Matisse's illustrated books on view at the Legion of Honor

 

Henri Matisse was 60 years old when he began to create original illustrations for livres d’artiste (artists’ books). By the time of his death, 25 years later, he had produced designs for 14 fully illustrated books, several of which are considered 20th-century masterpieces of the genre. View seven of these rare books, including Poésies (1932) and Pasiphaé (1944), in conjunction with the special exhibition "Matisse from SFMOMA" at the Legion of Honor.

More at:  http://www.examiner.com/article/matisse-s-illustrated-books-at-the-legion-and-happy-birthday-to-van-gogh

Weekend Picks for March 28 - 30

The cosmic Buddha Ratnasambhva, approx 1275 - 1350

Asian Art Museum: "Enter the Mandala" - a small but powerful exhibit of 14th-century Buddhist paintings which are aligned in a 2nd floor gallery with the cardinal directions.

 The cosmic Buddha Vairochana, Tibet, Approx 1100- 1250

The space is transformed into an architectural mandala. Those who walk the patterned floor have a chance to experience the images in three dimensions and to dwell in the midst of the cosmic symbols and be transported to another world.

 Impressionists and more at: http://www.examiner.com/article/weekend-picks-for-march-28-30

Meridian, Roots Division and ArtZone 461 art galleries at risk of closing

"Emanus" by William Wolff - currently showing at ArtZone 461.

Calling all art angels...http://www.examiner.com/article/meridian-gallery-roots-division-artzone-461-at-risk

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