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

Fabulous Fernando Vicente

Born in Madrid, Spain - artist Fernando Vicente’s massive portfolio contains an eclectic variety of incredible works. An illustrator and fine artist, he runs the gamut from cartoons to editorial, pin-ups to portraits, realism to fantasy, cartography to anatomy.  The elegance of Fernando’s “Vanitas” series 

(the ones with a green circle background), elevates anatomical art to a surreal and decorative - yet unusual beauty.

(Originally posted in the Eclectix  "Bad To The Bone" Issue, Sept-Nov. 2011,

 along with the permanent online exhibit of anatomy-related art, LINK HERE.)

Edward Walton Wilcox Interview, 10/19/11

Edward’s art is a spiritual experience, imagery with such luminous light and aura to it that it refuses to be captured in a photograph. His colors are sepias, ambers and the warmest golds of sunsets – against the dark, murky depth of  our world’s underbelly. Seeing his work in person hooked me – classical masterpieces of mood, physics and unearthly delights. Edward is not only a master painter but an accomplished sculptor as well – he shares some of his thoughts here with grateful Eclectix.

For the entire interview and a gallery of Edward's  works, click here.

For all the Eclectix artist interviews go to Eclectix Etc.

SF Sculpture In The House at Varnish

Nemo Gould

As Part 2 of Varnish Fine Arts re-opening at it's new space, a select group of fantastic sculpture, some animated and robotic. Many familiar names from past Eclectix exhibits and features - Nemo Gould, Elizabeth Dante, Jessica Joslin and Dan Romo and some are fresh discoveries. It is one of those shows you have to see in person, moving parts and lights, glistening metallic sheen and 3D elements are so lost in a flat photo!

For all the artists, check out the gallery link, above.

Jessica Joslin

Stanislav Szukalski

Exhibit Dates

Opening: Nov. 12th, 4-8 pm

Closing: Jan.7th, 2012

The pieces (below) look fantastic- my apologies that they are so small, I couldn't find bigger ones on the web. Just gives you all the more reason to get out there to see them!

Stephanie Morgan

Elizabeth Dante

Dan Romo

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

Sweet Eye Candy

We were stopped dead in our tracks by this ever-so-retro lady on a sandwich sign belonging to Cupcakes, in Vancouver, BC.  Being a sucker for all things retro and vintage, as well as great graphics and design - this cute little cupcake shop pulled me inside. Everything was pretty in pink, well thought out and designed. It was a sweet treat on my eyes after the usual cold and corporate storefronts. From the signage and typography on the walls and in the windows, to the cute little gift tags and the queen and king - it was all sugary fun. I was a good girl and resisted the actual cupcakes, so no report on them, but the eye candy was over the top!

Juan Gatti Has Got It

Argentine born Juan Gatti calls himself a graphic designer, humble enough to make no bones about creating for pay. But an artist he is, first and foremost - as all really good graphic designers must be. His talented eye has graced many areas of pop culture - Italian Vogue covers in the 1980’s, typography and graphics for Pedro Almodóvar's films and multitudes of posters and book covers.

"A good title sequence should be seductive," observes Gatti. "It should have a hypnotic quality that gets the audience into the mood of the movie."

His new exhibit in Madrid is titled Ciencia Naturales. Full of lush, tapestried collage work, mixing vintage  human anatomy with natural forms. Showing through October 28th. To see all Juan’s magnificent works at La Fresh Gallery, click here, you’ll be entranced by the slideshow.

LINK to an interview with Vs. Magazine

LINK to an article in the New York Times on Juan’s graphics for films

(Originally posted in the Eclectix  "Bad To The Bone" Issue, Sept-Oct. 2011,

 along with the permanent online exhibit of anatomy-related art, LINK HERE.)