Upcoming Exhibitions: LA Winter

Matthew Marks Los Angeles
Ron Nagle
Ice Breaker
January 21 - April 8, 2017
 
The intimate ceramic miniatures of Ron Nagle are surrealist landscapes that generally measure no more than 4x4 inches. They explore a variety of fascinatingly complex textures: epoxy resin to polyurethane, automotive paint to airbrush techniques. Pulled from relative art world obscurity into the roster of dealer extraordinaire Matthew Marks, the SF-based artist has been enjoying quite a bit of attention with the dealer’s recognition of the artist’s oeuvre. There is something quite meditative about the little pieces, similar to meticulous artisan-crafted bonsai-tree terrariums, except with otherworldly vibrant colors.

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Night Gallery
Claire Tabouret
January 27 – March 4, 2017
 
Claire Tabouret only recently caught my eye at FIAC 2016 in Paris this past October. I had seen her fiery figurative portraits in private collections, but this single artist presentation was like a strikingly refreshing solo show amid the haphazard displays throughout the fair. The sharp, penetrating gazes of her subjects expose a darker temperament. Smeared with makeup, the elegant dispositions turn askew and yet still possess a poise and elegance.

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Francois Ghebaly
Dates TBD
Kathleen Ryan gained momentum when she unveiled her large-scale ‘reclining nudes’ series of concrete grapevines, strew upon pillars of marble like drunken Bacchants. It was a perfect fusion of the Classical and the Contemporary. Her quirky, abstracted ceramic parrots were also a fun interpretative element that she added to a huge, discarded chandelier. Curious to see what new works she will unveil in her upcoming exhibition with Francois Ghebaly.

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- by Sharón Zoldan

A glimpse into what's happening in the San Francisco arts scene

San Francisco, the worldwide hub for tech innovation and entrepreneurs, has been excitingly gravitating towards an upward momentum of art and design. 

2016 was an extremely exciting year for the San Francisco arts scene.  Along-side the incredible existing cultural institutions, such as the De Young Museum, Legion of Honor, Pier 24, and Asian Art Museum, 2016 brought the re-openings of the SFMOMA and BMFA as well as the openings of the Minnesota Street Project and new high profile international galleries such as Gagosian and PACE. Thus, solidifying San Francisco's place on the map as one of the top destinations to view world-class art. 

The area of San Francisco known as the Dogpatch, located on the waterfront and once home to large warehouse and shipyards, is fast becoming the hub for local artists, designers and makers. Since the opening of the Minnesota Street Project in March 2016, (which alone brought over 15 galleries, 30 artists studios and offices for arts related organizations and businesses) various galleries, artists and arts related organizations are quickly migrating to the half industrial and half residential neighborhood.  A perfect outing for a Saturday: head down to the Dogpatch either by car or muni, start by wandering around the 13 galleries at 1275 Minnesota Street, stroll down a few blocks to 22nd Street to enjoy the quaint shops filled with local crafts and artisanal products and finish with a stop at one of the many incredible restaurants such as Piccino , 'Aina or Serpentine. 

As we welcome in 2017, January is a big month for the arts in San Francisco.  Along with the openings of more than 30 shows at local galleries and museums, those of us in the art world are filled with excitement for the 4th year of what many people think is San Francisco's best art fair FOG Design + Art, the inaugural presentation of UNITITLED in San Francisco as well as several ancillary art pop-up events starting January 11th taking place in various locations throughout the Bay Area.  

- by Marissa Halbrecht

A Walk Through The Israel Museum

Nothing makes a statement about the value of art and culture in Jerusalem quite like The Israel Museum. The 20-acre campus, originally design by Alfred Mansfeld and Dora Gad, was founded in 1965.  Since then, the Museum has grown dramatically, establishing itself as the largest cultural institution in the State of Israel.

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Turning the World Upside Down by Anish Kapoor Pic: Elie Posner

Under the direction of some of the most knowledgeable, innovative and enthusiastic team members, and with the help of tremendous international and national support, The Israel Museum is regarded among the world’s leading art and archaeology museums. Here is a place where one can literally take a comprehensive journey through history vis-à-vis art.

Starting with the Billy Rose Art Garden, a Japanese Zen inspired sculpture garden, the Museum showcases works from modern masters like Pablo Picasso and Claes Oldenburg alongside site-specific contemporary pieces, from widely recognized names like James Turrell, Sol LeWitt and Micha Ullman.

The Shrin of The Book, Photo courtesy of the Israel Museum, Jerusalem

Beyond this, visitors can view the Model of Jerusalem in the Second Temple Period as well as the magnificent Shrine of the Book, by Armand Bartos and Frederick Kiesler. The Shrine of the Book is significant in that has a modern, geometric exterior which majorly juxtaposes its contents—exceptional archaeological finds such as the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Passages into to the museum’s main building are adorned with exciting commissioned works such as Whenever the Rainbow Appears by Olafur Eliasson and Turning The World Upside Down by Anish Kapoor. It is through here that one will discover displays from the Museum’s Jewish Art and Life, Archaeology and Fine Art departments. Fine Art collections cover works from European, non-Western, modern and Israeli art.

Whenever the Rainbow Appears by Olafur Eliasson and 6th century mosaic floor found in Beit Shean, Photo by Elie Posner

Understanding the museum’s focus on history, and the venerable depth of Jerusalem’s history, it’s easy to understand why having a strong program in contemporary art is so important and exciting for the Museum, and this has been heavily pursued by the institution since its inception. With the establishment of the Department of Contemporary Art in 1982, a new dialogue was created in the Museum’s galleries by collecting and exhibiting works which emphasize young emerging artists, installations, three-dimensional works, video and photograph-based works who. A few highly recommended contemporary art exhibitions on display now are Ron Amir: Doing Time in Holot, Hadassah Goldvicht: Jonah and Roey Heifetz: Victoria (at the Ticho House gallery).

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View of Modern Art Gallery, photo by Elie Posner

After a three year renovation in 2010, spearheaded by director James S. Snyder and designed by James Carpenter Design Associates and Efrat-Kowalsky Architects, the Museum’s exhibition space expanded to more than 200,000 sq. meters and its collection nearly doubled. Without question, these changes have enhanced the overall experience of The Israel Museum—unifying the universal span of its collections and allowing for important changing exhibitions.

Speaking of new strides, The Israel Museum has just announced their decision to appoint Eran Neuman as its new Director. Neuman currently serves as the Director of the David Azrieli School of Architecture at Tel Aviv University and will assume his position at the Museum during February, 2017.  Neuman succeeds Snyder, who is ending his 20-year tenure as Director to assume a newly created role of International President.

Eran Neuman

Says Neuman about his new position, “I am honored to be joining the Israel Museum at such an important moment in its trajectory. I look forward to working with the outstanding team at the Museum and with its leadership to build upon the incredible accomplishments of my predecessor, James Snyder”.

- by Jenna Romano

Cover pic: Main entrance to the Israel Museum, including Menashe Kadishman's Suspense in foreground (photo by Tim Hursley)