ArtBusiness.com

Artist/Gallery search:
Art Business The Web

  • << Back to San Francisco Gallery Openings
  • OAKLAND ART MURMUR

    CHANDRA CERRITO - JOHANSSON - SLATE

    MERCURY TWENTY - VESSEL - SPOKE ART

    10.05.12

    Reported by Brandi Lee



    Need your art appraised? Click Here.



    ***

    Chandra Cerrito Contemporary: Ghost - Holly Williams; Datelines - Donna Anderson Kam.

    Review and images by Brandi Lee: Cleverly curated, Chandra Cerrito Contemporary offers two artists who use cinematic, photographic and journalistic references to create original two-dimensional pieces. Holly Williams' atmospheric oil paintings are vaguely familiar, allowing the viewer to finish the narrative. The artist often uses stills from movie and vintage photographs as starting points followed by extensive digital manipulations, eventually making the images her own then translating them into paintings. Donna Andersen Kam uses bright colors to convey her interpretations of how the events in news articles unfolded. The sometimes somber content of her paintings often contradicts her use of normally 'cheerful' colors, adding to their interest.

     artist art

    Artist's talk with Holly Williams at Chandra Cerrito Contemporary.

     artist art

    Artist's talk audience at Chandra Cerrito Contemporary.

     artist art

    Holly Williams in front of her art.

     artist art

    Closer view of Holly Williams art at Chandra Cerrito Contemporary.

     artist art

    Donna Anderson Kam art at Chandra Cerrito Contemporary.

    ***

    Johansson Projects: Back Domain - Misako Inaoka.

    Review and images by Brandi Lee: Misako Inaoka's solo show at Johannson Projects is filled with meticulously crafted sculptures in a plethora of species, scale and substance. "Rorschach" is a sculpture obviously inspired by two animal hindquarters merging, but is also an adept three-dimensional version of an actual Rorschach ink blot. The felt-covered form invits the viewer closer and is tempting to touch, while the warm smooth accent of wood pleasantly contrasts the cool dark fabric. This show is like entering a quirky alternate universe where evolution went awry.

     artist art

    Sculpture by Misako Inaoka at Johansson Projects.

     artist art

    A felt covered sculpture titled "Rorscach" by Misako Inaoka.

    ***

    Mercury Twenty Gallery: Jill McLennan - Glimmer in the Grit.

    Review and images by Brandi Lee: Jill McLennan's art calls attention to aspects of society we often overlook. Industrial decay and graffiti are presented alongside images of rebuilding and of the children of Oakland to prompt conversation about what we often choose to ignore. McLennan's work asks us where we are going as a society and what the future is going to be like. As serious as her content is, her work is still whimsical and vibrant, no doubt relying on her experience as an educator to effectively communicate her message on an immediately relatable level.

     artist art

    Jill McLennan in front of her work at Mercury 20.

     artist art

    The scene at Mercury 20.

     artist art

    Art by Jill McLennan at Mercury 20.

    ***

    Slate Contemporary: Barely There - When Less is More.

    Artists: Joanne Fox, Caroline Seckinger, Brian Mancl, Rachel Dawson, Pouké Halpern, Michelle Lynn Dyrness, Jonah Burlingame.

    Review and images by Brandi Lee: There is an urgency Joanne Fox's paint application that is nicely balanced by the subtleties in the texture which combine to invite the viewer in. The aggressive architectural lines suggest urban environment, and one can almost hear the sirens, horns and construction equipment while standing in front of her work.

     artist art

    Joanne Fox in front of her work at Slate Contemporary.

    ***

    Vessel Gallery: Manifold - John Ruszel and Joanne Hashitani.

    Review and images by Brandi Lee: Vessel Gallery Curator, Lonnie Lee, presents two artists whose work is as intricate is it is stunning. The organic string and wood sculptures of John Maszel invoke images of the tension in spans of bridges, geometric shapes and architectural wonders. In contrast, Joanne Hashitani's synthetic sculptures are inspired by statistics of the Oakland Athletic's baseball team. Even though the two bodies of work are starkly different in concept and medium, they seem to speak to each other. Repetitive patterns, tautness, painstakingly executed detail, and a visual elegance are but a few of the qualities that unify the dual solo shows.

     artist art

    John Ruszel Sculpture from the side.

     artist art

    Sculpture by John Ruszel at Vessel Gallery.

     artist art

    At Vessel Gallery, John Ruszel with his work.

     artist art

    Closer view of John Ruszel's string and wood sculpture.

     artist art

    Joanne Hasitani with her intricate sculpture.

     artist art

    Braille covered sculpture by Joanne Hasitani at Vessel Gallery.

     artist art

    Closer view of Joanne Hashitani's hanging sculpture based on the Oakland Athletic's baseball team statistics.

     artist art

    Another sculpture by John Ruszel at Vessel Gallery.

    ***

    Spoke Art, Oakland: Scott Hove.

    Review and images by Brandi Lee: If you've never seen Scott Hove's work before, you're in for a treat. The confectionary delicacies Scott whips up are anything but sugary sweet. Although many of the traditional dessert toppings are present, a closer look reveals a sinister side to these creations. Doll faces, wolves' fangs, and horns are but a few jarring surprises baked inside these frosted forms.

     artist art

    Scott hove in front of his painting at Spoke Art - Oakland.

     artist art

    Sculpture by Scott Hove.

     artist art

    Scale of the chandileir sculpture by Scott Hove at Spoke Art - Oakland.

     artist art

    Detail of a Scott Hove sculpture.

    ***

    Oakland Art Murmur:

    Review and images by Brandi Lee: Oakland Art Murmur seems to be growing every month. In the biggest turnout yet, Telegraph Avenue is shut down for several blocks allowing vendors to set up tents, build stages, and provide food trucks to satisfy hungry art patrons. Saying there is a steady stream of visitors at every gallery is an understatement. Literally thousands of people wander up and down the streets and in and out of the galleries in this condensed art area. I literally have to wait several minutes to even get in the door of a few galleries. Art Murmur has an electric atmosphere which compliments the wide array of art.

     artist art

    Telegraph Avenue at Oakland Art Murmur.

     artist art

    Street view of Oakland Art Murmur.

    ***