Winter .Jonathan Bergeron.

Into the Mystic opening this Friday, November 13th (7-10 PM) @ Gallery 1988 San Francisco presents the work of four talented young painters on the rise — Jonathan Bergeron, Jason Limon, Jeremiah Ketner and Ken Keirns.  Ketner and Kerins focus on the beauty of the female form albeit with distinct styles.  Bergeron and Limon focus on more eclectic and fantastic subjects with highly-rendered approaches. Which is our long-winded way of saying, that you’re likely to find something here that suits your taste. Enjoy this preview courtesy of the gallery.

Gallery 1988 San Francisco
1173 Sutter St. (at Polk)
San Francisco, CA 94109
415.409.1376

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Subtext presented the opening of Under the Cover of Darkness this past Friday evening featuring the work of Kelly Vivanco and Jason Limón.   While we couldn’t make the show, our friend and art blogger extraordinaire Amanda Erlanson did and snapped the pics you see here.  For this show, both artists continue to build impressive bodies of work – Vivanco’s pieces illuminate the journey of two girls exploring a nocturnal world while Limón’s new work gives cathartic form to the unmasking of his own personal darkness.   For more on the show and both artists’ inspirations for their work, check out her great joint interview over at Erratic Phenomenon. Under the Cover of Darkness continues through August 28th.  To check on piece availability, consult the official preview.

Subtext
2479 Kettner Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92101

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Opening at the end of the month at Subtext in San Diego is Under the Cover of Darkness, a show featuring Kelly Vivanco and Jason Limon . “The mystery of nightfall creeps into the work of both artists presenting us with the elusive nocturnal creatures that often flutter by unnoticed. Believe us, this time you’ll notice.”  Subtext is treating our ears as well as our eyes and will have a performance by Pretty Too Bad in the courtyard to accompany the show.

Kelly Vivanco & Jason Limon
July 31st – August 28th, 2009
Opening Reception:
Friday, July 31st, 6-10pm

Subtext Gallery

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Michael Page

Gallery 1988 presented the opening of the Transcenders group show last night (3.3.09).  The show features the work of five rising artists — Jason D’Aquino, Doktor A, Scott Scheidly, Jason Limon and Michael Page.  Overall the work in this show is quite strong – good variety and an excellent introduction to the artists you might not yet be familiar with.

When I think of Jason D’Aquino, I immediately recall his amazing intricately rendered matchbook pieces.  Jason had a few such pieces on display and a large number of graphite pieces on what appeared to be found paper – many are very detailed.  Definitely worth checking out in person.

Doktor A is best known for his Victorian Steampunk aesthetic which manifests itself as custom vinyl toys and original sculpture.  His paranormal mechanical devices from a robotic ouija device to a ghost disrupter certainly did not disappoint as onlookers continued to gather around the table display and shoot picture after picture.  He also created several small paintings and drawings of his seemingly endless character gallery.

I’m not too familiar with Scott Scheidly’s work, so this was an introduction of sorts.  He’s apparently in a style transition – his older work meshes Asian elements with mechanical ones.  His new work features portraits of noseless (the ridge is there, but no nostrils) individuals.

San Antonio-based Jason Limon offered several acrylic paintings including several on “custom panel”.  The custom panel pieces involve a laborious project in which Limon creates individual shaped pieces on the computer which are then output and wrapped in canvas.  He then paints on the pieces and assembles them into the overall piece –a “puzzle” of sorts.  The effect is sublte and hard to spot in photographs.  Some pieces feature sparing use of this approach – lightning bolts might be separate pieces joined into the overall piece.  Others feature several shaped pieces– such as the tentacled creature with a multi-segemented toro; each segement is a separate panel piece.

If you look closely, you’ll note that Limon’s pieces seem to separate into two  worlds – many of his pieces feature a “power” theme populated with batteries, electrical plugs, and robots.  These pieces often feature typography and are an outgrowth of Jason’s background as a graphic designer.  Recently, Limon has started to work on a new body of work featuring organic creatures (carbon-based and mechanical) that he feels is more representative of his fine art than the ‘power’ work.  His plan is to continue to refine his new unvierse while continuing to offer his electrically charged work as a separate world and body of work.  Jason Limon’s work has a unique and compelling aesthetic.  His new double-pronged approach should help to increase his collector base.

SF artist Michael Page rounds out Transcenders with an amazing body of new work.  Like Limon, Page finds himself in a stylistic transition.  Previoiusly known for his dark palette, and slightly askew yet recognizable environments and characters, Page is now working on a much more colorful style that embraces an imaginatively wondrous world where creatures flow into one another seamlessly and curious life bubbles throughout the environments.  His new style is a reaction to the “dark times” that we face currently.   These new oil works need to be seen in person to be appreciated. They immerse the viewer in Page’s new vision with bold, bright colors and creative yet subtle details.    Michael Page is definitely one to watch.

Transcenders runs through March 27th.  Be sure to check out the official preview to view all the works (including available pieces).

Gallery 1988
7020 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90038
323.937.7088

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