The Salon Doré to reopen in April

Of of all the museums in the Bay Area, the Legion of Honor gives the strongest sense of being both French and 18th century. Of course it is not; the Legion's beautiful Beaux arts building was build to commemorate Californian soldiers who died in World War I.

But so much in the collection is French and is reminiscent of the arts of living in 18th century France (if you were an aristocrat or/ had lots of money).

There is Francois Boucher's delicious painting of Marie-Louise O’Murphy, one of the many young mistresses of Louis XV.

Their collection of 18th century English and French porcelain

Prints such at Jean-Guillame Moiette's "Sacrafice to Diana." Pen and brown ink with white heightening on blue paper (later 18th century). Below

Or this anonymous drawing of a graceful beauty, red ink on cream laid paper.

Denis-Jean de La Villgueray may have been one of the urbane elite that visited the salon; we will never know.

 

Jean-Antoine Watteau (French, 1684–1721). The Foursome (La Partie Quarrée), ca. 1713. Oil on canvas. Museum purchase, Mildred Anna Williams Collection. 1977.8 

Ranked among the greatest artists of France, Jean-Antoine Watteau’s enigmatic themes were popular, influential, and widely collected during his lifetime. Born in Valenciennes, then part of Flanders, his intensely personal style was informed by the Venetian masters, whom he studied in Paris, and by a deep affinity for music and theater.

In this painting, known as a fête galantes, the artist evokes an arcadian dreamland of music, conversation and amorous dalliance. Although the work’s title can be defined simply as a party with two couples, the risqué implications of The Foursome remains unchanged from the eighteenth century. This union of observation and fantasy, plus ambiguity of intent and erotic connotations is characteristic of Watteau’s best work.

Dalliance in the salon? Mais bien sûr! As well as politics, witty repartee and all the arts that made this era so delicious for the privileged.

But, lacking Dr. Who's telephone box or a time travel machine,  being at the Legion and walking through the elegant rooms is one of the only ways we have to mentally reconstruct that world at it's most gilded and sumptuous.

http://www.examiner.com/article/the-salon-dor-reopens-at-the-legion-of-honor-april

Rudolf Bauer at Weinstein Gallery and more

I see that the works of Rudolf Bauer will be opening at Weinstein on March 15 - looks like a fascinating exhibit.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolf_Bauer_%28artist%29

Realm of the Spirit runs March 15 to April 20 at Weinstein Gallery (383 Geary Street). Bauer runs March 18 to April 19 at the San Francisco Playhouse (450 Post Street).
Read more at http://www.7x7.com/arts-culture/hunt-slonem-s-iconic-rabbit-paintings-and-more-intriguing-art-openings#OF0fV4J23HUyZLMM.99

Bunnies at Sorokko Gallery, nightlife at the museums and Pi day:

http://www.examiner.com/article/the-rediscovery-of-rudolph-bauer-nightlife-at-the-museums-and-pi-day

Realm of the Spirit runs March 15 to April 20 at Weinstein Gallery (383 Geary Street). Bauer runs March 18 to April 19 at the San Francisco Playhouse (450 Post Street).
Read more at http://www.7x7.com/arts-culture/hunt-slonem-s-iconic-rabbit-paintings-and-more-intriguing-art-openings#OF0fV4J23HUyZLMM.99

Bay Area art picks for the week of March 10

 Zachary Adams. Tiger Dance Party. Creativity Explored.

It's lions and tigers and bears (Oh my) at Creativity Explored, elephants at the Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive (BAM/PFA), paintings inspired by ancient Greece and Rome at the Italian Cultural Institute and an ongoing series of lectures and art demonstrations in honor of International Women's Week at the San Francisco Public Library.  The only thing the art viewer will need is good walking shoes and an extra dose of energy.
http://www.examiner.com/article/bay-area-art-picks-for-the-week-of-march-10

Gallery Openings This Week: Karthryn Arnold, William Wolff, Christopher Martin and more

Kathryn Arnold

 William Wolff

http://www.examiner.com/article/gallery-openings-kathryn-arnold-william-wolff-and-art-hazlewood-and-more

'Yoga. The Art of Transformation' at the Asian

For most of us, the word “yoga” conjures up images of impossible body contortions, limited to the young, the limber and those fascinated by a certain image of India. Others, of a more spiritual bent, know yoga through the writings of Yogendra.

The current show, “Yoga and the Art of Transformation” shows how little we knew.

Gathered from 25 museums and private collections across the globe, the 135 artworks date from the 2nd to the 20th centuries. The exhibit debuted in October in Washington, D.C., at the Smithsonian Institution's Arthur M. Sackler Gallery.  But it had to come to California  - possibly the first place where yoga was taken seriously in the West.

http://www.examiner.com/article/yoga-the-art-of-transformation-at-the-asian-art-museum

The week ahead in Bay Area art

http://www.examiner.com/article/the-week-ahead-bay-area-art

Celebrate the Year of the Horse at the Asian Art Museum

It’s the Lunar New Year and the Chinese Year of the Horse. The horse is part of a 12-year-cycle of animals that make up the Chinese zodiac. These interact with the five elements: wood, metal, fire, water, earth. 2014 is the year of the wood horse, taking over from the year of the water snake.

With the Year of the Snake slithering into history, they say that the incoming Lunar New Year beginning on Friday is going to be the kind of horse that you shouldn't stand behind -- because it incorporates the volatile element of fire.

http://www.examiner.com/article/celebrate-the-year-of-the-horse-at-the-asian-art-museum

RIP Pete Singer, musician, activist and America's social conscience

http://cheznamastenancy.blogspot.com/2014/01/rip-pete-seeger.html

Free on line access to Getty Publications

http://www.examiner.com/list/getty-publications-provides-free-on-line-access-to-backlist-titles

The week ahead: 'Neighbors' in the Tenderloin and more..

@ Troy Holden

"Neighbors" closes tomorrow but it's worth the trip to the hood to see the gritty, honest and tender portraits of our close neighbors. For "amateur" photographer Troy Holden, it took a year of canvassing just to get 50 willing subjects to form the exhibition "Neighbors." Holden who lives in Bernal Heights, discovered the Tenderloin on his first day in San Francisco in 1996. The photos range from tender to gritty but each is an honest, beautiful look at at those who live in a part of the city that we often hurry through with our eyes averted.

Troy Holden's website: http://troyholden.com/

"Neighbors:" Troy Holden's portraits of the Tenderloin, Through Wednesday. Lower Branch Gallery, 233 Eddy St., S.F. (415) 525-4626. www.lowerbranch.com.
Review: SF Gate: http://www.sfgate.com/art/article/Troy-Holden-snaps-people-of-the-Tenderloin-in-5159985.php

More at:  http://www.examiner.com/list/the-week-ahead-portraits-of-the-tenderloin-gallery-crawl-oakland-art-murmur?CID=examiner_alerts_article

Celebrate Martin Luther King's legacy at the Museum of the African Diaspora

The Museum of the African Diaspora will be celebrating Martin Luther King's birthday, life and legacy by hosting a full day of programs, exhibits, performances and art.

To honor the Nobel Peace Prize winner’s life and bring people together, MoAD is offering free admission to the museum and all of its exhibits, performances and programs for the entire day.

“This year, I am remembering the struggle to make Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday a federal day of remembrance. I especially remember signing the mighty petition for Congress to pass the law,” said Linda Harrison, Executive Director of MoAD. MLK Day was first observed in 1986.

Normally, MoAD is closed on Monday and Tuesday. But this special Monday, the museum has put together a program that includes film, photography, poetry and musical performances that celebrate the lasting greatness of King.

 Jamie Treacy A Crystalline Hub For Potential Memory. http://jamietreacy.com/

MLK Day celebrations start on the sidewalk with Jamie Treacy’s chalk art from 1-3 p.m.

 At 11:30 a.m., Brooklyn’s Castle will be screened on the second floor. The movie tells the stories of five members of the chess team at a below-the-poverty-line inner city junior high school that has won more national championships than any other in the country. The film follows the challenges these kids face in their personal lives as well as on the chessboard, and is as much about the sting of their losses as it is about the anticipation of their victories.(film and discussion 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. )

The celebration then moves to spoken word and poetry performances by "Young, Gifted and Talented from Oakland," a youth cultural arts and education repertory group (2 - 3 p.m.). Freedom stories will be shared by the Bay Area Veterans of the Civil Rights Movement through poetry, photos and music from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
An art project and a scavenger hunt will be held for the younger set. Films about King, his life, struggle and successes, will be shown in the Wells Fargo Heritage Center from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

About MoAD
Since 2005, the Museum of the African Diaspora showcases the history, art and cultural richness that resulted from the dispersal of Africans throughout the world, with innovative and engaging exhibitions, education and public programs. As a nonprofit organization, the museum’s operations and programs are supported by grants and contributions from public and private sources.”

The week ahead. Asian Art Museum, Creativity Explored, Fouladi Projects, Mark Wolfe Gallery, ArtHaus

At the Asian: "In Grand Style" closes this Sunday (Jan 12). n 1795, King Jeongjo journeyed to his father's mausoleum in an elaborate mile-long procession of thousands of people. The king ordered court officials to meticulously document the occasion, resulting in the royal protocol––several volumes of books containing every detail. This is just one of the fascinating stories in the first major U.S. exhibition exploring the colorful celebrations of Korea's Joseon dynasty. The illustrious era is brought to life by 110 exquisite artworks from Korea, many of which are in the U.S. for the first time.

Through the art, “In Grand Style” explores four key themes: what it meant to be a king during the Joseon dynasty; royal processions and banquets; women at the royal court; and the lives and celebrations of the Joseon dynasty’s subjects.

The Joseon period has left a substantial legacy to modern Korea; much of modern Korean etiquette, cultural norms, societal attitudes towards current issues, and the modern Korean language and its dialects derive from the culture and traditions of Joseon. The exhibit is full of exquisite objects and gives the viewer a comprehensive look at the life lived by the elite

http://www.examiner.com/list/the-asian-art-museum-presents-grand-style-masterpieces-from-korea

Camille Holvoet at Creativity Explored: Camille Holvoet has worked at CE for 12 years making brightly-colored, desirous cakes, and cross-eyed smiling figures in oil pastels and other media. This past year, she created a series of astounding and provocative self-portraits. The background of these drawings include scrawled narrative text and blunt statements of the artist’s desires. While cheerful at first glance, these commanding graphic works also reveal Holvoet's experiences of living in mental institutions, frustrated sexuality, and vivid memories of childhood.

More at:  http://www.examiner.com/article/the-week-ahead-asian-art-museum-fouladi-mark-wolfe-gallery-arthaus

Weekend Picks for Jan 3 - 5

There are a lot of good shows this week - several are wrapping up next week. But I decided to go with art that speaks to my heart - the artists at Creativity Explored, the artists at Arc who have visualized aspects of women's reproductive rights and Beth Van Hoesen's portraits of the Castro's  drag queens, leather daddies, and  activists.
http://www.examiner.com/list/weekend-picks-for-january-3-5-outsider-art-choice-at-arc-and-more

2013 favorites

In no particular order:

http://www.examiner.com/article/girl-with-a-pearl-earring-paintings-from-the-mauritshuis-at-the-de-young

http://www.examiner.com/list/anders-zorn-sweden-s-master-painter-at-the-legion-of-honor

http://www.examiner.com/list/david-hockey-a-bigger-exhibition-now-at-the-de-young-san-francisco

http://www.examiner.com/list/at-the-asian-the-moment-japanese-art-from-the-larry-ellison-collection

http://www.examiner.com/article/folding-paper-the-infinite-possibilities-of-origami-at-the-crocker-art-museum

http://www.examiner.com/list/de-young-s-tribute-to-richard-diebenkorn-the-berkeley-years-1953-1966

http://www.examiner.com/article/gordon-parks-human-odyssey-at-cas-asian-gender-and-identity-at-sjma

http://www.examiner.com/article/emancipating-the-past-kara-walker-s-tales-of-slavery-and-power-at-the-crocker

Free non-Christmas events during Christmas week

Arnold Lobel, "Old pig with pen."

In celebration of "Frog and Toad and the World of Arnold Lobel," The Contemporary Jewish Museum's Community Day is an admission-free, fun-for-all extravaganza. The exhibition features over 100 original illustrations and works on paper highlighting Lobel’s detailed illustration technique and warm, funny tales of love and friendship, mostly among animal friends. Lobel subtly reflected on human foibles in a charming world populated by a talking frog, a toad, an owl, mice, kangaroos, and other colorful creatures.
http://www.examiner.com/article/contemporary-jewish-museum-s-annual-free-day-on-xmas-day

Christmas is coming, which means you’re most likely spending the day with friends and family or stuck at work (or maybe both). If you want to get away, there are a multitude of opportunities and best of all, most of them are free.

If you’re looking to volunteer, opportunities abound, like serving meals for homeless and in-need families at Glide. More at: http://www.examiner.com/article/non-christmas-events-for-christmas-week

Celebrate the Winter Solstice

Tributes to the Solstice: http://www.livescience.com/42152-ancient-tributes-to-witner-solstice.html

Wikipedia does its bit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_solstice

Overview for 2014: http://www.kaykamala.com/overview2014.html

The winter time is nearing; raise your glass on high;
Prepare the meal, and let the beer and wine be drunk
To celebrate the shortest day and longest night,
On this time before the coming of deep winter.

The light dims near the edges of the darkling earth,
As men dance and sing to praise the westering sun;
http://www.timegoesby.net/elderstorytelling/2013/12/celebrate-the-solstice.html

'Emancipating the Past. Kara Walker's Tales of Slavery and Power' at the Crocker

A decade or more before Hollywood started using slavery for its exploitative value, Walker was making work that plumbed the depths of American's "peculiar institution" and mainstream society's hostile and cruel treatment to those who had been brought here forcibly from Africa to work the tobacco and cotton fields for the benefit of their white masters.

More at:  http://www.examiner.com/article/emancipating-the-past-kara-walker-s-tales-of-slavery-and-power-at-the-crocker

Bay Area art events for December 12 - 15

 Image courtesy of Michael Yochum

Arc Gallery: "Choice," a national juried gallery show in support of women's reproductive rights - not just abortion but contraception, access to decent medical care and if and when to be a mother. The attack on women's reproductive rights has reached new lows in today's lethal political climate. The show is about women being able, without harassment or intrusive medical (i.e. politically motivated) intervention, to decide for herself.

Juror Catharine Clark of the Catharine Clark Gallery in San Francisco selected the works of thirty-four artists for exhibition at Arc Gallery and eight additional artists to be represented in the Choice catalog and online gallery.

"Choice is binary: to take a pregnancy to term or not. As a working mother myself, it was important to choose works that convey the diverse paths women pursue."
--Juror Catharine Clark

Where: Arc Studio and Gallery, 1246 Folsom St, San Francisco, CA 94103
Opening Reception: December 12th, 2013, 6 - 9 p.m.
Artist’s Talk: January 7th, 2014, 7 – 8:30 p.m.
Closing Reception: January 12th, 2014, 1–3 p.n.
Exhibition: December 12, 2013 - January 12, 2014

Sponsored by the Northern California Women's Caucus for Art.

More at: http://www.examiner.com/article/bay-area-art-events-for-december-12-15

Creativity Explored's Annual Art Sale and Valencia Street Block Party

I just hope it doesn't rain tonight. There is supposed to be a Valencia Street Block party and the Creativity Explored sale/opening is part of the PARTY!

The 2013 Annual Holiday Art Sale at Creativity Explored is an art lover’s shopping extravaganza, with a multitude of remarkable art—and this year they are giving 30% off all original artwork to celebrate the end of their 30th anniversary year! (NOTE: Discount does not apply to online store orders or any products.)

http://www.examiner.com/list/creativity-explored-s-annual-holiday-gallery-and-art-sale

Valencia Street Holiday Block Party: The holiday shopping season is just starting to heat up, and the merchants along Valencia Street are happy to help with whatever you need to get that special someone. The block party will feature more than 40 participating stores, with night hours and discounts, as well as each establishment offering extras such as food, drink and/or entertainment. 6-10 p.m. Friday. www.valenciastreetsf.com (Also, Friday is the Hayes Valley Block Party and there’s an Inner Sunset Sundays event this weekend.)

Happy Thanksgiving -may your feast be delightful and not cut short by any crazy rushing-off-to-do-shopping.

Cosco and Nordstrom refuse to ruin Thanksgiving and so say all of us

For those in the East Bay who wish to avoid the bridge and BART (and who can blame them), there are lots of choices:

http://www.examiner.com/article/oakland-the-black-2013-holiday-shopping-street-fair

And for those of us in San Francisco, I hardly know where to start. So many good art exhibits, museum shows and even, through SF City Guides, a way to walk off that stuffed feeling: Kristina Quinones, ArtZone 461, Studio Gallery, Green Apple and more.

http://www.examiner.com/list/sf-s-sweet-spots-to-avoid-black-friday-madness-art-books-affordable-gifts

Sofia Carmi and Brent Bushnell-life partners who make art that transcends boundaries.

Another in my sporadic series on artists who manage to survive in San Francisco.

San Francisco is a hard city for artists to survive in, harder now that ever. With apartments renting at $2000 a month and condos selling for five million and up, it’s become a city for the 1%.

But some artists have managed to survive without compromising their vision of making art that transcends boundaries.

Just ask Sofia Carmi and Brent Bushnell who have managed to survive here for decades, with one stint “in exile” in Sacramento.

http://www.examiner.com/list/sofia-carmi-and-brent-bushnell-partners-who-make-art-that-transcends-boundaries

'Frog and Toad and the World of Arnold Lobel' at the Contemporary Jewish Museum

The most delightful show in town..

 http://www.examiner.com/list/frog-and-toad-and-the-world-of-arnold-lobel-at-the-contemporary-jewish-museum

Cornelius Gurlitt claims that the looted art is legally his

The latest chapter in the saga of the Nazi-era looted art.
http://www.examiner.com/article/cornelius-gurlitt-claims-that-the-nazi-era-looted-art-is-legally-his

'Anders Zorn, Sweden's Master Painter' at the Legion

"Mourning Veil," the watercolor that started Zorn on his path to international fame.

Review at:  http://www.examiner.com/list/anders-zorn-sweden-s-master-painter-at-the-legion-of-honor

'David Hockney: A Bigger Exhibition' now at the deYoung.

 A longer, more analytical and critical review of the Hockney show at the deYoung. Did I like it? Yes...but...read the review and see what you think. Relevant comments are always welcome.

http://www.examiner.com/list/david-hockey-a-bigger-exhibition-now-at-the-de-young-san-francisco

'Rembrandt Laughing' now on view at the Getty

"Rembrandt Laughing," Rembrandt’s engaging early self-portrait, purchased by the Getty last May is now on view in the Getty Center’s East Pavilion, Gallery 205.

In 1628, or thereabouts, Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn, then 21 or 22, full of the confidence and vigor of youth threw back his head and laughed. He looks at the viewer over his right shoulder, his hair falling fashionably in a long lock over his left shoulder. He is wearing a dark purple and brown outfit and a gleaming steel gorget, against a feature-less gray background. He then captured the moment in an oil painting on a tiny copper plate, about the size of an iPad.

The painting was acquired by the Getty for an estimated $25.1 million. Long classified as missing by experts, it had stunned the art world when it surfaced in a 2007 country auction in Gloucestershire in England.

The cheerful artist joins a range of other Rembrandt characters also on view—a pensive saint; a proud old man similarly dressed as a soldier with a metal gorget; King Cyrus and his skeptical confidant Daniel; the Princess Europa as she is whisked away by Jupiter in bull form; a contemplative bearded man, possibly a rabbi, seen in profile; and a precocious young girl in a gold-trimmed cloak.

This new addition, the fifth Rembrandt painting in the Getty Museum’s permanent collection along joins a remarkable group of 10 drawings by Rembrandt. Two of the paintings on view, "Portrait of a Rabbi" and "Portrait of a Girl Wearing a Gold-Trimmed Cloak," are on loan from private collections.

Painted with lively brushwork on copper, the self-portrait is wonderfully luminous. As paintings curator Anne Woollett notes, the painting is even more striking for its immediacy and virtuosity.

“Rembrandt Laughing is remarkable in that it’s a physical evocation of a laugh. You really feel the whole body laughing, and that is reflected in the face with his creased eyes and big smile,” said Anne. “Mirth is a very difficult emotion to portray, particularly if you’re trying to accomplish it by looking in a mirror to make a self-portrait. It’s fascinating to think about how Rembrandt painted this fleeting moment—the tipped-back body, the tilted head, and the belly laugh.”

Rembrandt painted perhaps as many as 80 self-portraits in his career. This work, created in Leiden and one of his first painted self-portraits, stands out for its levity—it’s one of only two in which Rembrandt portrayed himself smiling.

Most of his self-portraits were more grand and serious, with a fashionable sense of decorum. For example, the only other Rembrandt self-portrait in Los Angeles is one at the Norton Simon Museum made about 1638 or 1639, which is formal with a certain gravity. His expression is serious, his body composed. His clothes are elegant, reflecting the luxurious presentation of a Renaissance portrait.

Intently interested in capturing different expressions, Rembrandt etched, drew, and painted different emotions and characters throughout his career, often using himself as a model. His character studies, or tronies, were useful preparation for his history paintings, and also delightful small-scale compositions in their own right. Rembrandt Laughing is both a tronie, in which the artist appears in costume and embodying a particular emotion, and a self-portrait.

While we might attribute this rare jovial picture to his youthful attitude and burgeoning success at the time, it could also be considered a calling card for his skills. In the gallery, you can see how this self-portrait compares with "Portrait of a Young Girl" and "Old Man in a Military Costume." The three were painted within a few years of each other, and together display the artist’s range and talent. All three are also extraordinary technical feats and compelling character studies, and yet each stands out, distinct in tone and emotion.

But only one makes you grin. “Rembrandt Laughing is infectious,” Anne said. “His smile draws you in and makes you respond in kind.”

http://www.examiner.com/article/rembrandt-laughing-now-on-view-at-the-getty

SFMOMA and the Metropolitan Museum of Art jointly acquire a major piece by South African artist WIlliam Kentridge

Marking a major collaboration between two leading U.S. museums, The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) announced today the joint acquisition of South African artist William Kentridge’s major multimedia installation The Refusal of Time (2012). 

http://www.examiner.com/article/sfmoma-and-the-met-jointly-acquire-major-piece-by-william-kentridge

Redon at the Cantor: Unholy terrors, sinful temptations, gods and monsters.

The Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University presents a rare opportunity to view all three lithographic albums that French Symbolist artist Odilon Redon created in response to Gustave Flaubert’s 1874 book The Temptation of Saint Anthony.

The albums include a total of 42 individual compositions, all of which are on view in the exhibition “Inspired by Temptation: Odilon Redon and Saint Anthony."

http://www.examiner.com/list/redon-at-the-cantor-unholy-terrors-sinful-temptations-gods-and-monsters

2013 San Francisco Open Studios

http://www.examiner.com/article/2013-san-francisco-open-studios

In Berkeley: "Beauty Revealed: Images of Women in Qing Dynasty Painting," and "Deities, Demons, and Teachers of Tibet, Nepal, and India."

Reviews on the two shows at the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive: "Beauty Revealed: Images of Women in Qing Dynasty Painting," and "Deities, Demons, and Teachers of Tibet, Nepal, and India." 

http://www.examiner.com/article/beauty-revealed-images-of-women-qing-dynasty-painting

Creativity Explored in San Francisco's Mission District will exhibit contemporary interpretations of El Dia De Los Muertos.

Opening October 10, Creativity Explored in San Francisco's Mission District will exhibit contemporary interpretations of El Dia De Los Muertos.

San Francisco’s Calacas: Day of the Dead, Creativity Explored’s sixth and final exhibit of its 30th anniversary year, focuses on the artwork of more than 20 Creativity Explored studio artists and their contemporary connection to the globally-celebrated holiday of El Dia De Los Muertos (The Day of the Dead).

While El Dia De Los Muertos traditionally is a time to pay tribute to deceased relatives and friends, Calacas (a Mexican colloquialism for “skeletons” or “bones”) reinterprets the holiday, as seen through the eyes of Creativity Explored artists in their Mission District neighborhood.

Co-curated by renowned Salvadoran-born artist and Visual Arts Instructor Victor Cartagena and studio volunteer Samantha Hovey, this exhibition focuses on how the community of San Francisco has transformed the holiday into something unique and of ongoing cultural significance to the life of the city.

Each Creativity Explored artist has worked diligently in creating artwork that represents his/her own interpretation and understanding of El Dia de los Muertos, revealing individual, personal and spiritual perspectives. Be sure to experience this intriguing seasonal exhibit, the latest addition to San Francisco’s many Day of the Dead festivities.

Curated by Victor Cartagena with Samantha Hovey.
Creativity Explored. 3245 16th Street (at Guerrero Street)
Opening Reception

Thursday, October 10, 2013

7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Music by Fogo Na Roupa plus roving accordian performances by Heidi Hubrich Seretan.
Donor Preview*

6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m
.
*To become a donor, click here.

Creativity Explored’s 30th Anniversary exhibitions are supported by the Phyllis C. Wattis Foundation. Creativity Explored advances the value and diversity of artistic expression. They provide artists with developmental disabilities the means to create, exhibit, and sell their art in the studios and gallery, and around the world.

Seven Days in Bay Area Art

At the Cantor: "Manet and the Graphic Arts in France, 1860–1880." The death and destruction that occurred in the streets of Paris during the Commune of 1871 affected artists of the generation who lived through it or even fought in it, as did Edouard Manet (1832-1883). This exhibition examines how printmakers, draftsmen, and photographers depicted the factors that led to this traumatic event as well as the conflict itself and the changes it brought to Paris. The central image, Edouard Manet’s powerful lithograph Civil War, is shown with 13 works on paper by Felix Bracquemond (1833-1914), Maximilien Luce (1858-1941), Charles Marville (1813-1979), Félix Buhot (1847-1898), and others. Through November 17, 2013.

Romer Young Gallery presents its first solo exhibition with Milan artist Alice Cattaneo, "Nothing quite flat and more round. " For this exhibition, Cattaneo exhibits a new series of sculptures generated during her residency at the gallery this summer. The design of this imaginary architecture within the gallery space takes into consideration a rigorous yet imperfect geometry coupled with a sense of playfulness. http://www.romeryounggallery.com/

The San Jose Museum of Art kicked off its multi-stage exhibition "Around the Table: food, creativity, community." with the work of internationally acclaimed artist Jitish Kallat. In Jitish Kallat: "Epilogue, "the Mumbai-based artist honors his late father through a deeply personal installation. "Epilogue" (2010–11) comprises 753 photographs that depict progressively eaten roti, the round, traditional South Asian flatbread. Each roti represents one of the 22,500 moons that were in the sky during Kallat’s father’s 62-year lifespan.

At the Roxie: "Herb and Dorothy 50x50 ." “Herb & Dorothy 50x50” is Megumi Sasaki’s follow-up to her 2009 film about Herbert and Dorothy Vogel. He was a postal clerk and she was school librarian in New York City, They devoted their modest means to amassing one of the most significant collections of art, particularly conceptual art.

True philanthropists and art lovers, the couple donated their million plus dollar collection to the National Gallery of Art in Washington in 1992. Even after that, the collection was too large to be exhibited. So, in 2008, after an agreement with the museum, the couple said they would donate 50 works to a museum or gallery in each state. This film documents that project, visiting 11 such exhibitions. (Mr. Vogel died in 2012, before the documentary was finished.

Unfortunately the documentary is not a good follow up to the original film. It lacks focus and the music, as SF Chronicle critic Kenneth Baker points out, is sentimental and cloying. The Vogel's were likable, focused art patrons but this documentary doesn't do them justice. http://www.roxie.com/

More at: http://www.examiner.com/list/seven-days-bay-area-art-cantor-romer-young-gallery-sjma-herb-and-dorothy

The Luttrell Psalter goes on line

The Luttrell Psalter, one of the treasures of the British Library has been digitized and now is on line. Previously only scholars were allowed to handle this fragile, priceless masterpiece. But thanks to the new world of electronics, everybody who loves medieval art and calligraphy can view evey page.

The Luttrell Psalter is one of the most famous medieval manuscripts because of its rich illustrations of everyday life in the 14th century. It was made in the diocese of Lincoln for Sir Geoffrey Luttrell (1276 - 1345) of Irnham, probably sometime between 1325 and 1335.

The text was written throughout by one scribe and illuminated by at least five different artists

A framed miniature of Sir Geoffrey Luttrell inserted between Psalms 108 and 109 dominates this page. It was not unusual for the patron of a manuscript to appear somewhere, but they would normally be shown in a attitude of devotion. Not only is this miniature the largest in the entire manuscript, but Sir Geoffrey has had himself portrayed as a fully-armed knight, resplendent in his coat of arms. He is attended by his wife and daughter-in-law, both dressed in heraldic gowns, making a visual statement about the successful alliances he has made.

http://www.examiner.com/list/the-luttrell-psalter-goes-on-line

Opening at the de Young: The Art of Bulgari - La Dolce Vita

"Big girls need big diamonds," as Elizabeth Taylor once put it. Those who share Taylor's leanings should be sure to check out the upcoming exhibit at the de Young. It opens Saturday, September 21st and the glittering babbles (140 or so in all) are sure to be this fall's guilty pleasure.

http://www.examiner.com/list/the-art-of-bulgari-la-dolce-vita-beyond-1950-1990

Weekend Picks: Arc, BAM/PFA, Dolby Chadwick, Thomas Reynolds & Cantor Arts Center

John Fitzsimmons and Kate Flyn at Arc Studios and Gallery

Arc Gallery: "FourSquared" is a unique exploration of the works of sixteen Bay Area artists. Each of the artists has produced sixteen small works, presented in sixteen clusters. "SquaredAlumni" brings together eight of the most popular alumni from previous FourSquared exhibitions at Arc in support of Teen Van.  Arc Gallery will be donating all of its profits from this exhibition and the Alumni artists will be donating a portion of their sales to support the program. 

For so many teenagers, life seems a struggle, even without the grave complications of homelessness, poverty or untreated illness. But for those who carry all those burdens at once, life can seem impossible.

The multidisciplinary staff of the Mobile Adolescent Health Services program, one of Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital’s Community Partnership programs, provides expert care, custom-designed for high-risk youth ages 10-25 who rely exclusively on the Teen Van as their only link to a network of services and knowledge they urgently need. Since 1996, Packard Children’s has been mobilizing its experts and sending them out to meet vulnerable teens.

Each of the Alumni artists has produced four works for this fundraiser. All works are priced under $1000.  http://www.arc-sf.com/index.html

More about the weekend picks at: http://www.examiner.com/list/weekend-picks-spoke-art-bam-pfa-arc-gallery-cantor-thomas-reynolds

Yerba Buena Family Day Back for its sixth year

This Sunday, September 15, San Francisco’s biggest free family block party is back for its sixth year! Yerba Buena Family Day is a non-stop day of free indoor/outdoor family fun with free admission to local museums for all ages, hands-on art making activities for kids and special family-friendly performances throughout the neighborhood. Visitors get in free to participating institutions.
http://www.examiner.com/list/yerba-buena-family-day-is-back-for-its-sixth-year

Potrero Hill Art Explosion, SF's new art district

Stefan Kürten at Hosfelt Gallery

On September 7, 2013, the lower Potrero Hill neighborhood of San Francisco will see an explosion of contemporary art activity as four San Francisco art dealers launch inaugural shows in new gallery spaces on Utah Street and Potrero Avenue, each within a block of 16th Street.

Known for it's shopping center, sunny weather and views of the San Francisco’s skyline and industrial landscape, Potrero Hill is also becoming the city's new contemporary art district.

Chased out of downtown San Francisco by rising rents and in the case of Catherine Clark, SFMOMA's construction which impacted access to her space, Brian Gross, Jack Fischer and George Lawson are joining area pioneer Todd Hosfelt who reopened here in 2012. The San Francisco Center for the Book is also located in this district.

All five galleries will coordinate Saturday afternoon openings on September 7th, 2013.

More at: http://www.examiner.com/list/the-potrero-hill-art-explosion-sf-s-new-art-district

Weekend Picks for Sept 6 - 8

 Kim Thoman. Venus of Time. Image courtesy the artist. 

Shadravan Gallery: "Dualities" the latest works by former Merritt College Professor and Oakland based artist Kim Thoman. Dualities expresses Thoman’s interest in duality in many forms: body and soul, intellect and intuition, stillness and movement, male and female, the physical world and the unseen, life and death.

Thoman will exhibit 15 pieces from her “Pod Series” and “Venus Series” that trace the major developments in her recent work over the past 5 years. The "Pod Series" paintings juxtapose a wide range of computer-generated pods and painted natural imagery. The pods come in three varieties: an elongated tri-partite form, a twisted shell, and a pointed lozenge with an oval opening. Each of the pods has a skin of digitally applied paint, covering its surface. The "Venus Series" strongly suggests a figure and recalls the Venus of Willendorf, a paleolithic fertility statuette. The landscape is evocative of the desert landscape and reflects Thoman’s experience at an artist’s residency in Taos, New Mexico.

“...Thoman doesn't resolve conflicts, but reveals their superficiality. At heart, everything is in union...” - Renowned art critic, Peter Frank. Full review at www.kimthoman.com/peterfrank.html

Opening night will take place on Friday, September 6 from 5-9pm during the Oakland Art Murmur, the first Friday of the month gallery walk. www.oaklandartmurmur.org

More at: http://www.examiner.com/article/weekend-picks-electric-works-shadravan-gallery-meyerovich-berggruen

The Getty exhibits it's latest illuminated manuscript, "The Roman de Gillion de Trazegnies

http://www.examiner.com/article/the-getty-exhibits-the-flemish-masterpiece-the-roman-de-gillion-de-trazegnies