Arabella Proffer's "Ephemeral Antidotes"

Arabella has a solo show opening Saturday with lots of new works, at Articulated Gallery in San Francisco. Her stoic & stylish portrait style has embraced  the psyche of ailing women from the Middle Ages. Arabella was diagnosed with cancer last year in one of her  legs and her frustration and pain led her to cope with it through her art. As a kind of therapy she researched all manner of antique medical techniques and equipment, coming up with "case studies' - individual women complete with their own story about their botched surgeries or tortuous treatments. Delving into the barbaric medical practices of the past enabled Arabella to deal with her own modern day frustrations. 

“After having a section of my leg removed, I began researching medicine from the Middle Ages through the 18th century; this series was a good way for me to work out my anger and be even more thankful that what I’m going through is nothing compared to old remedies and techniques. My art and interests were in the way society lived in the past, but with emphasis on the defiant, glamorous, and eccentric — not daily strife. You could have been rich, important, or beautiful, but if sick, you would still receive brutal or worthless treatment.” - Quote thanks to Creep Machine

The opening reception  is from 8-11pm, January 7th and Arabella is trekking all the way from Cleveland to be present. 

Below is "Gretchen" with her sample biographic tale.

Gretchen

“An ambassador’s daughter with a passion for collecting, Gretchen’s menagerie was near complete when her father brought her the gift of a leopard cub from his travels. It was a sweet little thing, soft and playful, abiding to his mistress when she dressed it up in clothes meant for little boys. But, even the smallest of creatures will start to give in to their nature. It was thought that a flock of geese had spooked him during a game of fetch on the lawns. Gretchen was adamant the leopard knew not what he did, that his claws were bigger than his wits when he mauled her at the legs, dragging her before his final release. No potions, no humours, no herbs or witchcraft could save her. The legs would come off, and all one could do was pray. Pray for the surgeon, pray for the tools, and pray she did not die from enduring it all. Gretchen would never be same after that, lost to a world of darkness and time, languishing in bed, never speaking a word except a whisper to her pets.”

Arabella has a new book, "The National Portrait Gallery of Kessa: The Art of Arabella Proffer" available here or you can pick one up at the gallery.

 She will also have a small series of modern day "Marys" in the show, which Eclectix plans to feature in the next update of the current Iconic issue. 

Arabella's Website

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. 

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

You've a few days left to catch Kelly Tunstall's wonderful show at 111 Minna Gallery, it's up until Friday, Sept. 30th. These are new works by local artist Kelly and the show is titled "Secret State". 

"The Secret State examines civilization’s long romance with the examination of the space that we inhabit and our scale within it; the exhibition itself is aimed not at providing any comprehension of our universe’s truths, but instead, at celebrating the joy of discovering new clues to their elaborate puzzles and the spaces between.  Large and small works present a think tank of characters; a seer, a scientist/naturualist, an astronomer, and a doctor/engineer all bravely led by Alexander the Great and a shape-shifting machine."

Boy Oh Boy! Julie Heffernan

Self Portrait Holding Up, (cropped)

Currently at Catherine Clark Gallery in SF is a solo show of Julie Heffernan's surrealist paintings, "Boy Oh Boy II". We love her art and was great to see these large and colorful works in person, the details really get lost on the web. The show is up thru Oct. 29th - be sure to get in there too see these. We took some detail shots from background and foreground areas for all you who might be interested. They are like little mini paintings within the larger work, incredible.

Detail from Self Portrait Holding Up (top)

Detail from Self Portrait Holding Up (top)

Budding Boy

Detail from Budding Boy

Detail from Budding Boy

Detail from above piece

Detail from above piece

Detail from above piece

Varnish Re-Opens With A Kick Ass Show!

New Varnish Fine Arts

This week-end Varnish Fine Arts had their grand re-opening after closing down their former location - when the city of San Francisco nabbed their space, (using "imminent domain") for a transit project. The exhibit has art by many Eclectix favorites and every piece is fantastic - a solid and fascinating array. 

The killer pieces selected below are just a small sample of the quality and imaginative works packed into the new gallery. The space is a little smaller than their last, without a bar and is located very close to where their old space was. The best exhibition going on right now in the city, so get yur sweet selves out to see it!

Jennybird Alcantara

Jennybird Alcantara, John Mosbaugh and Al Honig

Isabel Samaras

Laurie Lipton

Wish we had a bigger pic of this one by Beth Bojarski

Craig LaRotonda

Here's the all-star line up of artists:

Chris Mars
Laurie Lipton
Annie Owens
Chuck Sperry
Edith Lebeau
Robert Bowen
Kevin Evans
Robert Williams
Isabel Samaras
Craig LaRotonda
Kevin Peterson
Aunia Kahn
Sri Zeno Whipple
Dylan Sisson
Jennybird Alcantara
Scott Musgrove
Nathan Spoor
Beth Bojarski
Ciou
Winston Smith
Skot Olsen

David Ball & Locals in "The City We Love" Exhibit

This Saturday, Aug. 13th - an all locals group show opens at 941 Geary-  "The City We Love." It has a large line up of great artists, predominantly all male, some of which we have blogged before. From the gallery site:

"The show is co-curated by Justin Giarla and local graffiti practitioner APEX, and features new work from artists actively engaged in San Francisco’s graffiti and street art culture. The opening reception is on Saturday, August 13, 2011 from 6- 

9 pm, and the exhibition is free and open to the public for viewing through September 3."

Featured here are the works of one of the artists, David Ball. His surreal narrative works are sure to be one of the highlights - beautiful collage and mixed media spectaculars. When we asked David about his technique process, here's what he shared with us : "Acrylic, collage, and colored pencil. It starts with abstract paint, then goes to collage. From there it alternates between acrylic and pencil with the occasional collage addition, as it makes sense." And a wondrous sense they all make!

For a wonderful video on David and his insightful, non-toxic thoughts on art, click here.

For some informative tips from David on his mixed media technique, click here for the interview by Argot & Ochre.

Sneak Details and Preview Of "That Was Then, This is Now" at 111 MInna

Eclectix popped into 111 Minna Gallery this week and caught the new exhibit before it's opening reception tonight. One of our favorite artists, the esteemed Nathan Ota has all new works here in a collaboration. From the Minna site:

Tonight, 111 Minna Gallery proudly presents, “That Was Then, This Is Now.” The first major collaborative exhibition by Kelly Graval and Nathan Ota, aka RISK and COOZ, reunites these artists whose friendship began before they would respectfully become graffiti legends in the streets and revered artists in galleries and museums across the globe.

Took some photos of the works below - some are very cropped to show the fantastic detail and glow of the works. For all the complete images - go to the Minna site HERE.