Bridge Art Fair|Miami Beach 2008 - Catalog

Bridge Art Fair|Miami Beach 2008 Catalog

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Bridge Art Fair|Miami Beach 2008

DECEMBER 4-7, 2008 Catalina Hotel, Room 124 1732 Collins Ave., Miami Beach

Micaëla Gallery presents the work of Gerald Cannon, Peter Foucault, Scott Kiernan, Scott Kildall, Taliaferro Jones, Jenna North, Lorraine Peltz, Tobias Tovera, Anne Yalon and David Yun at Bridge Art Fair|Miami Beach 2008 from Dec 4 through Dec 7. Read more...Current Exhibition Previous exhibition: Stig Persson | The Big Silence: works 2003-2008 Fairs: SOFA Chicago 2008, Bridge Art Fair|Miami Beach 2008 Gallery Calendar Exhibition catalogs are available for purchase.

The Weather Reconnaisance at the Garage Biennale

This evening (cold and foggy), I attended the Weather Reconnaisance show at the Garage Biennale this evening with my new neighbor, George Lawson (Room for Painting Room for Paper). The Weather Reconnaissance show was everything I expected from Jenna North and Peter Foucault - dramatic, edgy and formal - as MFA graduates are taught. Sparely curated, the works by young emerging local artists showed a common atmospheric thread, environmental awareness and hope for socio-political debate that is meaningful and communally enriching. The images shown were extemporaneously taken with an iPhone (apologies for the quality) and meant to share a sense of this short-lived exhibition (4 hours, 1 night only).

Peter Bremers at Ebeltoft

I first met Peter Bremers at SOFA Chicago two weeks ago. We corresponded a little, about travel and world culture. I can't remember who approached whom, and we began to write because one of us thought we should meet and both of us thought I should show his work. The reaction from other artists that he joined our exhibition was curious - mixed and excited - he is respected among his peers. It's easy to see why. Aside from his handsome physical appearance - lithe, with a fresh, outdoor complexion, twinkling eyes and a ready smile - he's irresistible. Most importantly, Peter is articulate, well published, has a wide international following of collectors and admirers, and his work is meticulous - perfectly polished, flawless, and clearly representative of the ice formations he recently travelled to study.

Currently showing at the Ebeltoft Museum, slightly north of Copenhagen in Denmark, Peter's work joins a small group of internationally established artists who sculpt using glass as a primary medium. His work will be on exhibition through April 2009. Below is a short video taken by the Ebeltoft group of his exhibition and posted on YouTube for you to enjoy.

Ned Cantrell at the Contemporary Arts Centre of Virginia

Ned Cantrell wrote to me this morning, in response to something I'd said about this year's SOFA Chicago. He said something I've felt for some time about the world of glass sculpture - that the exhibitions at SOFA are underwhelmingly (is that a word? no, I'm not quoting him) short of contemporary expression, and that glass world seems often to be out of touch with tendencies in the art world. True, how true, especially when viewers are dazzled by booth after booth of polished cast work in lead glass by artists from New Zealand, Eastern Europe and China...I fully agree with Ned and support this thought with a nod to work carried by Silica Galleries, a novice participant at this year's SOFA. The works they showed possess a ton of youthful expression, and the artists seem skilled and interested in creating work that is meaningful. This is so important - for glass sculpture to grow and continue to be accepted as a medium in fine art, refinements of its use as an expressive medium needs to grow as technical mastery is now an accepted standard. The image above is Ned's "Cherub" (blown glass and mixed media, approx. 6 x 6 x 3 in.), 2008.

Okay, speaking about favorites here, since we don't seem to be pulling any punches...aside from the works we presented (!), my other favorite works were by an imported local confederate, Clifford Rainey (shown at left, "Philosophical Boy - Job No. 4" [glass, ceramic apple, wire, pins, gesso, maple plinth. 43.5 x 19 x 15, installed including base], 2005). I heard Mr. Rainey speak at the Glass Art Society conference in Portland, Oregon, last summer. He explained that his glass sculpture is a filtered chronicle of ideas and visual iconographies gleaned from his many travels. The works are acquired points of reference, that (after hearing him speak) are enriched by Mr. Rainey's native European penchant of the double entendre and complicated cultural convergences ... nice. I also enjoyed the newbrow/lowbrow aspect of Joshua Opdenaker's work, image left: "Blackened Chicken Skewer" (glass, 26.5 x 12 x 13 in.) 2008, and Gregory Nangle's, "Take Everything" (glass + bronze, 23 x 8 x 8 in.) 2008, image right. Sit up everyone and take notice of these guys, they have fun, they are good, and their work is very very cool.

Next up for Ned in the US is a group show "Ashes to Ashes" with the Contemporary Arts Centre of Virginia. Good luck, Ned, and stay warm in Denmark!

Jenna North and Peter Foucault at The Garage Biennale

The Weather Reconnaissance, jointly curated by Jenna North and Peter Foucault
The Garage Biennale, 2830 Pacific Ave. , San Francisco, CA
November 22nd 2008 7PM – 10PM

Artists can tune their antennas like no other species, and the Weather Reconnaissance is an attempt to exhibit a diverse range of creative work in response to both the micro and macro interpretations and influences of this force that affects everything from mood to doom.

Also showing: Angela Baker, Lisa Blatt, Zack Eichelberger, Peter Foucault, Sid Garrison, Jessica Haggenjos, Rachel Jablo, Scott Kiernan, Keira Kotler, Mary Anne Kluth, Yoon Lee, John Melvin, Andrew Mills, Jenna North, Shalo P, Kevin Parks Hauser, Jackson Patterson, David Sanchez Burr, Larry Sheradon, Patrick Wilson

Performances by: Pete Ippel, Dori Latman, Jsun Adrian Mccarty, Bryan Reuter of Cloud Archive

Curated by Jenna North and Peter Foucault

Winter Salon 2008

MICAËLA GALLERY PRESENTS: Winter Salon 2008

Micaëla Gallery is proud to present Winter Salon 2008, an exhibition of work by Peter Bremers, Gary Clemenceau, Scott Kildall, Michelle Knox, Naoko Okabe, Stig Persson, Chantal Royant, David Ruth, Thomas Scoon, Ron Starr and Kristiina Uslar. The exhibition summarizes Micaela Gallery's 2008 presentation of glass sculpture, introducing new works, while presenting an elegant and slightly decadent je ne sais quoi embrace of 2008, befitting a year of unprecedented international and cultural change.

Winter Salon 2008 inaugurates Micaëla Gallery's new home at 49 Geary, San Francisco.The exhibition opens on Saturday, November 15 and will be ongoing through January 10. The opening reception, with some of the artists in attendance, is Thursday, December 4, 2008 at 5 pm. We hope you will drop in and say hello. While Micaëla Gallery ends its 2008 season of glass sculpture with Winter Salon 2008, its annual exhibition program of glass sculpture will continue next summer, along with its tradition of introducing new artists and glass sculptors from near and far to you.

David Ruth and Michelle Knox at Sculpture Site

David Ruth and Michelle Knox are participating in a group exhibition curated by Dorothy and George Saxe at San Francisco's Sculpture Site Gallery. Congratulations to both and best wishes!

Notes from SOFA Chicago 2008

SOFA Chicago 2008 is exciting. This year’s event opened two days after the most historic presidential election in US history (confetti still covered the streets the day after the election!), and the usual jovial nature of Chicago residents seemed even more buoyant than I remember. SOFA’s Opening Gala was attended by glitterati of the international art world and important collectors, such as the Goldsteins (LACMA donors), who came to consider Taliaferro Jones’ work, 'Inhale Exhale'. We met Thomas Stern (who purchased Stig Persson's work, 'Stacked, #1') and enjoyed a renewed visit by San Francisco uber patrons of glass artists, Dorothy and George Saxe. The Saxes included a couple of sculptures by David Ruth in a local San Francisco exhibition they curated, and there is a rumor they will award him a commission for two works. Best wishes to all on the success of the commission and the exhibition! Natalia Pudzisz, our Assistant Director, had the quick perspicacity to introduce Taliaferro to the Saxes, who mentioned they looked forward to viewing more of her work. Bravo, Taliaferro, and thank you, Natalia! Taliaferro's photograph, 'Skim' caught the eye of many passersby - namely a young couple who purchased the work for their Mies van der Rohe apartment. The general reaction to Taliaferro's work was fun to watch - viewers strolling past our booth risked severe neck injury as they turned their heads to continue viewing the work in full stride! Another SF Bay Area star, Marvin Lipofsky, dropped in to say ‘hello’ and remind us that he will someday visit the gallery ... anytime, Marvin!

Our inaugural exhibition of Peter Bremers’ Arctic-inspired work resulted in a visit by a crew from Voice of America to videotape 60 seconds of extemporaneous comments about his work, which will be broadcast, along with those of Lucio Bubacco, Dale Chilhuly and Lino Tagliapietra, to the global community to show the world how the USA welcomes and supports international artists. David Gilhooly's work received the expected honorable attention a noteworthy artist deserves - a fixture in American art history, his recent additions to FrogWorld (Frog Burger for Two and Frog Bagel) attracted sophisticated art collectors and emerging collectors alike with his usual wry visual commentary of the banal. As expected, Ned Cantrell's skull, 'Amore et melle et felle est fecundismismus' [Eng."Love is rich with both Honey and Venom" - blown glass, graal technique and hot sculpted. 2008. 16 x 14 x 14 cm.], drew youthful collectors like bees to honey... Our newest artist, Weston Lambert, sold an artwork to Oscar and Emmy awarded sculptor, Ira Tippen!

A highlight of this visit to Chicago was dinner with artist, Lorraine Peltz, and her husband, James Yood, both local and important fixtures of the vibrant Chicago art scene. James, a renowned art critic and author, presented an interview with John Kuhn at SOFA Chicago on Saturday. Lorraine, an Associate Professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, will present new works with us at this year’s Bridge Art Fair, Miami Beach (just four weeks away!). Together, they graciously introduced our crew to quintessential Chicago cuisine, stuffed deep-dish pizza and micro brews … lethal and delicious, we’re still groaning from the caloric intake!

We return to San Francisco with immense gratitude and kudos, to all our artists for their beautiful contributions to this year’s exhibition. David Ruth’s new work, glacial studies based on his recent travel to the Antarctic, and James Walker’s work, celebrating visual markers ubiquitous to the landscape of our era, disappointingly did not sell; they were nevertheless favorably reviewed and the subject of considerable positive commentary. We appreciate the considerable effort of your work, and the enormous expense of persevering an avocation of glass sculpture. In retrospect, our second year at SOFA Chicago, while not (at all) as financially rewarding as we’d hoped, delights with small successes and the new acquaintances we met. Recalling our inaugural appearance last year, to those galleries who presented their first exhibition this year, please don’t be discouraged. We saw wonderful works presented by a brand new gallery from Philadelphia and hope to see them again next year. Overall, the mood at this year’s SOFA, somber and puzzled (dramatic fluctuations in the stock market will affect my mood), seemed supported by a prevailing sense of hope and optimism, kind of like a warm buzz... Thank you, again, to all – our artists, collectors, friends and rivals (!). We hope to see you at SOFA Chicago 2009.

James Walker at SOFA Chicago 2008

James Walker has flown in from the wilds of New Zealand!...and it's excellent to see his reaction to the pomp and circumstance of SOFA Chicago 2008! Today is the first 'official' day of the fair, as yesterday was merely the Opening Gala...and I'm off (after I figure out what shoes to wear...you have to be a girl to really understand the problem) for an exciting day of meeting and greeting and mingling with everyone who's come from far away and near to see the spectacle of this fair!

Stig Persson at SOFA Chicago 2008

Tonight is the Opening Gala for SOFA Chicago 2008! So soon after a historical hometown event (there's still confetti in the streets!), we're thrilled to be here and to present our work to our guests. The exhibition continues through the weekend until Sunday. If you're in town, and would like a pass to visit the show, please let me know, as I may have a few extra and can put them aside for you at the 'will call' desk!
Please click on either image above for information on Stig Persson, today's featured artist. Stig is becoming quite the jet-setter with flights to San Francisco, for his debut solo U.S. exhibition, and his third (or fourth?) return to SOFA. If you manage to make it over, you'll no doubt find him wandering about, a tall, thoroughly amiable and pleasant fellow! Stig Persson and Ned Cantrell both show work with us at our booth (no. 703) and with their Danish gallerist, Galleri Grønlund.

David Ruth at SOFA Chicago 2008

Taliaferro Jones at SOFA Chicago 2008

Peter Bremers at SOFA Chicago 2008

The deed is done...

...and our new address is officially 49 Geary, No. 234, San Francisco, CA 94108 USA. Fax, telephone and email addresses, are (thank God), the same. Please don't rush over to visit, the move was not easy (thanks to our new building manager, who launched unimaginable blockades...yes, we paid for this?!), and we're unquestionably the worst for wear. A move from hell, complete with River Styx crossing, does not a visit to our new home...umm, we're just not pretty yet, and since we're geared up for SOFA Chicago 2008 (God Almighty!) next week, boxes and crates and artworks all about are amazing testament to the move.

SOFA Chicago fair is impressive - I haven't seen anything like it yet, not at Miami and certainly not in New York. Is it Chicago, or the dead of winter and freezing, freezing winds descending from massive lakes placing the fear of God in these organizers? This is no mild oceanside fair - lots of wind (rhetorical and literal), art dealers, artists, cognoscenti and collectors from far and wide seeking acquisitions, fame, recognition. Why would anyone want to attend SOFA? It's the sculpture (as in S for SOFA) in myriad form and medium populating the Festival Hall off Navy Pier, as well as the roster of international galleries and artists (or, the other way around?) descending en masse to show the latest and the greatest in sculpture, object and functional art. It's an amazing fair, Chicago's finest proudly attends, and we'll be there too, and yes, we will have a few stars with us, namely, Taliaferro Jones, Weston Lambert, Stig Persson, David Ruth and James Walker. We hope to have Peter Bremers on hand, and regret missing the company Ned Cantrell and David Gilhooly this time around, although we'll show their work! Left, is an image of Ned Cantrell's work - a punny take on the mudflap girl. Ever tongue in cheek and technically masterful, Ned's work humorously plays with cultural icons, with an especially sharp note respective commercially popular iconographies. If you plan to visit, SOFA Chicago 2008 dates are November 6 through 9. Please stop by our booth (No. 703) to see his work and that of the rest of our group, we'd love to see you! For a peek at the catalog, please mouse over and click on the pages below:

Please click here to open large format publication...we return November 11, and will be ready for your visit at our new home! Our new address opens with Winter Salon 2008 on November 15, an exhibition of works by Peter Bremers, Gary Clemenceau, Scott Kildall, Michelle Knox, Naoko Okabe, Stig Persson, Chantal Royant, David Ruth, Thomas Scoon, Ron Starr, and Kristiina Uslar. Presenting contemporary works in sculpture, digital and video art, the exhibition possesses an elegant, slightly decadent, je ne sais quoi embrace of the year's end, particularly apt for 2008's unprecedented cultural and economical changes.