Arts Extra! San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO — Valentine events are best celebrated with anticipation for intimacy and the anxiety of passion, especially when hosting enticing socials in exciting spaces around the city. Among the noteworthy pre-Valentine gatherings I attended were a wine-tasting party at Fluid Ultra Lounge in the South of Market and a surrealism art show at The Shooting Gallery in the Tenderloin. After all, I required a little variety in my social escapades.

‘Pre-Valentine’s Day Wine-tasting’ at Fluid

First, let’s visit the wine event. The “Pre-Valentine’s Day Wine-tasting Party” was a sumptuous indulgence of social mirth and hearty treats presented by Winemingles.com. And conversation did flow like wine from a sparkling bottle as did eyes flutter and flirt their way around the space from one attractive guest to another.

Stephanie Rush, Rushburn Toffee Co., showed up to the Valentine’s event with her partners in chocolate to add a bit of sass and sweetener to the social mix. “We’re just three single girls with nothing to do for Valentine’s Day, and one us just happens to own a chocolate company,” she said as she primped her assortment of chocolates on display. Rush pointed out that the title of her company combines her last name with the last name of her grandmother, Burn, whose recipe has been the delectable starting point for the business.

Winemingles organizer Patrick Dalal said the pre-Valentine’s affair supported a vibrant mingling buzz the whole evening. “We’re fortunate to have a very enthusiastic crowd who is celebrating this romantic holiday with a lively spirit,” Dalal said, noting that his wine socials are held once a month, and normally at art galleries. “But this is a special pre-Valentine’s event that seemed perfectly suited for the neon and retro style of Fluid Ultra Lounge,” he said. “When guests are finished with their wine-tasting, they can stick around and enjoy dancing at the nightclub.”

Wine connoisseur Michel Ginoulhac, M.D., brought his unconventional medicine to the wine-tasting party from his Organic Wine Company. His San Francisco company presented a wild and exotic sampling of red and whites from France and across the globe. “The (Sauvignon Blanc 2002) Kawarau from the New Zealand vineyard offers a taste of tropical fruit … a very passionate blend that is suitable for just such a Valentine’s occasion,” he said. He also offered me a sample of the Cartagene NV Andre Bourguet of Languedoc, France, a “liquor wine” that invites aromas of prune and chocolate. I was genuinely pierced by Cupid’s sweet arrow with this glass of grape spirit that is delicious with chocolate deserts!

Master Sommelier Catherine Fallis, a wine and lifestyle advisor, and author of “Erotic Foods”, shared signed copies of her book with the guests at the mixer. Fallis said that wine and food is a perfect match in social circles. “Talking about food is a natural progression in the wine business,” she said. “We are using the palate and the sense of smell, all the same tools; so the conversation becomes easily extended from one topic to the other.” Fallis has studied the relationship of wine and foods for 20 years and gives wine seminars across the nation. She stressed the importance of using tantalizing terms such as “erotic” or “aphrodisiac” to stimulate interest in her topics. “When you have single people, champagne and chocolate all in the same room, you will know what to do with all of these if you have a copy of my guidebook.”

Martin Reyes, a wine advisor with K&L Wine Merchants, said his love for Fallis’s work was his main inspiration for attending the social. “People don’t realize how much of a big name she is in the wine field,” said Reyes. “She’s an important author and expert on the subject, and I pretty much came here just to get a copy of her book.”

Anthony Ferguson, a purveyor of fine chocolate, represented his company Cacao Anasa and its handcrafted confections at Fluid, much to partygoers’ elation. Of the many delicious selections of European truffles, Ferguson recommended the Flowers & Herbs artisan collection, which is comprised of 16 European truffles with an essence of the garden. Pointing to the display’s logo, he said, “The name reveals it all: If love had a taste, it would be your rose truffles.”

‘Cine Delirio’ at The Shooting Gallery

Next, I roughed passage through the Tenderloin to visit The Shooting Gallery for my dose of reality-bending artistic expression, otherwise known as the “Cine Delirio” surrealist show. Running through March 5, this experience in surrealism, according to the show’s participants, makes “room in our minds for a new crop of artists to titillate our psyche and expand our dreamscapes with their own deliriums and visions.” Enticingly enough, this would turn out to represent the other end of the Valentine’s spectrum for me. After all, love is nothing if not surreal. And there is no greater love for me than … art.

Justin Giarla, owner of The Shooting Gallery, said the surrealist exhibition, featuring the paramount work of Shawn Barber, Eric Joyner, Lee Harvey Roswell and Nathan Spoor, came together with a powerful unity in spirit and craftsmanship. “All four artists did an incredible job with their paintings for the show,” he said. “I’m really pleased with the outcome.”

Giarla said his gallery presents an eclectic variation of styles and mediums every month, including such works as photography, paintings, Pop art, lowbrow, erotica and more. “I change it every month to show you something that you can’t see downtown,” he said. “I simply show the artwork that I like, and that’s why I opened the gallery.”

Shawn Barber, sdbarber.com, said the surrealism show is the first he’s participated in where all the work has taken on a strong technical aspect toward painting. “This is one of the most unique shows I’ve seen here,” the artist said. “Most of my works are self portraits and reflections of myself. They somewhat resemble how I am not always in control. I tend to show how the world is much more darker than what it was when I was a teenager.”

Lee Harvey Roswell, leeharveyroswell.com, has been working with the gallery owner for three years, nurturing an intense Dali-esque presence at the space with such past exhibits as the “2nd Annual Erotic Show 2004″, “Lee Harvey Roswell vs. Marco Almera” (New York Surrealist versus California Pop Artist), and “The Gun Show” (Weapon or Work of Art). Roswell’s “The Rape of Psyche”, oil on panel, is representative of a Dali-like discipline, but is distinguished by his own post-modern identity and direction. “I work mostly through spontaneous association, keeping myself open to random thoughts that might juxtapose such images as Dostoevsky’s head with the Christ child and Madonna,” he said. “The idea and image is blurry at first, but I become moved to solving this vision, making it clear. Ultimately the end result is something very personal.”

Fellow surrealist Nathan Spoor, nathanspoor.com, takes a different approach to his imagery. In his acrylic on canvas creation “On Obligation’s, Whispers & the Like”, he creates a paradox that is directed more toward the viewer than the artist. With tentacle-like limbs extending from a bewildering entity on his canvas, Spoor explains that the imagery coincides with the anxiety of his audience. “The painting represents a moment of anxiety where a decision must be made that will affect the rest of the viewer’s life,” he said while observing his work. “You’re gonna make a decision that affects the rest of your life which is based on whether you enter or exit this character’s world … and her world is a little strange.”

Yes, love is strange, whether it be for one’s sweetheart or for the labor and dialogue invested into one’s work of art. But the surrealism show became a most suitable study of growth and technical approach for us denizens of the city who attempt passionate expressions in intimate spaces.

The Shooting Gallery is located at 839 Larkin Street in the Tenderloin. Fluid, San Francisco’s Ultra Lounge, is at 662 Mission Street.

# # #

View more photos from Arts Extra! at flickr.com/photos/artsextra.

All photos by Jamie Windborne unless otherwise noted. Copyright (C) 2005 Jamie Windborne, www.artsextra.com. All rights reserved.

SAN FRANCISCO — Tantalizing art and fashion created a memorable experience for gallery goers and fashionistas in what only San Francisco can offer in spectacular local talent.

Micah LeBrun reception at Minna

Arts Extra! caught a delightful eyeful of Micah LeBrun’s latest paintings at the reception for his show at 111 Minna Street Gallery in South of Market Thursday evening. The gallery catered to a smart-looking, drinking-age crowd that sought less pomp and more circumstance in their art dwelling. I myself was swept away by the urbane talents of LeBrun’s paintings, noting the blood, sweat and craftsmanship he puts into each work. “The strong point of my work, I feel, is that I do not fail to work,” the artist said. His astute and uncompromising vision is on par with mankind being cast out of the Garden of Eden itself simply for choosing to indulge in the tree of wisdom over listening to authority.

“The Genesis of Toil with Adam and Eve” is the new direction where LeBrun sees his talents merging next. “This is the bitch of the bunch for me,” he said, holding back his excitement for an oil painting that he was visibly pleased with. “I’m interested in the part of the story that begins after they have eaten the forbidden fruit, and this is where I will most likely take my work in the future.”

Minna Gallery curator Gabe Scott admires LeBrun’s knack for storytelling and presenting metaphors that are aptly illustrated through a bold-line quality and intentionally clean presentation. “We have been bringing fans of his work here for a long time, and we hope to give him the opportunity to display the full scope of his many different styles,” Scott said.

Sharing my elation for LeBrun’s “Flaming Plum Pudding”, Abbey Rhoades, who helped promote LeBrun’s show at 111 Minna Street Gallery, said his extraordinary use of grain texture in the “Plum” painting comes from his accidental labor of love with wood. “He lived next to a warehouse that had excess wood,” said Rhoades, who has featured LeBrun on galleryculture.com. “They would throw a lot of it out onto the street, and Micah would use it to paint on. He pulls a lot out of the grain, and plays off of it.” LeBrun’s show runs through February 12.

‘Varnish Fine Art Photo Show’

Next on the South of Market agenda that evening, I made a quaint and artsy retreat to Varnish Fine Art Gallery for an Art, Wine and Chemistry nightcap. Full of warmth and intrigue, this gallery possessed all the right touches in modern day urban decor: hanging display walls, patina finished ceiling fixtures, a cement floor dyed in amber and characteristic brick walls — all testifying to a factory-like sophistication oozing with circumstance.

Nestled among a variety of artistic and unique photographic styles in the Varnish Fine Art Photo Show, Stephanie Morgan caught the better half of my intrigue with her emotionally-charged photography printed on cement blocks. An ongoing photo project she began in 1998, Morgan’s “Gape” is a very unique undertaking by the Oakland photographer who shoots her subjects standing against a wall, gaping up into the sky like young birds waiting to be fed. Most men, she remarked, tell her the people “look like they’re having sex.” With a glowing smirk, Morgan rebutted by saying, “I call it the vulnerability of waiting.”

Making for solid, life-revealing prints that are both nostalgic and unpredictable, Morgan chooses to apply a photographic emulsion to the surface of cement, giving her artwork the sculpture-like qualities of weight and texture. “People in general are dismissive of photography unless it takes on a form,” she said, explaining that her portraits of people on stone command a monumental respect for the work, as would a sculpture. “It’s weight … it’s definitely about the weight.”

Varnish Gallery owners Kerri Stephens and Jennifer Rogers said the photo show is the first of its kind to be hosted in the 1,500-square-foot space which offers a fine wine, beer and sake bar. Additionally, a 600 square-foot gallery on the mezzanine level offers an art library for in-gallery perusal. The space is designed for showing a variety of art types from emerging, mid-career and established artists.

“We wanted to create a place that was more salon in style, where people hang out and feel comfortable,” said Stephens, who drew upon her foundry skills when helping to design the gallery. “We are interested in creating a dialogue among art patrons where they can come in and talk about art.” The Varnish Fine Art Photo Show runs through March 5 and also features the works of Chris Anthony, Pete Eckert and Patrick Hadacek.

‘Urban Erotica’ at Club Q

I rounded off an Arts Extra! weekend downtown with a devilish peak at the highly anticipated lingerie and casual apparel show “Urban Erotica” on Friday evening. Held at Club Q, this pre-Valentine’s event treated the fashionistas of the city to an edgy and elusive debut runway show that featured exciting apparel from G-Unit and intimate designs by Donna L’oren.

Halogram Productions, a group of ambitious friends and designers, created “Urban Erotica” with the aim of promoting new talents and providing a network for models, stylists, photographers, artists and designers. “At first, it was just to gain experience in putting on a show,” said designer and event coordinator Tiffany Tan. “Ideas were thrown out together, and we came up with a provocative title for it. Most of us just graduated last year, and we are all trying to grow and progress in our personal life as well as our career goals.”

Beautiful models and tantalizing designs streamed up and down the catwalk while being rushed along the runway by flashing camera-phones and intrusive digital cameras … my own included. The event shook with anticipation and excitement from beginning to end, fueled by drink, adrenalin and youth. Although, the hurried pace of the show left me wanting for a closer look at the provocative designs and fabrics that were rapidly jettisoned from the walkway. The evening also included live performances by local Bay Area performers Morgan Rockey, DGF Family and Krush Ellington.

Club Q is located at 61 Golden Gate Avenue. 111 Minna Street Gallery is at 111 Minna Street in the South of Market, and Varnish Fine Art Gallery is at 77 Natoma Street.

# # #

View more photos from Arts Extra! at flickr.com/photos/artsextra.

All photos by Jamie Windborne unless otherwise noted. Copyright (C) 2005 Jamie Windborne, www.artsextra.com. All rights reserved.