Art Picks, September 2010

Posted on September 2, 2010 – 8:15 AM | by OldManFoster

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Works by Fred Dalkey, Gregory Kondos and Wayne Thiebaud
Through September 24
Gregory Kondos Gallery

Sac City’s Kondos Gallery reopened in August with a show featuring works by former City College professors Wayne Thiebaud, Gregory Kondos and Fred Dalkey. That SCC opted to keep the gallery space when planning their recent remodel is a real boon to the city, and new curators Suzanne Adan and Michael Stevens follow up a respected lineage including Chris Daubert, Darrell Forney and Kondos himself. Each of the artists in the exhibit has played a huge role in shaping the regional art scene, both through their work and their teaching careers. Thiebaud presents the widest variety of work on display, with paintings ranging from a portrait of Kondos from the mid seventies to still lifes from this decade. Dalkey presents a half dozen quiet self portraits; Kondos is represented mainly by his trademark landscapes. A nice catalogue of the exhibition is available, and adds some interesting background to the work. I really missed this space during its absence and their calendar of upcoming shows looks very promising. Thumbs up!

Sacramento City College, 3835 Freeport
Hours: Noon – 4PM, Mon – Fri, and by appt (916) 650-2942

Modus Operandi
Idea Based Work by Ron Peetz
b. sakata garo
8/31 – 10/2
Preview Reception: 9/9, 6 – 8PM
Reception: 9/11, 6 – 9PM

The work of Sacramento artist Ron Peetz will be quite familiar to most followers of the regional art scene. Peetz has been working in Sacramento since the sixties when he was an art student at CSUS. Peetz was peripherally associated with the Davis-based Arneson scene that produced Bruce Nauman and Stephen Kaltenbach (Peetz’ work appears alongside theirs in the Slant Step Book), and he followed a path similar to several CSUS students who moved in that circle – a solid local art career and a long tenure as a high school art teacher. Peetz’ subtitle for the show is a very apt reference to his working method: he comes up with an idea for a piece and then creates the actual artwork out of whatever material best suits the idea. The finished work might be made out of anything from pencil and paper to a moose antler. There are strong dada and fluxus elements in Peetz’ art – I think of him as one of the few spiritual descendents of Meret Oppenheim. The danger in this type of concept-based work is that the finished piece absolutely must transcend gimmickry to succeed; Peetz’ craftsmanship – always first-rate – plays an important role in the success of the final art.

Capitol Area Studio Tour
September 11 – 12, Noon – 4PM
Reception: September 11, 6 – 9PM at the Center for Contemporary Art Sacramento

For those unfamiliar with this event: CAST is your chance to take a FREE self guided tour of the studios of over 80 (!) local artists over a weekend of open studios. This is the 5th year for CAST, and this time out CCAS (1519 19th Street) is also hosting a 10-day exhibit of artists represented on the tour. Stop by during their regular hours from September 3-12 to preview a selection of work from CAST artists and pick up the map you’ll need to guide you on your tour. They’ll also be offering a helpful presentation from 10AM – Noon on the opening day of the tour called How to Get the Most of Your Studio Tour. Though it’s only been around for five years, CAST has become one of the signature events for central city (all studios are within four miles of CCAS) artists. Each year seems to be getting better and more focused. CAST not only allows one to see a tremendous amount and variety of art (again, FOR FREE) in one weekend, but is also a rare chance to talk with the artists on their own home turf.

Short List

Midflight
Current Work by Vernon Peasenell
Blue Line Gallery
Through September 18

Big show (sixty pieces!) from Roseville artist and Sierra College instructor Vernon Peasenell. Midflight mixes Peasenell’s large sculptures with a selection of 2D work.

405 Vernon Street, Suite 100, Roseville

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Glitter and Doom
Joy Bertinuson
Axis Gallery
September 4 – 26

This show of recent oils by ARC art professor Joy Bertinuson is based loosely on the concept of the Seven Deadly Sins. More fully realized than Bertinuson’s earlier woodburning tool illustrations, these colorful paintings shine with an appealing simplicity.

1517 19th Street

Between the Roofs
Chris Ehlers
An Alternate Fantastic Reality
Mathew Zefeldt
Skinner Howard Contemporary Art
9/11 – 11/6

Skinner Howard switches to a two-month schedule starting with these two great-looking shows. Ehlers is a Berlin artist who creates Cy Twombly meets Squeak Carnwath like abstractions. Zefeldt is a UCD grad student whose comic book-influenced images are street art smart.

723 S Street, Sacramento

Tags: Axis Gallery, B Sakata Garo, Blue Line Gallery, Capitol Area Studio Tour, CAST, Chris Ehlers, Fred Dalkey, Gregory Kondos, Gregory Kondos Gallery, Joy Bertinuson, Mathew Zefeldt, Ron Peetz, Skinner Howard Contemporary Art, Vernon Peasenell, Wayne Thiebaud