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

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/

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. 

EclectiXmas Tips - Buy Local, Handmade and Artsy!

This weekend and coming up - are a bunch of arts and crafts fairs- in all neighborhoods and walks of life. As well as many wonderful art shows at various venues. This year, more than ever, these galleries, shops and small businesses need the dollars to keep going. So make an effort to do most your shopping where it will help support the artists in your community. Most of the art venues have made an effort to cull together very reasonably priced arts and gifts for this season. And since this stuff isn't made in China and flown here using jet fuel, these are green and environmentally friendly ways to shop. Made in America! Not too mention they are one-of-a-kind, full of talented flavor and soulfully created. Come on - wouldn't you much rather get a cool little wall piece or some hand sculpted earrings than another scarf you will never wear?

We have listed just a few events around town below (many with Eclectix artists, of course)... but if you can't make these, at least take a few minutes to research some events nearby. It sure beats dealing with those cranky pushy shoppers at the mall!

-In San Francisco-

The Affordable Art Show (most art is under $300)

December 10th:  7 – 10 pm and Dec. 11th: 3-8 pm

63 Bluxome Street Gallery

(63 Bluxome Street) 

San Francisco

A group show of Bay Area artists plus some from So. Cal. Last year’s show was awesome! 

Alice Koswara, Dave Eggers, Kellie Peach Nash, Phoneticontrol, Jared Konopitski, Mike Law, Greg Boudreau, Hugh Leeman, Susan Bennett, Josh Herbolsheimer, Michael Slack, Jose Guinto, Angela Penny, Cait Willis, Nelson Loskamp, James Kimba Anderson, Lil Tuffy, Terri Berman, Gabriela Halsey, Marc Sanchez, Ben Walker, Douglas Alvarez, Erica Steiner, Miha Fmt, Patrick Ma, Aaron Toth, Roque, Ballesteros, Isabel Samaras, J Fuchs Art, Jenna Colby, Jessica Huston, Jessica Ward, Kelly Thompson, Patricia Mitchell, Liesa Lietzke, Lisa Mei Ling Fong, Luc Martin, Michael Fleming, Michelle Waters, Missy Feigum, Mr.clam Lynch, Ross K Jones, Sho Murase, Walt Hall, Wendy Shapiro

-In San Francisco-

"Tiny" (small pieces under $400)

Through December 23rd..

STUDIO Gallery

1815 Polk Street (between Washington & Jackson)

San Francisco, CA  94109

415.931.3130

-In San Francisco-

December Group Show

(over 2 dozen artists with affordable works)

Modern Eden

403 Francisco st. @ Powell in North Beach

San Francisco

-In Berkeley-

ACCI Gallery

Holiday Gift Showcase

Dec.10th - Jan.2nd

Annual Friends, Family and Patron Appreciation Sale, Dec. 10th, 4-8pm

1652 Shattuck Ave.

Berkeley, CA 94709

-In San Jose-

"Robot Girl"

Christine Benjamin's solo show, a local artist who creates her own fun and brightly colored cast of characters. 

Monsters, robots, aliens, skeletons & more, culled from her childhood memories and emotions.

Show runs from Dec. 3rd to Jan. 3rd 2011

Caffe Trieste (upstairs)

315 S. First Street, San Jose, CA 95113

408-287-0400

-In San Jose-

"Have Yourself a Crazy Little Christmas!"

Show runs from Dec. 8th to Jan. 7th, 2011

Come check out original off-beat artwork for sale from super-talented local artists like Deborah Barba, Carlos Villez, John Hageman, Christine Benjamin, Sheri DeBow, Kurtis Rykovich, Lacey Bryant, Laura Collin Bennett, Michael Foley, Michelle Waters, Nicolas Caesar, and Christian Cinder and more! And what Psycho event would be complete without Psycho karaoke as well! 

Reception and Party: Sunday, December 12th from 10AM to 3PM

Psycho Donuts

2006 S. Winchester Blvd, Campbell, CA 95008

HOURS: Monday - Thursday 6am-9pm

Friday 6am-11pm | Saturday 7am-11pm | Sunday 7am-9pm

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