Serbian Painter Zeljko Tonsic

Zeljko creates lovely symbolist beings in mythology and religion-based narratives. A loving quote about him from his bio: “And he continues to love and lets us feel that love. Love in the eyes of Archangel Gabriel, the bearer of good tidings, the comforter and helper of men. Love in the eyes of Eurynome, most important Goddess of Pelasgian myth. Love of all those, who were, and will be born on his white canvas, uniting religions, habits and understandings."

His Website Link

(Originally posted on the homepage of the Eclectix 

"Iconic" Issue, Dec-Jan. 2012,

 along with the permanent online exhibit of religion related art, LINK HERE.)

Announcing the New Eclectix Issue: "Iconic", Volume 11

Art by Shawn Barber

This new Eclectix issue pays homage to icon related art. Religious, pagan, pop culture, altars, rituals, mythology, gods & goddesses.

Artworks, news, artist interviews, calendar events, online exhibition and religious trivia. 

Link to the Eclectix homepage

Link to the permanent "Iconic" online gallery

Bonnie Reid’s Lovelies

Artist Bonnie Reid has a plethora of lovely illustrative pieces with an vintage, anatomical or a bony bent. She hails from Vancouver and also freelances in animation. From her website:  “Exploring the underpinnings, bumps, and anomalies in all manner of historical arcana, Bonni Reid’s subject matter reflects a dark underlying mythos that belies the innocence, wonder, and imagination of a hazy past.”

Bonnie's Website Link

(Originally posted on the homepage of the Eclectix 

"Bad To The Bone" Issue, Sept-Dec. 2011,

 along with the permanent online exhibit of anatomy-related art, LINK HERE.)

Laura Buss All Bundled Up

Laura Buss

We got bundled up to visit the opening of Laura's show at Modern Eden Gallery on a cold and blustery San Francisco nite and so glad we did. Laura's "Bundles" are full of warm and golden colors, obviously painted with love and a surreal eye. Interesting compositions, formed to their individual shapes on cut-out panels, the narratives were striking and personal. Even though they were paintings of mummies, dead people and animals - they had life and morphed into their own rebirth under her brush. Animals and skeletal human remains hug and cuddle, swaddled in their wrappings. Little nests popped out of shrouds, hands caress body parts and books act as stepping stones. The documentation of the mummies swirl and unite the art into dynamic yet decorative statements.  Images posted here are mostly cropped for detail - to see all Laura's works for sale - click the Bundles link above.

Also opening was the companion show of Woodland with many nature-based, trees, woodland animals - paintings and sculptures. Leilani Bustamante's trees painted on the walls behind the Woodland exhibit were a subtle and  tasteful way to unite the works. Way too many pieces and artists to post here - so just some highlights, browse the link above to do your online shopping! These are all very reasonably priced, moving original works, all painted on wood - ready to go for Xmas gifts. 

Woodland paintings on wood

Chelsea Brown

Calvin Ma

Leilani Bustamante

Kim Gordon

The openings were comfortably packed, the music and food were excellent and it had a welcoming, festive feel through the night. Both shows were extremely well curated and hung - the  usual modus operandi for Modern Eden's shows. Attention to detail in their placement and the titled adornments were obviously done with time and care.  Invaded later by the Santa Con crowd, red skirts with white fur were staggering everywhere! So fun.

Bundles & Woodland opening reception crowd

  

Link to Modern Eden

Scott Scheidly’s Lustrous & Bony Botany

Artist Scott Scheidly was born in Ohio and currently lives in Florida. He produces some of the most beautiful paintings of skeletal art we’ve encountered - mixed with poetically rendered botanical subjects. From his humorous bio on his website, he also seems to share our fondness for eating paste in grade school. It hasn’t hurt his superb painting ability one bit!

Link to Scott's Site

(Originally posted in the Eclectix  "Bad To The Bone" Issue, Sept-Nov. 2011,

 along with the permanent online exhibit of anatomy-related art, LINK HERE.)

Bundles and Woodland Exhibitions at Modern Eden

Two new shows coming up of note are the Laura Buss show and the Woodland show, opening on Saturday at Modern Eden, in San Francisco. We can't wait to see Laura's surreal new works and all the critters in the group show as well.

Laura Buss

About Laura's works, via Modern eden:

"Inspired by archaeology, Laura Buss’ “Bundles” present oil paintings inspired by ritualized burial. In burial, the mummy bundle of body is stripped of individuality, down to its basic humanity, and laid to rest with artifacts, the tools of culture. Through this juxtaposition, these painted forms emerge from their own humanity and culture, offering the archaeologist/viewer fragments of their lost stories." 

Flyer art by Patrushka

Woodland features works inspired by the wintry woods, forest creatures, and nature landscapes. Exhibiting artists 

include: Sergio Lopez, Leilani Bustamante, Jaclyn Alderete, Chantal deFelice, Steven Suiter, Kieran 

Collins, Chelsea Brown, Cory Benhatzel, Lisa Alonzo, Kristin Forbes-Mullane, Shannon Amidon, 

Kim Gordon, Karmene K-P Hassell, James Marc, Katie Bacigalupi, Daniel J. Valadez, Mary Syring, 

Patrushka, Sarah Vanphravong, Prunelle, Michelle Waters, Shadoe Delgado, Angela Dominguez, Sheri 

DeBow, Steve Javiel, Calvin Ma, Grant Gilliland, Catherine Moore, Michael Berninger, Jessi Kempin, 

Helice Wen, Christine Benjamin, Erika Sanada, Timo Hanley, and Marisa Ware.

The opening receptions will be held at Modern Eden on Saturday, December 10th from 7-10pm.

The exhibition will be on display through January 15th, 2012 and is free and open to the public.

Modern Eden Gallery

403 Francisco Street

San Francisco, CA 94133

Event Links: 

Modern Eden Gallery: http://www.moderneden.com/

Dan Harding Opens This Saturday at Articulated Gallery

Dan Harding is in a dual solo show which opens this Saturday, Dec. 3rd at Articulated Gallery in San Francisco. It is titled "I See, You See" and features the photography of Joanne Augustine as well. Dan interprets the photos of Joanne in his paintings. The opening reception is from 8 -11 pm and both artists will be in attendance. The show runs thru the month of December.

For a nice preview from Creep Machine click here.

For the Eclectix interview and gallery of Dan's works, click here.

Dan's Website  Link

Joanne's FaceBook Link

The Western Angst of Amy Guidry

Amy paints our “wild west” while hinting at humanities’ sad ability to wipe out the “wild”. 

About this series - she says:  "In Our Veins" explores the connections between all life forms and the cycle of life. Through a psychological, and sometimes visceral, approach, this series investigates our relationships to each other and to the natural world, as well as our role in the life cycle. Concepts such as life and death, survival and exploitation, and the interdependence and destruction of living and nonliving organisms are illustrated throughout.”

For the Eclectix Interview with Amy and more of her fabulous works, click here.

For Amy's website, click here.

Some images posted here have been cropped.

(Originally posted in the Eclectix  "Bad To The Bone" Issue, Sept-Nov. 2011,

 along with the permanent online exhibit of anatomy-related art, LINK HERE.)

Local Art Exhibit for Black Friday

Why not skip the mall and go see some monsters in Oaktown? The Collaborate Gallery has a tasty show up right now, overflowing with nice takes on the monster in us and around us. Lots of artists we love and some new loves in this show - Buddy Nestor, Alex Pardee, PureBred and Lisa Wood, just to name a few. It was our first time visiting this great space since they opened last June and it's a tall, open clean environ with a cool catwalk upstairs along one wall.

Collaborate Gallery, Oakland, CA

This is a nicely eclectic show, well-edited - all kinds of medium and styles. Pen and ink, sculpture, assemblage, paintings - large and small - just about something for everyone. For all the art images and artists, check out the gallery link (above). "Monsters" is up for the next few days until Nov. 29th  and you might just find a great piece of art for someone on your list.

Chuck Light

Buddy Nestor

Lucien Shapiro

Nicolas Giraud

Rossella Scapini

Ben Clarkson

Paul Romano

Lisa Wood

 Lisa Wood's art are very interesting and haunted  little collage assemblages, bits of memorabilia, hair, vintage photos all mounted and framed by antique china dinner plates. Each "plate" came with a "case number" and on an accompanying card - a tale about the person or persons. These seemed like little artifact documents of real people and sad incidents in their lives. Not sure whether they are fact or fiction - they are very moving in either case.

Scott Wilson

Detail of large sculpture, Stacey Ransom

Jon Carling

The Spirit Board Show at Articulated

Dropped into Articulated Gallery to see "The Spirit Board Show" and we have some pics to share. This gallery is located inside Loved To Death on Haight Street, which is a great oddities store full of beautiful and creepy collectibles. The gallery is aptly located up some eerie narrow steps, plastered with warning signs. "Spirit Board" is full of favorite artists and wonderfully ghostly art - special takes on the old school Ouija board and otherworldly visitations. Just a partial roster of the artists included: Edith LeBeau, Jennybird Alcantara, Buddy Nestor, Jessica Ward, Karyn Crisis, Monique Ligons and Caitlin Hackett. For all the artists and photos of all the art click here. 

Jennybird Alcantara

Detail of Jennybird's piece- very cool little old school paper doll hands, fastened with brads, elevated in a 3D fashion.

Monique Ligons

Buddy Nestor

Edith Lebeau

Jessica Ward

Karyn Crisis

Caitlin Hackett