Arts Extra! San Francisco

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.

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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.