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John Felix Arnold III @The Shooting Gallery
Monday, 19 May 2014 /// Written by Rachel Ralph
John Felix Arnold III’s Pilgrimmage has taken over the Shooting Gallery. Opening last Friday, this glimpse into his world of Unstoppable Tomorrow has finally allowed us here in San Francisco to see our future past. Moving on from his recent show The Scourge in NYC, Arnold has let us see the work of the survivors of the apocalypse, generating creation and growth from immense destruction and chaos. I got a chance to sit down with Arnold, gallery owner Justin Giarla and Paxton Gate buyer Michael Levy (who graciously donated materials) before the show was hung, and will be posting the in-depth interview to the site in as soon as possible. In the mean time, get over to the Shooting Gallery as soon as you can to see this show. The panels glow in a way that I couldn’t have guessed and they warm the space and your viewing experience. You’ve got to experience the warthog, moped, panels and sound installation in person. If you don’t survive the apocalypse, this might be your only chance.
Helen Bayly (SF) also brought a little feminine touch to the gallery with the opening of Give Me What I Can’t Have in the project space. Balancing the raw materials of Arnold’s work, she has created paintings of beautiful young people and flowers covered in gold-leafed text, complete with walls that seem to be dripping in the luxurious and decadent setting in which these works are situated. Complete with foul language, these works speak to a sense of debauchery that may lead to the apocalypse to which Arnold is warning us of.
Stay tuned for the making of The Pilgrimmage, an interview examining a very unique local collaboration between artist, gallerist and buyer of all things curious. It’s an illuminating window onto the process of creating a show like this – a process which should be continued with others in the future.
Words & Photos: Rachel Ralph - rachel(at)fecalface.com
John Felix Arnold III
John Felix Arnold III, from top center clockwise: BLAM, BZAK, BOOM, POUM, All acrylic on wood panel, 16”x16”
John Felix Arnold III, Exploding Innocence, Mixed media on fabricated wood panel, 48”x36”
John Felix Arnold III, Jungle Sky Study, Ink drawing, 18”x24”
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Alex Ziv at The League Gallery (Berkeley)
Friday, 09 May 2014 /// Written by Rachel Ralph
Our friend Alex Ziv has finally let us see what he’s been working on holed up in his SFAI studio for the last two years with his new solo show at the debut of The League Gallery in Berkeley. Tucked away in an industrial building, League Gallery provided the perfect space for Ziv’s larger works, displayed for the first time publicly. The show is incredibly clean and upholds the standard of his almost perfectly executed paintings (PHOTOS).
Propelling forward from his earlier smaller works using motorcycle motifs, Ziv has really expanded his repertoire with this new body of work. The symbols no longer read as flat signs floating in space but are instead inextricably connected with the rest of the figures and words within the work. The drop-shadows, detailed wood and folded curtains really put it over the top for me, and I highly suggest a trip out to the East Bay to see this work when you can. Congrats, Ziv, on the really great show, can’t wait to see what’s next.
Words and Photos: Rachel Ralph - rachel(at)fecalface.com
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Interview w/ Kevin Earl Taylor
Monday, 05 May 2014 /// Written by Trippe
We haven't been featuring many interviews as of late. Let's change that up as we check in with a few local San Francisco artists like Kevin Earl Taylor here whom we studio visited back in 2009 (PHOTOS & VIDEO). It's been awhile, Kevin...
So what have you been up to lately?
It's turned out to be an insanely busy year for me which is awesome. 2 new galleries, a massive 5 painting commission through Circle Culture (Berlin), working on call as a museum preparator, playing more music shows than previous years and of course making room for some quality time with friends and family. And besides all this, I was looking for the best treatments for erectile dysfunction and medications.
Working on any upcoming shows?
Yes. I have solos at Subliminal Projects (LA) in September and K Imperial (SF) in November as well as making a couple paintings for my October debut with a new gallery I've signed on with in New Orleans, Guthrie Contemporary. Then there's the Miami fair which I'll be featured with K Imperial.
Yes, Indeed. I'd worked at SFMOMA as a preparator since 2009 and when they closed I moved over to the CJM.
It's just on call so pretty conducive to the studio practice. We usually work for a month deinstalling/installing the shows and then you're off for a couple months. I think it really brings a lot to my own work in all kinds of ways. I work alongside Tim Sullivan, Josh Pieper and James Chronister, all of whom are fantastic artists as well. We get the job done while talking shop and cracking each other up. It's also pretty cool to get to see what a Warhol looks from behind and figure out the best way to pack a Kiki Smith sculpture for transport.
Also, I think FF readers would love the current Arthur Szyk show up at the Jewish Museum. It's really incredible.
To view more of Kevin's recent works, click here.
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Ferris Plock - Online Show, April 25th
Friday, 25 April 2014 /// Written by Trippe
Ferris Plock's online show is now... well, online as of 12pm, April 25th.
Ferris Plock is a San Francisco-based artist who lives within the city with his wife, Kelly Tunstall (Plock's partner in the artistic duo KeFe), and son Brixton. Plock brings a dedicated focus to his work that is paired with a wild sense of originality. Through a variety of mediums including acrylic, watercolor, spray paint, India ink, gold or silver leaf, and collage Plock creates highly detailed works, often character-based paintings on wood panel, that combine contemporary pop culture with the aesthetic of Japanese ukiyo-e woodblocks. Widely-accomplished and with a diverse range of artistic interests, Plock has created illustrations for many high-profile clients, has been involved in solo and group exhibitions both nationally and abroad, and also served as the 2010 SF Recology Artist in Resident.
5 new paintings are available for purchase: www.ffdg.net
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Ferris Plock - Online Show, April 25th
Tuesday, 22 April 2014 /// Written by Trippe
FFDG is pleased to announce an exclusive online show with San Francisco based Ferris Plock opening on Friday, April 25th (12pm Pacific Time) featuring 5 new medium sized acrylic paintings on wood.
This show will be available first to previous buyers of Plock's work and to those on our preview list. To be added to the list, email: info(at)ffdg.net
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Ferris Plock - Online Show, April 25th
Friday, 18 April 2014 /// Written by Van Edwards
Opening: Friday, April 25th (12pm Pacific)
purchase queue: info(at)ffdg.net
FFDG is pleased to announce an exclusive online show with San Francisco based Ferris Plock opening on Friday, April 25th (12pm Pacific Time) featuring 5 new medium sized acrylic paintings on wood.
This show will be available first to previous buyers of Plock's work and to those on our preview list. To be added to the list, email: info(at)ffdg.net
Wolf Wizard by Ferris Plock - acrylic on wood - 20" x 30" - info(at)ffdg.net
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"Arrangement" by Michelle Fleck
Friday, 18 April 2014 /// Written by Van Edwards
This morning we take a closer look at this beautiful painting by San Francisco based Michelle Fleck now showing at FFDG.
Arrangement measures 24"x30", acrylic and aerosol on panel - inquires: info(at)ffdg.net
 Michelle Fleck is a painter living in San Francisco. Her work focuses on the relationship between man and the landscape, and the marks we leave on it. Influenced by everyday life in the city, her paintings serve as snapshots of an ongoing intersection of the natural and man-made world. She strives to make work that has a sense of relevancy in a culture driven by a need for change and newness.
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"Portrait of a Slugger 19" by Hiro Kurata
Friday, 28 March 2014 /// Written by Van Edwards
Beautiful painting by NYC based Hiro Kurata now on display at SF's FFDG through April 19th as part of the group show "Salt the Skies".
Hiro Kurata
Portrait of a Slugger 19
Acrylic on Canvas, 24" x 24"
inquires: info(at)ffdg.net
Hiro Kurata
Kurata concentrates his works on dealing with many Baseball figures. He portrays his personal childhood memories of Baseball players as his hero figure and relocate them in a surreal-fantasy world that he creates. He currently lives and works in New York City.
http://www.shiloku.com/
"Salt the Skies" at SF's FFDG through 4/19
2277 Mission St. @19th. hours: wed thru sat (1-6pm) ffdg.net
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Brett Amory in London
Wednesday, 26 February 2014 /// Written by Trippe
Bay Area painter Brett Amory is set to open Twenty-Four in London, a continuation of the critically acclaimed "Waiting" series, at London's Lazarides on March 6th - Show details
Amory spent a week traversing London via bike capturing his essence of the city through photos and videos which he then created paintings from.
From Kensington and Wimbledon to Hackney and Brixton, each painting portrays a localised arena featuring a diverse demographic of the city dwellers including night clubbers, commuters, school children and traders all going about their daily routine. Each unique setting is quietly and calmly depicted through the artist’s distinctive painterly brushstrokes and scenic anticipation.
Lazarides is pleased to present Twenty-Four in London, a continuation of the critically acclaimed ‘Waiting’ series by American contemporary artist Brett Amory. Following his 2012 and 2013 exhibitions, Twenty-Four in San Francisco and Twenty-Four in New York, respectively, Amory’s first solo exhibition at Lazarides Rathbone will present twenty-four paintings of London's most iconic locations, including The National Museum, Abbey Road and The Blind Beggar alongside multimedia installations in their flagship gallery on Rathbone Place.
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Olek & Jet Martinez at White Walls
Tuesday, 11 February 2014 /// Written by Rachel Ralph
Get to White Walls to see Olek's (from Poland, living in New York) new installation, I Haven't a Single Explorer on My Planet (PHOTOS) as soon as you can; it is awesome. She completely covered the interior of what used to be an office at White Walls from floor to ceiling and back again with brightly-crochet. Patterns of camouflage, butterflies, and flowers intertwine to create an immersive environment and the bright colors which was much appreciated during this very rainy past weekend. Everyone left the room with a smile, and I cannot say enough good things about this work.
The good vibes extended through the rest of the gallery as well with the opening of local artist Jet Martinez's City of Eternal Springtime (PHOTOS). This show was fittingly titled, not only because each piece is primarily of flowers, but also because flowers seem to be blooming everywhere in this city on any given day, just like his murals. (He also hails from Cuernavaca, Mexico "Land of Eternal Springtime.) I was surprised with the amount of variation he was able to achieve through such a consistent theme, and each piece differentiates color and the distance of the lines from one another, giving them very different effects. The crowd seemed to be enjoying the work, and it was a great reminder that even though it may be soggy now, spring it just around the corner.
Words & Photos: Rachel Ralph - rachel(at)fecalface.com
Olek, I Haven't a Single Explorer on My Planet
Jet Martinez, Blanco/Negro, Oil on panel, 48"x36"
Jet Martinez, City of Eternal Springtime
Jet Martinez, Alcatraces 2, Enamel on panel, 36"x48"
Jet Martinez
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Joseph Martinez @Soze Gallery, LA Tonight
Friday, 31 January 2014 /// Written by Trippe
LOS ANGELES --- Denver based Joseph Martinez does incredible intricate teeeenie tiny paintings on matchbooks. The title of his show that opens tonight at LA's Soze Gallery says it all - "Steady Hands, Blurry Vision"... Not sure about the blurry vision, but Martinez sure has steady hands and must not be a huge coffee drinker ( PREVIEW)
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