Art Picks, November 2010
Posted on November 10, 2010 – 4:54 PM | by OldManFoster
Wonderers
Nelson Gallery
Through December 12
Nelson Gallery Director Renny Pritikin invited UCD professor Matthias Geiger to curate an exhibit of contemporary photography. The result is Wonderers, a group show of photographers whose pictures examine people who live outside mainstream culture. Geiger has assembled an impressive list of photographers, mixing established artists like Joel Sternfield and Justine Kurland with lesser-knowns like Sac’s Richard Gilles. Wonderers’ theme runs clearly through the show, whether the images are Burning Man tribal gatherings (Kyer Wiltshire), denizens of punk culture (Abby Banks) or LGBT-oriented (Cutter Collective). I was unfamiliar with most of the artists in this show- and I am happily impressed with what I’ve seen. Sternfield’s work is especially interesting – I have to wonder if he is an influence on UCD prof Youngsuk Suh whose Wildfires series is reminiscent of Sternfield’s vistas. Perhaps the nicest discovery is how well Richard Gilles’ work stands up against a wide range of internationally respected photographers… this show is a feather in his cap! This is the last show in the old Art Building space- the Nelson will be moving to the site of the former University Club on Old Davis Road.
UC Davis, Art Building, Davis, CA
Hours: Mon – Thurs 11AM – 5PM, Friday By Appointment
Sat – Sun 2- 5PM
Jack Ogden
B. Sakata Garo
November 2 – December 5
Reception: November 13, 6 – 9PM
Longtime Sac State art professor Jack Ogden has been putting his retirement to good use – he had a show at CCAS not long ago and just appeared in Flatlanders III over at the Nelson a few months back. Here he presents a show of oils on both wood and canvas. Ironically, last month’s feature on emerging artist Mathew Zefeldt noted Zefeldt’s recent fascination with artist Phil Guston, and this month we have an artist with fifty years of painting under his belt also exhibiting a strong Guston flavor. Where Zefeldt has only recently begun taking inspiration from Guston, Ogden has been under that artist’s spell for many years- so much so that the Guston influence has become a core component of Ogden’s work. Ogden’s most recent paintings have gotten looser and almost evince an outsider feel. Rough-hewn figures that evoke mid-twentieth century archetypes populate the work here: a group of working class laborers peer at the viewer; a zoot suit-wearing man who might be a gangster – or a movie star – smokes his cigarette. Ogden appears to be revisiting the days of his youth, bringing back painted snapshots of misty memory.
B. Sakata Garo, 923 Twentieth Street
Hours: Tues – Sat, Noon – 6PM
2010 CCAS Benefit Art Auction
Center For Contemporary Art Sacramento
November 6 – 20
Auction: November 20
Another bell-ringer auction for CCAS. If you follow art in this region you know the drill: close to a hundred highly respected local artists donate work to CCAS’ annual fundraiser; YOU get a deal. And, this year just might be the best lineup I’ve seen; a quick rundown of some of the best known are: Peter Vandenberge, Mel Smothers, Boyd Gavin, Phil Amrhein, Gerald Wahlburg, Peter Stegall, Gale Hart, Olivia Coelho, Vera Ximines, and even longtime MidMo staff photographer Jesse Vasquez. Preview the show between the 6th and the 20th, then come ready to buy on Auction night; doors open at 6, bidding starts at 7.
1519 19th Street
Hours: Fri- Sun, Noon – 5PM
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Short List
Holiday Open House
Verge Center for the Arts
November 11, 5:30 – 9:30PM
Kick off the holiday season at the Verge Center For the Arts’ Holiday Open House. The event will feature silent auction items, snacks, drinks, and the artists’ studios will be open as DJ Scott Soriano spins.
625 S Street
Finding Form, Making Image: Survivors
Gregory Kondos Gallery
Through November 19
Four Native American artists (Judith Lowry (Hammawi Pit River/Mt. Maidu), Leatrice Mikkelsen (Dine/Cherokee/Wyandot), Brian Tripp (Karok) and Frank LaPena (Wintu-Nomtipom) are represented in this show, curated by CSUS Professor Emeritus LaPena.
Sacramento City College, 3835 Freeport
Scorpio Party: Larry Rodriguez’ Birthday Art Show
the Bicycle Kitchen
November 13 – 27
Only a figure as beloved as DJ Larry could throw together an art show this interesting in a nonprofit bike shop. This is an eleven person show with lots of outsider/graffiti bonafides (Steve Vanoni, ‘Jerome’ Baxter and Mlke Rodriguez), and I am about 110% sure the opening night party (starts at 6PM) will be a blowout.
1915 I Street
Tags: 2010 Benefit Art Auction, Abby Banks, Art, B Sakata Garo, Brian Tripp, CCAS, Center for Contemporary Art Sacramento, Cutter Collective, Frank LaPena, Galleries, Gallery, Jack Ogden, Joel Sternfield, Judith Lowry, Justine Kurland, Kyer Wiltshire, Leatrice Mikkelsen, Matthias Geiger, Midtown, Nelson Gallery, Ricahrd Gilles, Second Saturday, Verge Holiday Open House