ArtSpirit7

A True Art Spirit in a New Documentary

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When I found Gerhard Richter‘s work I felt validated. Here’s a successful artist who works in photography and painting has elements of reality and non-reality. He isn’t working in one narrow genre. I like that.

Richter’s “Forty Years of Painting” show appeared in 2002 at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. I didn’t know about him till someone who loved his work pointed it out to me a few years ago and I saw Richter’s work in SFMOMA’s 2010 Fisher Collection.

I love Richter’s visual vocabulary. Photography, painting, realism, abstraction. Vibrant colors. Streaking green lines the color of Granny Smith Apples next to raspberry red made by Richter’s huge squeegees moving chunks of paint on canvases you can jump into, stretching seven or ten feet wide.

If you can catch the documentary about him, don’t miss it!

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The Longest Running Annual Art Exhibit in San Francisco

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Seeds of Joy

“Seeds of Joy,” scanogram by Mary Gow

I have a secret about a scrumptious view of San Francisco. It’s at an exquisitely light-filled space and its staff has for 54 years had the generosity to host an annual art show! The Potrero Hill 54th Annual Artists Exhibition runs through June 1st.

The current show features the work of sixty artists ranging from sculpture and ceramics to painting and photography.

If you’re looking for an off-the-beaten-path place to see San Francisco, check out this awesome space, especially the six seats on the other side of the magazine showcase on the second floor.

The library was designed and renovated by the San Francisco Department of Public Works. It reopened in 2010. Here’s a slideshow the SFDPW produced that show’s off the space.

This is the same neighborhood where painter Wayne Thiebaud moved to in 1973. For more about Thiebaud and the Potrero neighborhood see Philip’s Garden Blog’s observations of the streets of Potrero Hill and Thiebaud’s depictions of them.

My piece in the show is a digitally manipulated scanogram titled “Seeds of Joy.” I produced it by placing objects on my scanner, and then pushed it further using Photoshop.

The scanner offers a stable surface for placing objects and the photo mechanism is securely mounted. What a treat for composing elements.

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4 Examples of the Artistry of Upcycling

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A bike innertube made into a fashionable belt, painted cut-outs from credit cards made into dangling earrings, a necklace from hardware, a dress from Doritos bags. That’s just some of the many examples of inventive thinking at the “Make-Do, a Recycle and Upcycle Art and Fashion Show” at the K Gallery at Rhythmix Cultural Works in Alameda, Calif.

Before I attended the “Make Do” Show at the K Gallery, I wasn’t aware of the term “upcycled art.” Upcycling art embraces the beauty of things we use every day and would normally toss in the trash. I found a site that explains it in greater detail if you want to read more.

“Make Do” features Jennifer Serr, Leonie Holzman, Cheryl Hayward, Bette Barr, Brianna Learnihan, Julie Baron, Linda Lu Castronovo, Susan Leung, Tina Martin, Mary Loughran, Amy Zimmer, Upcycle Clothes, Debbie Callen, Nic Griffin, Chris Rummel, Phil Hargrave, Mary Elizabeth, Stephanie Rodriguez, Michelle Morgan, Joy Johnson, and Shevon Dieterich (and others whose names are not available).

Here’s some creations that caught my eye:

Trash Fashion by Nic Griffin

Trash Fashion by Nicola Griffin

Walking into the gallery I couldn’t miss the mannequins donned with San Francisco-based Nicola Griffin’s trash fashions.

Earrings designed by Cheryl Hayward

Earrings designed by Cheryl Hayward

Cheryl Hayward of Olivia Hayward Designs is an Oakland-based artist who, ironically, had taken classes lead by Michele Cassou and Stewart Cubley. You can read more about Cassou in a previous post. Hayward said she wanted to make art that was affordable and applying her artistry to jewelry-making meant more people could buy her art. I could see what she meant since that evening she made some sales.

Innertube belt designed by Leonie Holzman

Innertube belt designed by Leonie Holzman

Leonie Holzman has several pieces in the show including a halter top and a versatile medium-sized pouch. The photo shows a belt she designed using a bike innertube.

"Riveted Hardware" by Tara Evans

Riveted hardware by Tara Evans


This necklace by Tara Evans caught my eye. It’s made from riveted hardware, pyrite, and vintage ball chain.

The show’s up through May 4th in case you’re in the area. The next show at K Gallery involves pinball machines.

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