Monday, May 11, 2009

Local art gallery makes me rethink my assumption that local art is always more interesting elsewhere

Friday, my buddy in crime L. and I went on our weekly sojourn into SF nightlife. We met several nice people, one jerk, witnessed scary lesbians in a riot (because we ended up at the gay bar Fame again), had fun dancing and saw some really interesting art at 111 Minna which I thought I'd share. I don't know anything about them other than their names, but my guess is the artists all have some illustration or animation training. I'm envious of these works, though. I want to take my work in that dream-like, comic bookish, Egon Schiele-esque direction too, and am finding I have to fight against my inclination to make things as realistic as possible. But if it wasn't a challenge I'm sure I wouldn't feel the compulsion to go in that direction.

Anyway, here is Mateo. Is this woman suffering from writer's cramp? Is her head threatening to come apart with all the words stuck in her head, making it heavier on one side so she has to walk in that funny way? Then I'm pretending she's walking away from her computer in that tiny shack behind her, walking towards a beautiful clear lake where the man of her dreams will massage her cramped muscles and feed her strawberries. Hope it makes her feel better.
Erot. I love the cardboardand duct tape. It was also quite sturdy to the touch (I didn't hurt it, swear!) so I'm guessing he (she?) used acrylic paint with a good layer of clear glazing all around to protect the surface. And if I were to review the work like a critic, I'd say the artist is making a statement on man's fear of death by using ephemera (or trash) as his (or her) working surface thereby making something meant to be thrown away or recycled into something he/she hopes will be preserved forever. (Good luck, artist!) He/she also makes good use of normally overlooked surface details (heck, the whole thing. It's trash isn't it?) by blending them into and allowing them to contrast with his/her exquisite and highly realistic images, et cetera, et cetera. I especially like how he/she spells creator kreator. Very klever.
The name of this artist is on the lower right hand corner. Can't make it out? Me neither.
Do you ever feel like this guy? The one down there, I mean. Cheer up big white hairy thing standing in what looks like chocolate! You're standing in chocolate! Just lower one of those super short arms of yours and...oops! Now we know why he looks like that. Poor white hairy thing.
Finally, I know this is a horribly grainy photo (I had to use a flash in near dark conditions) but who do you see in the giant portrait? (Part of the photo, with better lighting, can also be seen in my May 5th The secret of happiness is... post) Hint: it's not Lincoln.

27 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing, really enjoyed this post.

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  2. Thanks Elizabeth, I'm glad for the chance to share these works with anyone willing to take a look.

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  3. Interesting art. I enjoy your irrepressible takes throughout, though this looks influenced by street art or hip stuff to me. I saw amazing murals in Valparaiso, sweet stuff from spray cans, very evocative, on walls, houses, just about anything that had a flat surface. Thanks also for visiting me. . .

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  4. HI Beth, wish I could have seen that. A lot of graffiti is really beautiful.

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  5. I love graffiti! Wrote a paper on it recently for my art hx class. It's an awesome form of public art and especially when on trains it's portable too!

    I liked your photos, too. I'm always interested to see what you're going to show us next!

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  6. Hi Embee, yeah, I can think of some public art which would be vastly improved by graffiti, but oh well. And yes, the further adventures of L. and I...Glad anyone is interested, really. We're thinking of Disneyland and Mexico (in the fall, maybe) next.

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  7. A-hem, forgot to add, is anyone taking a stab at naming the guy in the portrait?

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  8. Really, really, really loving this!

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  9. Thanks cheery! And thanks for stopping by!

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  10. Thank you for your kind comments on my blog ..
    I look forward to knowing you...such an interesting person.

    Sarah Lulu in the land down under.

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  11. Welcome Sara Lulu! I look forward to getting to know you too!

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  12. I don't think I would have appreciated this art as much as you have but I do appreciate your dedication.

    CJ xx

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  13. Loved the Obama/Lincoln photo. That's really clever...

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  14. Great exhibit! I really did like this.

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  15. Hi Afternoon Tea Break, me too!

    Merci Butler and Bagman. Then I did my job.

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  16. In Mateo I see a little Tim Burton meets Dr. Seuss.

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  17. Thank you for sharing these. Brilliant, and it makes me want to seek out more local galleries in Cincinnati.

    You might enjoy a friend of mine, http://jenniferhayessketchbook.blogspot.com/

    Followed! (oh, and I just noticed - thanks for the follow!)

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  18. I LOVED this post. Loved hearing your impressions and thoughts. You are so imaginative and fun! Thanks for sharing!

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  19. That Obama/Lincoln photo is great! And all the other artwork in your post too. You are becoming one of my fav new blogs. Hope you don't mind but I'd like to add your blog to my side bar with the other blogs I love to read every day.

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  20. La Belette Rouge - Hmm, didn't think of that. Dr Seuss I mean. I can see it now though. And Tim Burton is spot on. Love his designs.

    Ricky - Hi Ricky, welcome! I'm glad I gave you the art gallery bug!

    Shanster - I knew you'd get my humor!

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  21. Hi Haley, welcome! And thank you! And I wouldn't mind at all if you add me to your sidebar hopefully leading even more dear readers to me. Not at all. And now I will visit you.

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  22. Love the art works and now can't get the phrase 'scary lesbians in a fight' out of my head. I'm sure that Starbucks have a coffee called that, or was it a cocktail my ex once tried? Anyways, great post as always Cheryl.

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  23. Thanks Phil, he, he, he! scary lesbians in a fight, scary lesbians in a fight, it is kinda catchy. A bar in the Castro might have it.

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  24. Why is it that my favorite piece is the cardboard. The illusion? Probably the least difficult to attain, and yet my favorite? Hmmm.
    David

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  25. Hi David, I love those pieces too. I think it's really beautiful, the skillful painting along with the unexpected use of cardboard. When I run out of canvas, maybe I'll give it a try...

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