8 Gallery Shows to Catch Before the SF Art Fairs Begin
Author:Lindsey ShookAs though to prepare us for the upcoming art onslaught that is ArtPad SF and ArtMRKT, an unusually great number of galleries open their doors this week with new shows. As always, the work is as diverse as it is intriguing. We’ve sifted through the lot; here are our top eight recommendations.
Jock McDonald: Havana: The Longview, at Gallery 16
In 288 photographs taken over the course of three years, Jock McDonald captures all eight kilometers of Havana’s famed Malecon, the seaside boulevard that has been the site of countless cultural and political happenings over the course of Cuba’s turbulent history. Beauty and contradictions abound.
May 3 – June 1; 501 Third Street. Opening reception: Friday, May 3, 6 – 9 pm
Michael Jang; “At Home with the Jangs,” 1973; gelatin silver print; 11 x 14 inches
Michael Jang: The Jangs, at Stephen Wirtz Gallery
The Jangs, a collection of photographs that has not been exhibited in over forty years, offers a unique take on 1970s suburbia. In the series, the artist trains his camera on his own relatives – Chinese-Americans who embraced the American mainstream with joyful enthusiasm. They butt against the typically disillusioned images of the era, presenting a buoyant and often humorous view of cultural assimilation.
May 2 – July 13; 49 Geary Street, 3rd floor.
Kelly Barrie: Parallel Play, at Gallery Wendi Norris
In a unique floor drawing process, Barrie moves photo-luminescent powder across black paper using his feet and blackroom utensils, then photographs and reconstructs the result. Each of the works, in fact, recreates a forgotten historical site – this time, the country’s last remaining adventure playground, which happens to be located in Berkeley.
May 2 – June 29; 161 Jessie Street.
Click here to read about the other gallery openings this week!
