25 Years of Pixar, A Review of the Oakland Exhibit That Kicks Ass!

The current Pixar exhibit (at the Oakland Museum) is one of the best I have seen at a contemporary art museum since the Todd Schorr solo in San Jose. This show is a "significantly enhanced" version of the exhibition, which is returning home to Oakland after a world tour that began at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 2005. Kind of sad that it didn't begin here, since Pixar is right next door to Oaktown in Emeryville, but it's hard to compete with MOMA's draw. It should have opened right here in their own hood, then it would have been a true homecoming. Hats off to the Oakland Museum curators, for taking the helm to steer this museum in a much needed, fresh and new direction. (Support the place - spend some money there!)

Jessie!.. still in love with her, even after all these years...

This is a large, very solid show - full of room after room of 25 years of wonderful art. Original sketches, paintings, models and storyboards from all the wonderful Pixar animated endeavors. Pencil sketches, watercolors, oils, digital paintings, sculpture, charcoal, pastels - you name it, all your fave Pixar creations in every media imaginable. Beautiful sketches and renderings of tons of characters, from Buzz to Ratatouille.

The darkened room encasing the "Toy Story Zoetrope," (above) is a knock-out, really enlightens one on the essence of animation and how it all works. It comprises a 3D turntable populated by the Toy Story figures in carefully sequenced postures that spring to life when it all spins under the strobe lights. Leave yourself at least 15 minutes to stare in wonder at this puppy.

This Bug's Life art is titled as a pencil drawing!  Unbelievable rendering.

Roz in all her glory... did you fill out your paperwork?

When you go, make sure you leave enough time to see everything, at the very least - two hours...  And you may want to book your tickets ahead, they are admitting in intervals to keep the crowds down. When I went the pace was perfect, not too crowded, although the girl at the ticket desk could have used another helper.

The charcoals by Nathan Fowkes for "Sharks Tale" were jaw dropping.

Can't beat "slinky dog"...

Don't you pay any mind to all those hi-brow art critics out there that refuse to realize animation and cartooning is "real" art.
Just remember the great quote by Anton Ego from Ratatouille -

"In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. But the bitter truth we critics must face, is that in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is probably more meaningful than our criticism designating it so."

This show is so good I will be going back for a second injection. The amount of Pixar artists and their incredible art here is a true feast. A historical journey thru our joint Pixar past, all the characters, places and life lessons that made us smile, gasp, laugh and cry.  

MaMa Buzz Cafe, Erica B. Sheets Exhibit

Detail from top piece

Made the rounds of a number of Oakland art galleries last Wednesday but alas, many of them were closed. Of the ones that weren't- the only art worth blogging was found at Mama Buzz Cafe and Gallery. They had works by Erica B. Sheets up. The exhibit was titled "Celebrity Meat Seizure" and included a few new mixed media works. Intense, large assemblages with Mickey Mouse/ Angeline Jolie background cut outs. Some cool stuff. 

Pete Glover's "Junk Pirate" at Compound Gallery

Dropped into Pete's show's opening night and was so glad I did. The exhibit is a collection of collections, of thrift store and found objects. Originally, I was pretty skeptical about seeing the show; although I love vintage memorabilia and "junk" as much as the next gurl, I thought it might just be a let down.
Boy, was I wrong. Pete's editing, eye, sense of aesthetic and juxtaposition were top notch. The presentation and placement of the pieces were really well thought out, not to mention the actual "junk" itself. An overall symbiotic sense of America and it's surreal waste pervaded the exhibit. Each selection made sense and flowed nicely from one to another.  Some were bunches of the same thing, like old chess pieces and some were single items, spotlighted for their unusual (or just usual) specialness. Cast out photos, bizarre in their flavor, spoke loudly to my own personal sense of the strange and beautiful. The arrangement of multiple items was artistically perfect, unique to itself. Old View-Master disks were sensibly displayed on top of a wall mounted light box.

Next to a collection of plastic ray guns and then an vintage ad, the eclectic choices were all engrossing. In one piece, he took those crusty frosting cake letters you can buy and mounted them in a phrase- "The Romance of the Fungus World". How perfect is that?

Off the wall, symbolic, fun, nostalgic, beautiful and weird - this exhibit is a must see. Words and pictures cannot begin to touch on the wondrous variety of the presentation, no way can you judge this book by it's cover! Pete has a sympatico mindset to the unreal reality of consumption, a sarcastic wit, a sensitivity to the frailty of human mortality and a keen eye. All of which enable new visions of art and commentary, where once before it was just a bunch of old dice. Don't miss this show!

Pete, caught triple fisted!

Exhibit dates: (May 29-July 4, 2010)

Compound Gallery

Pete Glover's Website 

Crystal Morey's Wounded and Wonderful Clay World

Crystal Morey's ceramic work is delicately moving, graceful yet forceful; artwork that makes a statement without hitting you over the head with it. Subtle, sensuous curves that make you want to caress the dusty clay, combine to form a message about losses to our environment and/or hearts. Eclectix visited her studio at the last First Fridays in Oakland's Compound Gallery. Poked the camera around once again to capture the great Morey vibe, art supplies and personal touch. Very happy to spot a number of beautiful new sculptures, inspired by flora and fauna. The next issue of Eclectix is concentrating on this theme and will feature some of her works in it - but for now, just enjoy a little look at her porcelain world, inspired, completed and in-progress.

Crystal's Site