Boundaries Edge at Techne Art Gallery

 by Patricia Frischer

Adam Belt

“…from joy and serenity to chaos and introspection”. This phrase appears in the introduction to the  Boundaries Edge exhibition at Techne Art Center curated by Jason Clay Lewis and Chuck Thomas on view until Jan 20, 2024. That is an odd but appropriate statement about this landscape show which starts with sharply portrayed painting of melting glaciers by Adam Belt, continues with delicate handstitched embroidery overlays on postcard landscapes by Adriene Hughes as well as  amazing valises with actually running water in miniature bucolic scenes by Kathleen Vance. Catherine Ruane covered an entire wall with her hand drawn tree in black and white and Kevin O'hara probes streetscapes in moody darkness.  It seems like Greg Hopkins op art paintings are more about edges than land. Judith Braun wowed us with her large orange vision at the top of the stairs at this enormous space which hosts local and New York artists side by side.

Many more artists are featured below and there are other works by Riccarda de Eccher, Melanie Taylor, Amelia Biewald, Trish Tillman, Jean-Marc Superville Sovak, Jeph Gurecka to discover.

Adam Belt

Adriene Hughes

Adriene Hughes

Adriene Hughes

Catherine Ruane

Catherine Ruane

Catherine Ruane

Rebecca Webb

Rebecca Webb

Jennifer Anne Bennett

Mike Cockrill

Greg Hopkins

Kathleen Vance

Kathleen Vance

                                                                                        Kathleen Vance

Kevin O'hara

Kevin O'hara

Jay Bell

Mark Lewis (detail)

Judith Braun

Judith Braun

When at Techne Art Center it is always fun to go into Chuck Thomas' studio and see his painting. We enjoyed this fun display of his catalog book. 

On this visit we also saw this wonderful day bed. I can imagine Leslie Wang, the co-owner, reclining after a long day. 

Boundaries Edge
Until Jan 20, 2024
Techne Art Center
609 Ord Way, Oceanside, CA 92056
chuckthomas@techneartcenter.com
917-972-1752
Hours: Wed-Fri 1-7pm, Sat 12-6pm

SD Art Prize 2023: To Fix the Object in Memory

 By Patricia Frischer

Mely Barragan (detail)

2022 SD Art Prize at Central Library Gallery
Anya Gallaccio, Janelle Iglesias, Joe Yorty, Mely Barragan
October 28, 2023 – January 13, 2024
Reception Sat. Oct 28, 3 to 5 pm
Presented by San Diego Visual Arts Network
Curated by Dr. Lara Bullock, Senior Civic Art Manager, City of San Diego

I am always excited and then thrilled to see the exhibition of the SD Art Prize artists in the stunning space at the Central Library 9^th floor gallery, which is a perfect showcase for the 16^th year of the prize. This year all the artists are sculptors and the fabulous floor of the gallery made each work reflect the intent of their creations.

All is not what it seems when you first glimpse these works. So slow down and pay attention. The flag represents no country. The big black void has more to tell you. No, the double hearts are not as three-dimensional as they appear. This is not really a wood pallet and not all the rocks are photographs. It is only by exploring can you actually fix these objects in your memory as the title suggests. There are message everywhere, but sometimes encrypted. There are larger stories from these artist of excellence who show their work internationally and live in San Diego to enhance our lives. 

 

Mely Barragan grew up not quite Chicano and not quite Mexican and her subjects are cross border. The portrait on the flag is her grandfather who was a short term contract agricultural worker and the word “justice” is lovingly embroidered by the artist. It references the unjust economic colonialism that came from that practice. The large fabric drips remind me of black blood or oil and the tumor-like sculptures nestled within seem ready to pop or to signal a much-needed hope.  Her confusions often reflect all of today’ mental distress.

Mely Barragan

Mely Barragan

Mely Barragan (detail)

Mely Barragan (detail)

Anya Gallaccio was one of the four English Turner Prize finalist in 2003 and in 2007 she came here to teach at USCD. It is fascinating to see how her work has progressed, now using tech to re-create nature by printing a 3-D mountain in clay.  Clay is not easily controlled and even after selecting and firing and glazing fragments of this production, the clay shows through, optimistically endeavoring to survive all we do to it. The same is true, it seems, of a fine art packing case. Burnt and painted, it stand empty asking us to recall the art within while becoming the art itself. And the pallet that helped to move that crate is now a marble monument. The artists is not just speaking of nature, but commenting on the art world vagaries and markets.

Anya Gallaccio

Anya Gallaccio

Anya Gallaccio

Anya Gallaccio

Anya Gallaccio

Anya Gallaccio

Anya Gallaccio (detail)

Anya Gallaccio

Anya Gallaccio Beautiful Minds, 2015-2017 from SD Art Prize Catalog. 

Janelle Iglesias takes ordinary things (rocks, bar codes, plastic plants) and placing them in extraordinary combinations.   She uses wrapping paper pre-printed with rock images, her own photographs of rocks as well as real rocks in this composition. The process of collecting both natural and human-made objects, fake and real becomes a reflection on how we are treating the world.  These collection of stones were gathered by her young son on their walks and hold sweet memories. 

Janelle Iglesias

Janelle Iglesias (detail)

Joe Yorty discovered that what you throw away is a sign of your class. The object themselves accumulate signs of your life and those stained, faux wood surfaces are honored as he de-constructs and re-constructs his art works.  Although is appears that these works are three-dimensional, one has to walk up close and view the faux wood veneers to realize that they are completely flat. In fact, if it were not for the stand the works could hang on the wall. You have to dis-believe what your eyes tell you. The result is an exceptional set of sculptures by an artist who honors objects that others discard.  Furthermore, he is not afraid to use the universe symbol of love, the heart,  and even add the holiday ornaments for the season of magic.

Joe Yorty

Joe Yorty (detail)

Joe Yorty (detail)

Binding us or dividing us with positive or critical views, these four artists show us that no opinions are ignored. The viewer takes comfort in knowing we are not alone in how we feel. We are all together in this time of confusion and striving.  

Please note: our great thanks to those who contributed so generously and made the stunning catalog designed by Alexander Kohnke and printed by Neyenesch Printer free again this year.  It has a terrific introduction by Dr. Lara Bullock who also wrote the very informative wall labels for this exhibition. Bonnie Domingos from the Central Library, as always, gives us sterling support. 

Writers :
Melinda Guillen, Ph.D. Independent Curator writing for Anya Gallaccio
Elizabeth Rooklidge, Editor, Herein Magazine writing for Janelle Iglesias
Justin Duyao, Independent Writer, Editor and Creative Director writing for Joe Yorty
Chris Kraus, Independent Writer and Filmmaker writing for Mely Barragan

Selectors:
Pedro Alonzo - Adjunct Curator at Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, Texas
Sasanna Temkin - Curator at El Museo del Barrio, New York, New York
Kathryn Kraczon - Director of Exhibitions of the Brown Arts Institute (BAI) and Chief Curator of the David Winton Bell Gallery at Brown University, Providence Rhode Island

2022 SD Art Prize at Central Library Gallery
October 28, 2023 – January 13, 2024
Reception Sat. Oct 28, 3 to 5 pm
Presented by San Diego Visual Arts Network
Curated by Dr. Lara Bullock, Senior Civic Art Manager, City of San Diego

Central Library Gallery 
9^th Floor, 330 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101
OnView@sandiego.gov
Mon/Tues: 1 – 7pm
Wednesday/Thurs/Fri: 12  - 5pm
Saturday: 12  - 5pm Sunday: closed

2023 SD Art Prize at Art San Diego
Nov 3rd -5th
Presented by San Diego Visual Arts Network
Curated by Dr. Lara Bullock, Senior Civic Art Manager

Art San Diego Booth #118
San Diego Convention Center Hall E
111 W Harbor Dr. San Diego, CA 92101
Link for free tickets
Collectors’ VIP Opening Fri, Nov. 3,  6 – 9pm
Weekend Fair Hours
Sat, Nov 4 from 11am – 7pm and Sun. Nov 5 from 11am – 5pm

We are pleased to announce that the San Diego Art Prize 2024 will be held at the San Diego History Center in Balboa Park. 

Creating Your Own Adventure, Self Discover, Shifted Perspectives Youth Photos at MOPA

 by Patricia Frischer

Lani Calderon: Exploring the World Below

Explorations: 17th Annual Juried Youth Exhibition local youth artists. Students in grades K-12 throughout San Diego County and Tijuana were challenged to respond to the theme of “exploration” through photography and video until April 21, 2024 Three themes were featured; Writing Your Own Adventure, Self Discovery, and A Shift in Perspective. 

This annual show is always heartening because it shows have enthusiastic and innovative our young citizens are in expressing themselves. Every year we find some very special students that catch our attention and deserve extra attention. It might be a new format, an experimental technique or just an intense revealing of a human emotion…raw and compelling.

Ryder Hurtado: Here to the Unknown

Noall Meir: Lord of the Stories

Ray Yamasaki: The Void

Lauren Berg; Fingers

Jared Mass: Nature's Doors

Luke Bargabus: The Future of AI