Today: Weston Lambert. The Cost of Materials (IV)

Weston Lambert. The Cost of Materials (IV), 2010. 11 x 2 x 6 in. (with stand). Glass, petrified wood, metal stand.

Happy Holidays!

Image:

Micaëla van Zwoll. Squaw Valley 2010. iPhone digital photo. 75 dpi, 5 x 5 in.

Art Basel 2010 Oceanfront Program

Art Basel Miami Beach's Oceanfront, a public nightly program organized by Creative Time, was beautiful, contemplative and exciting. Phu Hoang Office and Rachely Rotem Studio, designed an environment/pavilion using two types of rope - reflective and phosphorescent – to create an interactive environment of open-air structures that swayed and glowed in the night. The program featured four cities, Detroit, Mexico City, Berlin, and Glasgow, credited as vanguards of today’s alternative and artistic/cross-disciplinary collaboration, with invitations to four organizations to partner in creating the program - the Museum of Contemporary Art (Detroit), Museo Tamayo (Mexico City), 032c (Berlin), and Tramway (Glasgow). Spotlighting film, music, video, performance, the program featured performances by Sue Tompkins, Biba Bell, Isa Melsheimer, Aids-3d, 80*81 (Gerog Diez / Christopher Roth), Stephen Sutcliff, Martin Creed and his band, Daniel Guzman's band Pellejos, Mexico's El Resplandor, and sets by acclaimed DJs from the the four cities. Presentations and discussions were also held by various artists including Pedro Reyes, Claudia Fernandez, Raul Cardenas / Torolab, and Jorge Mendez Blake.

Pulse Miami 2010

Art Basel this year didn't disappoint. Here are our favorites:

Our first stop was Pulse, where we fell in love with Silverlens Gallery's new group of artists, such as Manila-based Geraldine Javier and her diptych, Snow (2010 diptych, oil on canvas, collage, embroidery, 54 x 45 in/137.16 x 114.3 cm each panel), pairing representational oil painting with collage and embroidery.

Our San Francisco neighbor, Catherine Clark Gallery featured Al Farrow's architecture (Bombed Mosque, 2010, guns, bullets, steel, 40 x 56 x 34 in), and video by Marina Zurkow (Elixir I-II, 2010, Single-channel digital video, custom electronics: monitor, USB drive, MPLayer, custom frame, 24 x 15 x 3 inches). Catherine Clark generously provided us with a short clip of the gallery's video program to view and consider.

Conner Contemporary Art presented Solaris (2005, light emitting diodes, custom software, circuitry, Plexiglas, edition: 3/3) by Leo Villareal, a hypnotic and beautifully-designed light sculpture.

Lastly, Portland's Elizabeth Leach Gallery’s installation by Malia Jensen, Salty (carved salt lick and digital video, 12 minutes, edition x/10), combined mammary (yes, that's right, mammary) salt sculptures with a slightly disturbing video.

We are grateful for these artworks.

Mark Leibowitz for Ruinart

Mark Leibowitz is one of ten artists featured at Ruinart Champagne's VIP reception at the Betsy Hotel in Miami's South Beach tonight.

What is Ruinart? Described as the oldest champagne house around (since 1729) and a blanc de blancs label owned by the LVMH brand, it was branded the "Art Basel Champagne" at the top restaurants in town, such as Mr. Chow, host to Larry Gagosian's party tonight. It's delicious.

Curated by Leslie King-Hammond, PhD, the Ruinart vernissage featured artists sought by an important studio based corporation in a partnership that featured the brand and created a collection for a benefit auction supporting children with special health needs. The artists were namely, Isaac Fortoul (New York), Carrie Sunday (New York), Kiki Valdes (Miami), Johnny Robles (Miami), Melissa Ayr (Dallas), Pascal (Santa Fe), Trish Williams (Chicago), Mark Leibowitz (San Francisco), Dane Storrusten (Seattle), and Elijah Blue (Los Angeles).

As a guest to Mr. Leibowitz' reception last night, I entered the Betsy Hotel from the oceanfront side of South Beach and was greeted by an intimidating blonde who asked the nature of my business. Luckily, my name was on a list and I was allowed to enter. The evening moved along at a fast clip, beautifully fueled by unending pours of wonderful champagne, that moved from the Betsy Hotel to Mr. Chow and its party of hungry, parched Art Basel powerhouse revelers.

Kenneth Baker interviews Wayne Thiebaud

Wayne Thiebaud, a long-time resident of Sacramento, must rank as the most famous painter in California history. Even people who cannot recall his name or pronounce it - say "TEE-bo" - instantly recognize his signature images of food haloed by blazing light and cityscapes with hill streets steep as cliffsides.

Honored with countless museum and gallery exhibitions, Thiebaud also had a distinguished academic career and is now UC Davis professor emeritus of art. San Francisco Chronicle art critic Kenneth Baker conducted an onstage conversation with Thiebaud at the UC Davis' Buehler Alumni Center on Nov. 18, a few days after the painter turned 90.

Watch the video of the event here:

Winter Salon 2010 :: Mark Leibowitz

Winter Salon 2010. Mark Leibowitz. You Don't Say, 2009. AP (Ed x/5) 48 x 62 in.

Winter Salon 2010 :: Nicole Schmoelzer

Winter Salon 2010. Nicole Schmoelzer. Staining 132, 2010. Oil, ink on linen. 60 x 55 in.

Winter Salon 2010 :: Eugenia Pardue

Winter Salon 2010. Eugenia Pardue. Anne of Bohemia, 2009. Acrylic on panel, 36 x 36 in.

Winter Salon 2010 Opens Nov 2

Micaëla Gallery is pleased to announce the Winter Salon 2010 exhibition of artwork by artists Kathleen Elliot, Grant Garmezy, Scott Kildall, Mark Leibowitz, Silvia Levenson, Prema Murthy, Eugenia Pardue, Lorraine Peltz, and Nicole Schmoelzer.

Opening with a private reception co-hosted by Leibowitz and Ruinart Champagne (a Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy company), the exhibition presents work unified by ideas of extravagant beauty and thoughtful indulgences.

Images by California-based photographer Mark Leibowitz's portfolio, an ongoing series titled, "Backstage" will be featured collaboratively with Ruinart (LVMH) and Whitewall Magazine at his introduction to Art Basel Miami at the Betsy Hotel on December 2. Plan to read Whitewall Magazine’s post-Art Basel Miami commentary.

The Winter Salon 2010 opens for viewing November 2, 2011.

We're very excited that Mark Leibowitz joins us for the reception on Thursday, November 4, from 5 to 7.30 pm. We hope you will help us welcome him and discuss his globe-trotting work for the fashion avant garde and haute couture houses such as Vogue and Galliano.

You won't want to miss seeing Leibowitz’s exquisite images, so please mark your calendar now.

Profile in Art: Monika Steiner

The rich oil paintings by Monika Steiner investigate subtle relationships between perception and material reality. Her paintings are meditative by virtue of color, shape, and multiple layers. Using ideas of surface and dissolving shapes, she creates a metaphor for the cycle of appearances arising out of, then returning to, states of pure potential.

Steiner is a beautiful woman with a refined appearance. At a recent visit to her studio, she was friendly and expressive, lighting up when discussing her work. Currently on exhibition at ARC Gallery and Micaëla Gallery in San Francisco, Steiner’s work studies contemplative relationships through a detailed visual landscape.

She states, “All forms of matter are containers of information. Particles come in and out of existence, through our intention to observe them, passing from the inchoate into the physical and then back into the realm of potential. Referencing this, my paintings feature emerging and dissolving spheres, Nature’s most efficient shape, floating in empty space. This concept allows an investigation of relationships between perception and material reality. Harmonious background colors interacting with the energetic floating spheres create a balance that it is delicate and powerful, dramatic and serene.”

The ongoing exhibitions of Steiner’s work possess obvious kinship. In a three-woman exhibition at Micaëla Gallery (through October 30), Steiner’s work is a presentation of color and geometric harmonies, while her exhibition at ARC Gallery (through September 18) is a distillation of her summer residency in Greece this year. Both exhibitions present artwork conforming to painting formalities and visual agreement.

Born in Switzerland in 1972, Steiner holds various degrees. In 2005, she received her BFA (Magna Cum Laude) in Painting from Sonoma State University. Steiner’s painting was recognized early during her studies as a painter, resulting in professional acceptance of her work in galleries while still a student. She earned recognition for her work as a goldsmith in Interlaken, Switzerland, and was awarded a Teaching Credential from the University of Bern. She resides in Switzerland and the San Francisco Bay Area, where she teaches painting and is devoted to her practice of painting and sculpture. Steiner has shown her work (and enjoyed successful exhibitions) in Switzerland, but is represented by galleries in the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, and Santa Fe.

Reblogged from San Francisco Art News and written by Micaëla Van Zwoll, 09.2010. Monika Steiner was featured in exhibitions at ARC Gallery and Micaëla Gallery in San Francisco.

Opening Reception images: FELDMAN | OTTO | STEINER

Today: FELDMAN | OTTO | STEINER

FELDMAN | OTTO | STEINER
Opening Reception 2 September
Exhibition through 30 October

MICAËLA GALLERY introduces the work of three talented artists; Bella Feldman, Nancy Otto, and Monika Steiner.

Since the early 70's, the remarkable career of Bella Feldman continues to build on her extraordinary sculpture, drawing viewers by their rather amazing appearance. Using mass, material, and balance, she expertly sculpts objects that are playful and provocative, yet possessing elements of threat and tension.

Nancy Otto's installation presents the viewer with a contemporary window of her personal reality. Her collection of voice recordings and liquid shapes juxtaposes historical family commentaries with intimacy, beautiful sculptured glass shapes and color.

The work of Monika Steiner investigates relationships of perception and material reality. Her paintings are meditative by virtue of color, shape, and multiple layers.

You are cordially invited to meet the artists at the opening reception on Thursday, September 2 from 5 to 7.30 pm.

Lorraine Peltz' State of the Art

In a recent interview with Sabine Modder of online design magazine MoCoLoco, Chicago-based painter and art educator Lorraine Peltz sums it up for most artists when she compares being an artist to breathing.

MoCoLoco asked Lorraine the following questions:

Are you happy as an artist right now?



I would have to say yes, though I never really think in those terms. Being an artist is just what I am, and like breathing, it is an essential element of my life. It's one of the many roles I have, shaping how I see and interpret the world around me and all that I do. I have always felt very fortunate to be an artist, all my experiences seem to have come to me because of it.

Is this a time of growth for you?


The recession can still be felt everywhere, but you are still creating
 wonderful work. How have you been affected? 



These questions seem best addressed together--despite the current economic downturn this past year has been very busy, productive, and positive for me. I've had solo exhibitions in New York, (Cheryl McGinnis Gallery), San Francisco, (Micaela Gallery) Florida, (Rosenbaum Contemporary) and in Verona, Italy (Incorniciarte) and have been included in some group exhibitions and art fairs (Scope Basel, ArtHamptons. My dealers have sold my work and I have received some grants, so I can't complain. My thought is that you keep at it, keep working, and see what comes next.

Is making art working out? Do you need to have a day job?



I've taught at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago for the past 15 years, and have always taught in conjunction with being an artist. For me, teaching is more than a day job, really, it is another element in the artist equation. At SAIC I am surrounded by other artists, my students - young emerging artists, and my colleagues - some also young and emerging, others quite established. Each encounter is often another opportunity to further that creative dialogue. It's work, yes, a job, yes, and it takes me away from the studio, but it also gives me something back - I have always found it to be a good mix for me.

What do you think of the art world right now?

I see the art world as an exciting place where many ways of being an artist are possible and acceptable. The people I admire in the art world are those that find ways to continue to be inventive, productive, and excited no matter what the economic climate is. Who'll survive? Those who are in it for the long run.

Lorraine Peltz' painting was recently featured at SCOPE Basel 2010 with Micaela Gallery.

images (top to bottom): Portrait of the artist, Chandelier Green Stripe, Chandelier White.

Kudos to Kathleen Elliot - she's off to Pilchuck!

My first announcement on this morning's Facebook was from Kathleen Elliot

She wrote: "On Sunday I leave for Pilchuck Glass School. A group of 10 flameworkers will meet for a week-long residency. Our purpose has nothing to do with making a bunch of work. We are gathering to discuss art, career and business, the future of glass in the arts, the future of our own work and careers, to experiment with new techniques or projects, and mostly to learn from each other. Steve Klein is leading a group of glass casters at the same time, so there will be opportunity to cross-pollinate ideas and thinking. I am greatly looking forward to this opportunity to learn from and contribute to my colleagues. Thank you Elizabeth Mears, for organizing our reisdency!"

Pilchuck is that amazing Mt. Olympus of knowledge and inspiration for glass aficionados, and here is the link to its website: http://www.pilchuck.com/.

Congratulations, Kathleen, and bon travail!

JP Long COLD+HOT 2010

JP Long
Counter Balance 1, 2006
Blown glass, steel
22 x 12 x 12 in.

Silvia Levenson COLD+HOT 2010

Silvia Levenson
The Pursuit of Happiness, 2009
Kiln-cast glass and metal
17.75 x 13.75 x 4.375 in.

Weston Lambert COLD+HOT 2010

Weston Lambert. The Cost of Materials, 2010. Cast glass, petrified wood.
(from left to right:)
I. 13.5 x 7.5 x 4.5 in.
II. 9 x 10 x 10 in.
III. 5.5 x 14 x 4 in.

Michelle Knox COLD+HOT 2010

Michelle Knox

Standing Reliquary: Time for Reflection, 2010

Handblown, silver mirrored glass, steel

72 x 12 in.

Michael Janis COLD+HOT 2010

Michael Janis

The Sun, 2009

Kiln-cast glass, glass powder, steel

19 x 37 x 2 in.