artweek

portfolio section has been updated

fecalface.com has put up an interview I did a little while back with Chris Pew

Upcoming show to check out: Rainbow Warpzone

2007-10-30T17:52:00.000-07:00

Rainbow Warpzone
Mary Anne Kluth | Annie Wong | Bryan Von Reuter

Satellite Gallery
2288 San Pablo Ave
Oakland

Opening Reception: November 2, 7-10 pm

*****

3 good friends, all great artists. Should be excellent and full of childish glee. Mary Anne asked me to go and just be happy, so I will at least go and try. You all should go and smile along, too.

ITTIT Review in Artweek (Nov 2007)

2007-10-30T17:46:00.000-07:00

It helps to work in a library... My coworkers pointed out a review of ITTIT in the newest issue of Artweek (Nov 2007)! Very exciting indeed. It should be up on the Artweek website soon, but the issue is on newstands now.

Kelly Lynn Jones / "Biome"

2007-10-29T14:04:00.000-07:00

Far From Main Street
Kelly Lynn Jones
October 25 - December 2, 2007

Rare Device
1845 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
http://www.raredevice.net/content.php?content_id=1016

Biome
a group show guest curated by Johanna St. Clair and Jay Nelson
October 23 - December 1, 2007

Lincart Gallery
1632 C Market St., San Francisco, CA
http://lincart.com/artists/Biome

Eleanor Harwood

Charlie Callahan

Suzanne Husky

The End All: ITTIT & SS

2007-10-22T12:27:00.000-07:00

My two shows are closing this Friday, but not without suitable party-like accompaniments. If you haven't seen the shows, this is your last chance! If you have, you should come by anyway to celebrate with us. My friend Jason will be DJing at the Receiver reception, so bring your dancing shoes, too.

Hope to see you all soon!

-----

Closing Reception: Oct 26, 5 - 8 pm <<= note: extended

IN THE TIME IT TAKES
Nancy Chan & Olivia Park

Receiver Gallery
1415 Valencia Street
San Francisco

Gallery hours: Mon - Fri, 10 - 6 pm

*****

Closing Reception: Oct 26, 6 - 9 pm

SOMETHING SINISTER
themed group show curated by Mary Anne Kluth

Satellite Gallery
2288 San Pablo Ave
Oakland

Artists: Nina Bayley, Nancy Chan, Davie Crockett, Michael Mersereau, Christine Monohan, Leticia Ramirez, Marci Washington, Walt!

"Something Sinister" @ Satellite [Oakland, CA]

2007-10-12T17:00:00.000-07:00

Something Sinister (curated by Mary Anne Kluth)
The Satellite Gallery
2288 San Pablo Ave
Oakland

Oct 5 - 26
Gallery hours: by appt maybe?

Reception: Oct 5, 7 - 10 pm
Closing reception: Oct 26, 6 - 9 pm

Artists: Nina Bayley, Nancy Chan, Davie Crockett, Michael Mersereau, Christine Monohan, Leticia Ramirez, Marci Washington, Walt!

The fourth image includes Christine Monohan conversing with show curator/organizer Mary Anne Kluth.

This last image is the new Annie piece in its entirety. I didn't realize until I went to measure it that it was nearly as tall as me. I guess it's a little smaller than me - I'm only a bit bigger than 23" around and 60" tall.

Annie

2007-10-11T23:32:00.000-07:00

A detail of the new Annie piece made for the Something Sinister show up now at Satellite Gallery in Oakland, CA. It's large - 5' tall - and most of it is blank white paper, of course. A very different paper was used for this one, which I struggled with greatly, but everyone seems to be really pleased with the results. I can't tell if it's different from the usual stuff because of the paper or the size...
Thank you, friends, for coming out to see the show in the newish gallery. Most people have better things to do usually, but for some reason most of the people I knew went to my favorite sushi place, Sushiya, and then moseyed down to see the Sinister show. Me and Will (the sushi chef) thank you.

I'll have the pictures of the rest of the show up soon - promise.

Barry McGee, Tom Neely

2007-10-11T14:51:00.000-07:00

Barry McGee: Advanced Mature Work
Gallery at REDCAT
Los Angeles, CA
September 15 - November 25, 2007
http://redcat.org/gallery/0708/mcgee.php

Caught the Barry McGee show with Walt! earlier this week during my trip to LA (yet another Morrissey concert [2, actually]).

Also was very pleased to be able to catch the Tom Neely show at Black Maria gallery. Fantastic work; I only wish I had the money to purchase these pieces (selling for very reasonable prices) for myself.

Self-Indulgent Werewolf: Tom Neely
Black Maria
3137 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA
September 15– October 15, 2007
http://www.blackmariagallery.com/artists/tom_neely_02/index.htm

Tom Neely
werewolf fugue "relentless"
ink and watercolour on paper
2007
30" x 23"

Tom Neely
werewolf fugue "rest"
ink and watercolour on paper
2007
30" x 23"

Sean Sobczak

2007-10-07T20:20:00.000-07:00

Went to the Brewery Art Walk in Los Angeles with some very nice art-loving folks and saw this fine creature at the end of the day. Made the walk around worth it.

Sean Sobczak
http://www.sandmancreations.com/

"My Kid Could Paint That"

2007-09-13T13:59:00.000-07:00

There hasn't been an art movie - that is, a movie about an artist and their work - that I've wanted to see in a long time. I'm so happy that Juxtapoz has brought this one to my attention:

http://www.sonyclassics.com/mykidcouldpaintthat/

When abstract expressionism started to gain popularity in the art community there were quite a few who said, in various ways, "My kid could paint that!" And a few years ago, it seemed like a 4-year-old named Marla Olmstead was proving them right. Marla was an abstract prodigy whose talents caused a gigantic stir in the world of modern art. Then a news program was aired which insinuated that Marla wasn't actually the one doing the painting. There was an assumed scandal and things were never really cleared up. Soon to be released is a documentary called My Kid Could Paint That by Amir Bar-Lev that was filmed before, during, and after the scandal took place. The film seems to evolve from initially trying to capture genius on film into a story about the Bar-Lev becoming too close to the subjects and the turmoil that the family goes through trying to live a normal life in a truly abnormal situation. The film opens October 5th in New York and LA and then, in limited release, across the U.S. See it for yourself to decide what you believe. We hope for genius, because a little hope never hurt.

squeak in portuguese

2007-09-13T11:47:00.000-07:00

from wooster collective:

http://www.woostercollective.com/2007/09/underfoot_in_sao_paulo.html

Thanks to everyone who made it out last night!

2007-09-09T10:38:00.000-07:00

The turnout was much much larger than I had expected; I'd assumed that my group of friends coming up from LA would've taken up the majority of the gallery, but the place was already filled by the time they arrived after 9. Lots of wonderful people to talk to, a great buzz in the air, and Olivia, Jay, Chris, and I were just so pleased with how the show and the newly remodeled gallery space worked out. I don't think I could've asked for anything better except for some extra hours to be culled from the world for me to get a proper night's sleep.

Thanks again to everyone who was able to make it last night. I appreciate those of you who were able to overcome the shyness hurdle and talk to me about all the work - it really helps to hear what people are getting out of the pieces that have had me shut away for all these weeks.

Those of you who couldn't make it last night or didn't get a chance to talk to me or Olivia, please consider coming by the closing reception! It's scheduled for Friday, October 26th, 5 - 7 p.m. and is expected to be a more laid-back affair. Closings tend to be a lot less hectic, so it's good talkin' time.

"in the time it takes" (9/8 - 10/26)

2007-08-24T15:12:00.000-07:00

"In The Time It Takes"
new works by Nancy Chan & Olivia Park

Receiver Gallery
1415 Valencia St. (@ 25th), SF, CA 94110
(415) 550-RCVR

Opening Reception
Saturday, September 8, 7 - 10pm

Closing Reception
Friday, October 26, 5 - 7 pm

-----

"In The Time It Takes" features Bay Area artists Nancy Chan and Olivia Park. Chan's open and airy figures are surrounded by objects of negative space, contrasted by Park's elements of tight and obsessive mark making.

More info at http://www.receivergallery.com/shows/inthetimeittakes.php

A work in progress

2007-08-23T16:20:00.001-07:00

work in progress
Originally uploaded by Nancy Chananigans.

A quick peek at one of the pieces in the works for the Receiver show.

Learning to Love You More

2007-08-21T11:44:00.000-07:00

http://www.learningtoloveyoumore.com

Assignment #9
Draw a constellation from someone's freckles.

"Wan's Left Arm Constellation"
Wan
Seoul, Republic of Korea

2007-08-21T10:39:00.000-07:00

I've been in the studio every day for the past few weeks, but it still feels like I'm not making much progress. Have gotten to the inking stage, so maybe that'll change as the drawings take shape and substance.

Starting to already burn out, especially with the walking trips between work & studio & home, but I'm anticipating a second wind to drive me to the end.

Will be taking photographs soon for the show's postcard, so stay tuned for some "in progress" shots.

Anthony Lister

2007-08-21T10:34:00.000-07:00

http://www.listerart.com.au/

spiderwoman
mixed media on canvas, 6ft x 6ft, 2007

Art Walk

2007-08-07T16:35:00.000-07:00

Did some artwalking this weekend. First, the Fecal Face 7.5 Anniversary show in San Francisco:
(more pictures can be found at the Fecal Face site)

Followed by this month's Oakland Art Murmur:

Hyungkoo Lee

2007-07-30T15:43:00.000-07:00

http://www.hyungkoolee.net/animatus/animatus.html

Anas Animatus; Anas Animatus L; Anas Animatus H; Anas Animatus D
2006
Resin, aluminum sticks, stainless steel wires, springs and oil paint
45 x 79 x 53 cm; 49.5 x 31 x 33 cm; 52 x 28 x 34.5 cm; 52 x 30.5 x 33 cm

Seem familiar at all...? Really fantastic stuff; brilliant idea and superbly executed.

Ham Jin

2007-07-30T15:27:00.000-07:00

That belly button baby is so mesmerizing...
More at http://www.pkmgallery.com/

The Boston Globe: Morton Bartlett

2007-07-30T14:37:00.000-07:00

The Boston Globe | The man who played with dolls: What drove Morton Bartlett to create exquisitely realistic sculptures, dress them, and take pictures of them in evocatively staged scenes is a mystery. Since his death in 1992, though, the Boston-based photographer's figures have been hailed as works of art.

Reminder: Gen Art's Emerge 2007 Call for Entries

2007-07-30T14:29:00.001-07:00

A reminder about the upcoming deadline for this year's Gen Art Emerge exhibition; worth a shot, right? Looks like they don't want slides anymore, so it's even easier now to get things together last minute.

Images from last year's show here: http://www.artbusiness.com/1open/110406.html
(scroll down to the Gen Art section)

***
Gen Art’s 10th Annual All-Medium Visual Art Exhibition
http://www.genart.org/art.submit.htm?itemid=609
Deadline: ~~August 10~~ September 17, 5 p.m.

Emerge, Gen Art SF's annual exhibition features the work of a prominent jury's selection of Bay Area emerging artists. An all-medium exhibition, Emerge is the cornerstone of Gen Art’s efforts to increase exposure for emerging Bay Area artists and to cultivate a new generation of art enthusiasts. Emerge 2007 will be Gen Art SF's 9th annual exhibition, showcasing emerging Bay Area artists working in the fields of photography, painting, sculpture, mixed-media installation and new media. Emerge will open at the Luxe Preview Benefit on November 4, 2007.

"Rapture vs. Rupture" @ Receiver Gallery (SF)

2007-07-25T14:35:00.000-07:00

Receiver Gallery
San Francisco
- now through Aug 11

Excuse the bad photos; will have to pay more attention to lighting next time I take pictures.

Cabinet: Trichopterae (Hubert Duprat)

2007-07-25T14:13:00.001-07:00

French artist and naturalist Hubert Duprat’s aquatic caddis fly larvae, with cases incorporating gold, opal, and turquoise, among other materials.
http://www.cabinetmagazine.org/issues/25/duprat.php

Upcoming Show @ Receiver Gallery (SF)

2007-07-23T16:08:00.000-07:00

Receiver Gallery
1415 Valencia Street, San Francisco

I'll be in a show coming up in September with Olivia Park, another 20-something artist from the Bay Area. According to the website, the show will be up from Sept 8 to the near-end of October.

I'll keep you posted as I learn more. I'm really going to push myself to make all new work for this one, so watch out (especially the friends who're destined to become the newest models).

Call for Artists: The Sketchbook Project

2007-07-20T14:13:00.000-07:00

http://www.thesketchbookproject.com/
Sign up by September 15th

You sign up ... , then we're going to send you a Moleskine sketchbook. You fill it up with things that scare you. When you're done, stick it into the postage-paid, pre-addressed envelope that we provide you and shove that sucker in your mailbox. On October 27th, we will have all the sketchbooks on display across the gallery walls of Art House, our Atlanta, Ga based gallery.

Show put on by Art House Shop (http://www.arthouseshop.com/)

Lulu & Bruno (detail)

2007-07-19T23:20:00.000-07:00

A detail of a piece recently commissioned. I've never seriously drawn dogs before, so this was a nice change. Entire piece is 22 x 15", sumi ink on Arches watercolor paper.

Paul Urich

2007-07-09T16:58:00.000-07:00

Popped into Needles + Pens last Friday to catch Paul Urich's solo show up now until July 29. He does some fantastic work with gouache and tape (the middle image is made almost entirely of tape, I believe). Try to see it if you can; N+P is also a great source for zines and crafty things (i.e. DIY clothing, jewelry, patches, etc.).

More images here: http://www.needles-pens.com/folkspaulurich.html

Call for Artists: CCI Grants Program “Investing in Artists"

2007-07-09T16:51:00.000-07:00

http://cciarts.org/funding.htm
Deadline: August 3

The Investing in Artists grants program is designed to enhance the working lives and creative environment for California artists by funding tools and market strategies that will allow them to create their best work more consistently, and distribute that work more broadly to new audiences. Investing in Artists provides grants in two funding categories: 1) Grants for Artistic Equipment and Tools, and 2) Grants for Presenting and Marketing Work.

(thanks, Mary Anne!)

Annie & Adrian (diptych)

2007-07-02T15:31:00.000-07:00

2007, sumi ink on Arches watercolor paper, 14 x 10" each

June Blue Moon

2007-07-02T14:07:00.000-07:00

More Conjoined Shots from Twin Peaks (SF)

2007-06-27T10:45:00.000-07:00

Conjoined Shots from Twin Peaks (SF)

2007-06-25T15:25:00.000-07:00

(funny... my left eye is weaker than my right)

2007-06-23T23:31:00.000-07:00

More Mary Anne:

These images aren't as nice as the ones Mary Anne took herself, but it gives a few more angles from which to admire the piece.

The minor work I've been putting in at the studio pale in comparison (not to mention the dreadful lighting of all these shots), but I feel the need to show something.

I've also finally taken better pictures of the "Annie & Adrian" series from the Hot & Cold issue 3 release show and will have those up soon.

2007-06-22T16:29:00.000-07:00

I swear I've been in the studio doing something. I'll have pictures up, hopefully sooner than later and before I don't like them anymore.

In the meantime, found pictures of Mary Anne's awesome piece at SFAI. I took pictures with my phone, but since I can't access them (don't ask me why), I stole these pictures from Mary Anne's MySpace page of all places. I'm really going to have to help her get a site going where people can't attack you with a flyer for their friend's band's ex-bandmate's new band's going away concert. (Can you tell? I'm not a big fan of MySpace.)

Without further ado:
Mary Anne Kluth

I believe it's all on paper, and the paper chain is connected to a motor that helps it to move. I didn't get to see it in action, unfortunately, but hopefully I will soon.

Note to friends: Scour your schedules for any openings - I'll be needing models when you can spare the time. I'll bring you steamed cupcakes *eyes Annie*.

Jill Sylvia

2007-06-22T11:59:00.000-07:00

http://eleanorharwood.com.hosting.domaindirect.com/Jill_Sylvia.html

Untitled (Book 1) [detail], 2005
Hand-cut ledger paper, 11 x 17 x 2

Finally got to catch this beautiful show at Eleanor Harwood. Looks like the show's been extended until the 30th; make all efforts to see this stuff in person. Flawless.