An Ephemeral Visit With Arabella

Arabella Proffer

Dropped into the SF opening of Arabella Proffer's new solo show and finally got to meet her after years of a web relationship. She kindly shipped many works to Eclectix for exhibits from her home in Cleveland. Arabella and her new works were both looking stunning and ever-so-fashionable. This is a great little space and Arabella's works were a good fit among the "Loved To Death" store inventory. I have my heart set on acquiring a fantastic black umbrella/cane I saw there. And Arabella could certainly use one for her hurt leg, although it didn't stop her from mingling with all the art lovers there.  Many of the pieces were studies of lovely ladies going thru barbaric medical procedures from the Middle Ages, each with an interesting little bio next to the work. These are fantasy histories compiled by the artist to accompany each image.  My favorite in the show was the Black Madonna (below) a wonderfully strong & commanding piece. It was one of the smaller iconic pieces - they are all such a bargain, get on down and snap one up before they're gone! Enjoy the pictures from the show in the meantime.

“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.

A David Bowie Portrait Gallery

Craig La Rotonda

David Bowie is often named (by artists I talk with), more than any other artist, as a huge inspiration. He has been a catalyst for so much music, fashion and art since he first appeared on the radar. One of the truly original, creative and amazing artistic personas to have graced our rock and roll world. He broke more social boundaries and influenced more art than anyone else in my lifetime. Been meaning to post on his birthday for the last few years, this collection of Bowie related art, and finally have done so. 

Thanks for falling to our earth, David!

Andreas Reimann Tobias Hermeling

Carlos Ramos

Tara McPherson

Chris Wahl

Patricia Mitchell

Ed Van der Linden

Jordan M Designs

Justin Charles Seeley

Mark Hammermeister

Nachan, Deviant Art 

Iain Reekie

Ring of Fire, Deviant Art

Jenny Dayton

Tim Gabor

Patricia Mitchell

Soljwf98, Deviant Art

Adam Beane

Unknown

Unknown

Unknown

Russell Pierce

Chris Zajko

Cassia Lupo

Gustavo Brigante 

Lensable

Rex Ray

Gavin O Donohue

Alberto Russo

   

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

Jill Greenberg Kickin' Some Artsy Ass

Would love to see this show - so all you LAliens, get on out there! 

Jill has a killer portfolio and a show titled "Commentary & Dissent" just leaves it wide open for delicious. Opens this Saturday.

Katherine Cone Gallery

"The Air We Breathe", Gay Marriage at SF Moma

Over the holidays we visited SF Moma and were very pleasantly surprised by this exhibit, covering one long wall as you emerge from the stairs. You don't often see "gay art" in a museum and I guess SF is the place to do it. Sad that it is edited out or censored elsewhere, art is art, wherever and whatever it conveys. It was refreshing to see same-sex imagery, thrust in the art-going public's face and confronting the inane bigotry around who-marries-who. 

 The show is up thru Feb. 20th, 2012. From the museum's website:

"The Air We Breathe brings together visual artists and poets to reflect on the subject of equal rights for same-sex couples, including the right to marry. The exhibition features works by artists including D-L Alvarez, Simon Fujiwara, Robert Gober, Raymond Pettibon, Amy Sillman, and Allison Smith, along with new poetry by John Ashbery, Anne Waldman, and others."

The 3D piece titled after the exhibition, The Air We Breathe by Elliott Hundley was a show stopper! Composed of eclectic elements, collaged and many-layered - it was impossible to grasp the multitudes of tiny objects and textures in a single shot. Posted below are a few details at different angles. Just a wonderful, mind-boggling assemblage, worthy of a good long contemplation. Couldn't find a personal website for Elliott but he is all over the web if you care to search.