Lacey Bryant's Silent Country

Lacey Bryant and one of her art dolls- "Mother" . This one totally reminded me of Jill Clayburgh, the actress...

We were happy to make it to the opening of Lacey Bryant's current exhibition at Modern Eden. Having seen her works numerous times over the last few years, at many different Bay Area venues, they always stood out with her identifiable style. Modern Eden graciously dedicated their entire gallery space to Lacey for this well-deserved solo exhibition -  "Soliloquies from the Silent Country" .

Her works have a strong painterly feel, lots of wet brushstrokes and emotive subject matter. Bits of dark angst mingle with surreal animal transformations and fairy tales. They feature young women in various states of expression or contemplations - often interacting with nature in some way. I love the fact that her works accomplish such impact and feeling - without gratuitous nudity or sexual poses. It sets her works apart from the more predictable, sexy yet shallow, imagery out there. One feels that all these women are aspects of Lacey's pschye, floating and captured within their own moment of time.

Detail

In addition to the paintings are some very marvelous dolls (see very top photo & below). The subtle character expressed in the doll's faces give them a lovable, human aspect - their skin glows dirty with life and sass. They offer up special gifts, recessed in their hearts or in their peasant-like attire. Photographs do not begin to translate their charm in person.

Lacey is a sweet sprite, energetic and full of positive vibrations - open, non-pretentious and bubbling with humanity. It was a joy to meet her and all her artworks. This exhibition is up through Feb. 5th, 2012.

Lacey and "Accomplices"

This one was my personal favorite, titled "Doubt".

The musical entertainment was by provided by an alt-folk trio, The Wild Reeds and they provided some good ole' down-home comfort music. 

The Wild Reeds

“Soliloquies from the Silent Country”, Lacey Bryant's Upcoming Solo in SF

Modern Eden Gallery is hosting  “Soliloquies from the Silent Country”, new paintings and sculptures by San Francisco Bay Area artist Lacey Bryant. This will be Bryant's debut solo exhibition in San Francisco.

"Theatrically posed and surrounded by lush, illusory environments, the subjects of Lacey's works are like illustrations in a picture book written in an unknown language. The images are somewhat familiar but certain elements remains foreign. Like a hazy dream of an imagined childhood long forgotten, the images strive to make you feel as if you just might have been there once, maybe. The stage is set in an imagined world of natural beauty beneath ominously stormy skies. It is a world poised between now and once upon a time. " - via Modern Eden

The opening reception will be held at Modern Eden on Saturday, January 21st from 6‐9 pm. It will be up through Feb. 5th, 2012.

Science & Art in "Genus, Species"

A tasty little  show up at Modern Eden, "Genus, Species" makes commentary on odd and beckoning critters with a science bent. Our natural world collides with today's art in a fresh exhibition by local artists.

A few of our favorites are posted here - but they are all worth seeing and absorbing. An original and indie way to start that Xmas shopping! The show is up thru December 4th.

Featuring works inspired by scientific botanical and  anatomical illustrations with artists’ own unique twist on the traditional style. Exhibiting artists include: 

Robert Bowen, Chelsea Brown, Chamber Made, Steven Suiter , Cory Benhatzel, Sheri 

Jurnecka, David Camisa, Katie Bacigalupi, Matthew J. Price, Archer, Genessa Kealoha, Sean 

Sczepanik, Alison Trujillo, Max Kauffman, Lacey Bryant, Tiffany L. Pascal, Cody Vrosh, Bradley 

Platz, Kim Larson, Emi Slade, Michael Foley, and Angela Willetts. 

Sandra Yagi's Primal Opening

Sandra is one of the foremost surrealist artists in the Bay Area and it was great to finally see such a huge collection of her works on exhibit here in her home turf, at Modern Eden. 

A second exhibit titled, "Genus, Species" contains smaller works with a natural sciences theme and is delightfully organically inclined. (More to come on this show in a future post).  Modern Eden is a fantastic space, clean, large and inviting - with lots of well lit and spacious walls - easily the cream of the local gallery crop. 

Sandra's solo is aptly titled "Primal Renderings" and features a series of newer and older works, based on aspects of our inner ape and scientific morphed creatures with a pre-historic bent. Many of her subjects have been stripped of their skin, offering up beautiful anatomical studies of musculature dancing within skeletal form.

 "Yagi’s recent paintings incorporate anatomical imagery to explore the human psychological condition, such as cutaway skulls portraying basic human drives and the thin veneer of humanity overlaying our animal nature. "  -Via Gallery website

 There is a whole wall of S&M and bondage related art, with skeletons acting out the partner in sexual games and foreplay.

These are delightful, fun quirky works which Sandra says she researched in person, visiting various houses of ill repute. How's that for homework?

This is an engrossing show, encompassing the breadth of Sandra's incredible works, each piece relaying a hinted narrative - enticing without being over stated.  Smaller works and larger works as well as prints are available to purchase. Technically adept and studied, imaginative and interesting subjects which urge further contemplation. An artist worth collecting, her pieces will engage and satisfy for years to come.

Exhibition is on display thru December 4th, 2011.

For a previous Eclectix post with more of Sandra's images from the show,  click here. 

LINK - to Sandra Yagi's wesite

Sandra Yagi Stars at Modern Eden

Sandra Yagi

Coming up this Saturday on Nov. 12th is a solo show of the wonderful Sandra Yagi, titled "Primal Renderings". Sandra's new works engage surrealist anthropomorphic scenes,  strange sea creatures and beautiful skeletons floating in their combined realities. They hint of vintage science illustrations within a darker, more modern, environmental context.

Sandra Yagi

Sandra Yagi

Complimenting Sandra's show perfectly will be "Genus, Species", a group exhibition full of favorite local artists, giving us their take on scientific and botanical inspired works. For a list of all the artists and more art, go to the gallery site link, below.

From the "Genus Species" show, a piece by Sheri Jurnecka

Opening Reception: Nov. 12th, 7-10 pm

Exhibit shows thru Dec. 4th, 2011

Modern Eden Gallery

403 Francisco St.

San Francisco

Sandra Yagi

"The Order" Opens This Saturday

 This Saturday at Modern Eden in SF- opens a new exhibition of two artist whose works we love and have featured over the years. Titled "The Order", it draws from the imaginative collaboration of Michael Ryan and Bradley Platz. Former studio mates and long time friends, "The Order" will be Platz and Ryan's 2nd duo show after 2008's acclaimed "Portraits and Allegories" at Eclectix Gallery. 

 In this new exhibition the concepts of both artists weave together through their respective solo work and culminate to find an exact cohesion in a 2 panel diptych in which Platz and Ryan have collaborated. The dramatic piece depicts Sophia and the The Demiurge, Gnostic and platonic deities responsible for fashioning the material world out of primordial chaos. From San Francisco to Seattle the artists have put together compelling individual bodies of work that, collectively, tell a story about the incidental beauty of creating Order from Chaos.

 Modern Eden will also be showcasing a International group exhibition “The New Surrealism : A Collection of Strange”- in homage to the strange and weird, reflecting the evolving future of surrealism in the modern age. Exhibiting artists include: Steve Bartlett, Bonni Reid, Sandra Yagi, David Ball, Lee Harvey Roswell, Vahge, Adriana Michelle, Lacey Bryant, Lance Hewison, Michelle Waters, Moises Hergueta, Christine Benjamin, Kieran Collins, Emilio Villalba, Anderson Lewis, Andy B. Clarkson, Natasha Dikareva, Archer Dougherty, Samuel Araya, Baldur Helgason, and David Camisa.

When: Opening Reception: Saturday, July 16, 2011 7PM, Artists will be in attendance.

Show runs through Sunday, August 13, 2011

Where: Modern Eden Gallery

403 Francisco Street

San Francisco, CA 94133

Modern Eden Gallery Grand Opening Exhibit

The new Modern Eden Gallery in San Francisco's North Beach is somewhere to visit and support. Checked out their grand opening exhibit and was impressed by all the pieces. Some of the artists were shown in a number of past Eclectix exhibits, some were new to me - but all were high caliber choices with eclectic themes. Moody landscapes, mythical portraits, pop-surrealist pieces, gothic images and so much more! So happy to see artist Bradley Platz open this space, a much deserved venue and studio for his art, as well as for the other great artists. Michael Ryan has a number of his fantastically gloomy, classical works here and Leilani Bustamante and Marco Mejia's works are  newbrow must-sees as well. Alphonzo Solorzano and Miquel Felipe's works have a religious, folk-art-Latin feel to them with a warm, gritty street edge.

The clean, new space is purrfect - large, different bends and alcoves to it, with a number of ideal spots for sculpture display as well. It has a nice grace and flow to the overall ambiance. You might catch Bradley at work on his easel in the back area. There is handmade local artisan jewelry and fine crafts in a side store section. This exhibit is one of the best to be seen in SF right now, so get on down and see it before it closes July 14th!

Modern Eden Link

Modern Eden Grand Opening This Saturday

Date:	Saturday, June 12, 2010
Time:	6:00pm - 10:00pm
Location:	Modern Eden
Street:	403 Francisco Street
City/Town:	San Francisco, CA