Wednesday, November 4, 2009

LIVE celluloid improv projection w/ lovely gloom-folk vocals?

Lawrence Jordan fans kick up your heels! Lawrence will perform his short Ein Traum der liebenden (A Dream of Lovers) to Pale Hoarse's wispy moon gazing ballads at the SF Film Society's Kickoff Party for their Animation festival-- Wednesday, Nov 11.








"SFIAF kicks off with this very special celebration of live music and animation. First, American underground avant-garde legend Lawrence Jordan will present live animation for the first time in his 50-plus-year career. Manning a 16mm analytic projector, Jordan will improvise the frame rate and rhythm to his cutout short film Ein Traum der liebenden (A Dream of Lovers), based on the live, plaintive musical accompaniment of local duo Pale Hoarse. This historic performance will be followed by 2 Blessed 2 Be Stressed, a collaboration between Paper Rad founding member Jacob Ciocci and musician David Wightman. Ciocci and Wightman have collaborated on a number of projects, including the musical group Extreme Animals. For this performance, Ciocci will present a mix of original videos and animations and his new performance I Let My Nightmares Go, employing video projection and dance moves to grapple with mental demons, Web 2.0, 21st-century breakdown, real lies, fake truths, cartoon violence and awareness bracelets. Wightman will join in on the fun, then perform solo as Fortress of Amplitude, a guitar-wielding minstrel from another time and place. Accompanied by a beat-blasting drum machine, he will execute a musical composition focusing on fantasy, repetition and ecstasy." SFFS

Buy tickets here:
http://www.sffs.org/content.aspx?pageid=1388

Friday, October 30, 2009

Singing Workshop with Alejandra Ortiz of Lulacruza

Embodied Voice, Circular Singing
Sunday, November 8
3-7pm

Gallery Extrana
2912 Telegraph Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94705

$45 advance registration / $55 after Nov 5

Embodied Voice, Circular Singing
In this experiential workshop Alejandra will guide you through breathing, movement and imagery techniques to unlock the authentic sound of your voice. In this intimate group setting you will learn to trust your body’s natural ability to express and respond musically. We will explore the mechanics of voice production, as well as the relationship between body alignment and singing.


Photo: Aimee Friberg 2009


* Experience ways to connect to the vital creative source and express yourself more freely, feeling confident and receptive.

* Discover simple and fun tools to develop mind/body awareness, and become more resonant and present.

* Unlock the resonance, color, and flexibility of your individual voice, and engage in a non-judgmental singing practice.

No previous singing experience is needed -- all levels are welcome.

About Alejandra Ortiz

Alejandra is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and teacher from Bogotá, Colombia. She graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, and the Sound, Voice and Music Healing program at CIIS in San Francisco, CA.
She teaches groups and individuals of all ages how to connect to their own body and voice, with a series of techniques that combine breath work, movement, imagery and singing. She guides students on freeing their authentic voice for pleasure, inner knowing and transformation.
Alejandra has toured many countries performing her original music, which is inspired in ancient traditions of the Americas, songwriting, sound art and electronic music. Alejandra is one-half of the South American Electronic Folk duo Lulacruza, and also performs her original material with the Italian composer Laura Inserra.

"Alejandra offers a beautiful and deep approach to singing. She taught me the importance of connecting to one's own source in order to be able to sing with confidence and to express oneself through the voice. Her art and inspiring voice motivates her students to want to sing, as she offers great wisdom to improve one's singing practice. She taught me and still teaches me the art of singing effortlessly." Maria Fernanda Pulido


"Alejandra is AMAZING! I was a new person at the end of her healing sound workshop; she gave me real tools to help my stagnated emotions to come out and circulate with beautiful sounds, she has the knowledge to convert your pain in beautiful flowing music! Thanks for all your love and your music." Ana Maria M


www.lulacruza.com

Email galleryextrana (at) gmail (dot) com to register
or call 415-238-7385 for more info

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Hello friends! Our last event 350:WORKS! live art + music gathering (with 350.org) produced so much wonderful art we are currently taking the time to put together a show that will be open for public viewing on November 25. All artworks produced at 350:WORKS! on October 24th will be for sale at the show on December 4 at affordable, recession-friendly, holiday prices and all proceeds will benefit Southeast Asian relief aid efforts with Migrante International. The event will include life music performances. Stay tuned here on the blog for all exciting things happening behind closed doors! Gallery viewings by appointment are welcome. Contact galleryextrana@gmail.com or 415-238-7385 to arrange.

Happy autumn!

Love,
Gallery Extraña

Thursday, October 22, 2009


350:WORKS! -- a LIVE works on paper show promoting Global Climate awareness and ACTION

Calling all glue-schticks, writers, spencilinas, paper DIYers!

350:WORKS!
is an exhibition and happening of LIVE art + craft-making taking place at Gallery Extraña on October 24th. On Saturday, from 3-7 pm artists, poets, musicians and individuals ready to ACT / MAKE / SHARE will gather at Gallery Extrana. The afternoon will include live art & crafts on paper, live music and other acts of participation on the theme of climate change & its global impact. Proceeds from artwork sold on the 24th will benefit Philippine Rescue Aid through MIGRANTE International.

350:WORKS! is an ACTION event registered with Bill McKibben’s 350.org movement which aims to bring awareness to the pressing issue of Global Climate Change. Why 350? Scientists say that 350 parts per million (ppm) CO2 in the atmosphere is the safe limit for humanity. We currently have 385 ppm CO2 in our atmosphere. In December 2009, world leaders (delegates, non-governmental organizations, and businesses from every nation) will gather at the UN summit in Copenhagen to finalize a new global climate change agreement. Visit 350.org for a list of events in 170 countries (and counting) on this day of worldwide ACTION! Register to participate & save yourself a space or just come and enjoy the spectacle!

JOINING US:
Artists: Lawrence (Larry) Jordan, Matt Gonzalez, Masako Miki, Chris Russell, Jeffrey Manson, Brian Lucas, Kaliisa Conlon, Sarah Jane Lapp, Rob Reger and more!

Music by Charles Gonzalez and Jeffrey Manson


galleryextrana (at) gmail (dot) com

xo,
extraña

JOIN US on facebook!




Monday, October 19, 2009

350:WORKS ----Participating ARTISTS/MUSICIANS















JOINING US:
Artists: Lawrence (Larry) Jordan, Matt Gonzalez, Masako Miki, Jeffrey Manson, Brian Lucas,
Kaliisa Conlon, Sarah Jane Lapp, and more!

Music by Chuck Gonzalez, Jeffrey Manson and Marie Abe

xo

extraña

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Gallery CLOSED from Oct 16 - Oct 23

come join us on Sat, Oct 24 from 3-7 pm for 350:Works! a LIVE works on paper show!
details below.

Thursday--last day of Masako Miki & Chris Russell show!


Today is the last day of MASAKO MIKI and CHRIS RUSSELL's show Contemplating her Infinite Disguise. While we're bummed to see the show come down tomorrow morning, we are thrilled to share that we'll be retaining several pieces from both artists in our performance space-- ++ Chris' The Big Happy will keep setting the mood for our live performances. om.



Chris Russell in front of The Big Happy, October, 2009

Friday, October 9, 2009





350:WORKS!
-- a LIVE works on paper show promoting Global Climate awareness and ACTION


Calling all glue-schticks, writers, spencilinas, paper DIYers!

350:WORKS!
is an exhibition and happening of LIVE art + craft-making taking place at Gallery Extraña on October 24th. On Saturday, from 3-7 pm artists, poets, musicians and individuals ready to ACT / MAKE / SHARE will gather at Gallery Extrana. The afternoon will include live art & crafts on paper, live music and other acts of participation on the theme of climate change & its global impact. Proceeds from artwork sold on the 24th will benefit Philippine Rescue Aid through MIGRANTE International.

350:WORKS! is an ACTION event registered with Bill McKibben’s 350.org movement which aims to bring awareness to the pressing issue of Global Climate Change. Why 350? Scientists say that 350 parts per million (ppm) CO2 in the atmosphere is the safe limit for humanity. We currently have 385 ppm CO2 in our atmosphere. In December 2009, world leaders (delegates, non-governmental organizations, and businesses from every nation) will gather at the UN summit in Copenhagen to finalize a new global climate change agreement. Visit 350.org for a list of events in 141 countries on this day of worldwide ACTION! Register to participate & save yourself a space or just come and enjoy the spectacle!

stay tuned for more details !

galleryextrana (at) gmail (dot) com

xo,
extraña



Thursday, October 1, 2009

Contemplating Her Infinite Disguise, an exhibition of paintings and collaged mixed media by Masako Miki and Chris Russell, will continue through October 16 at Gallery Extraña

++ EXTENDED THROUGH OCTOBER 16

++ OPEN UNTIL 6:30 PM ON FIRST FRIDAY (Oct 2)


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 28, 2009 – Berkeley, CA

August 21- October 16, 2009
http://galleryextrana.blogspot.com/
2912 Telegraph Avenue (1 Block North of Ashby), Berkeley 94705

Contemplating Her Infinite Disguise is an exhibition of painting, drawing and mixed media works on paper by Masako Miki and Chris Russell, that explore our connections and incongruities with the natural world.

Chris Russell’s landscape paintings and drawings evoke the subtle and sublime forces present in the cycles of nature. Evoking a reverence for natural phenomena, Russell uses geometric shapes and a bright color palette to reflect on our perceptions, illusions and disconnections with our natural environment. Masako Miki’s compositions of carefully perched doe balancing on towers of colorfully wrapped boxes explore notions of synthesis, incongruity and assimilation. Manipulating spatial elements through the integration of collage and painting, Miki’s compositions suggest a whimsical narrative, tipped slightly on its side.

In Contemplating Her Infinite Disguise both Miki and Russell allude to a personal or collective equilibrium possible through reconciliation with the natural world. The show ha been extended through October 16. Gallery Extraña is located at 2912 Telegraph Avenue (1 block north of Ashby Avenue) in Berkeley.

For more info and artist bios, visit:

www.galleryextrana.blogspot.com
www.chrisrussellart.com
www.masakomiki.com

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

CLOSING PARTY this Friday!

CLOSING PARTY Contemplating Her Infinite Disguise -- Masako Miki and Chris Russell
Friday, September 25 7-10pm
(Gallery also open for normal hours noon-6)
with THE SAREES (members of Hannah & Mariah Dancing, Whysp, The Sunshine Rains, God's Eye, Skygreen Leopards...)
http://www.myspace.com/thesarees

AND, fluxus performance by music*yoga

"My choices consist in choosing what questions to ask"
~John Cage

interview•yoga

Open the folding table and place the objects on it.
Wear the battery powered amp using the belt clip.
Use the microphone for interviews.
Wind up and start the metronome at a very slow rate.
Set the timer to 20 minutes, or whatever overall length is desired.
Ring the bell to start a "round".
Throw the three dice.

(http://www.musicyoga.org)

Thursday, September 17, 2009

au voir!


CLOSING PARTY for Contemplating Her Infinite Design

Masako Miki and Chris Russell

Friday, September 25 7-10pm

Gallery Extraña || 2912 Telegraph Avenue || Berkeley 94705

music + fluxus performance + art discounts!

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Masako, Chris and Aimee on Art in the Afternoon with Gregory Scharpen on KALX

01 Art talk KALX Miki & Russell by galleryextrana

Artist Interview on KALX Berkeley Radio with artists Masako Miki and Chris Russell and Gallery Extraña curator/gallery director Aimee Friberg. 30 minutes. Recorded live on September 3, 2009.

we HEART film + live music

and Cinematheque!
check out this mash up of post punk group Savage Republic to José Antonio Sistiaga's hand painted film. /// see you there.



“Basque abstract artist José Antonio Sistiaga painted directly onto film with homemade inks to create this silent 1970 feature. But Sistiaga’s strangely titled work… is different from the films of Stan Brakhage, who didn’t come to film from painting and had his own rhythm. […] [I]ts combination of color and 35-millimeter ‘scope (with about half an hour in black and white) yields the kind of spectacle one associates with musicals and [science fiction] epics.” -- Jonathan Rosenbaum

A hand-painted masterpiece of the 1970s; a legendary band of the 1980s. Sistiaga’s rarely-screened ere erera baleibu icik subua aruaren is a work of uncompromising beauty that absolutely deserves a wider appreciation. Savage Republic, one of the unrecognized godfathers of post-rock, formed roughly three decades ago in the midst of the Los Angeles punk rock scene and abruptly disbanded in 1989. In recent years, they’ve reformed and their unique sound (akin to a Middle Eastern surf band backed by the rhythm section from Joy Division) is as compelling and inexorable as ever. For San Francisco Cinematheque’s season opener, Savage Republic -- original members Ethan Port and Thom Fuhrmann joined by Alan Waddington and Kerry Dowling -- performs a newly commissioned score to Sistiaga’s prodigious work, presented in a stunning 35mm print from Paris. (Jonathan Marlow)

more info here:
http://www.sfcinematheque.org/#/calendar/200909200/

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

contemplating her infinite disguise -- installed

here's a sneak peak into the masako miki and chris russell show-- opens friday, aug 21
reception from 7-10 pm. more details below. x

Friday, August 14, 2009

Masako Miki and Chris Russell

We start installing the show this weekend, look back for install pics in the next day or so!



Deer Contemplating Plan B, Masako Miki

Inside the Universe, Chris Russell

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Contemplating Her Infinite Disguise, an exhibition of paintings and collaged mixed media by Masako Miki and Chris Russell, opens August 21 at Gallery Extraña

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 13, 2009 – Berkeley, CA

August 21- September 25, 2009
Artist's Reception- Friday, August 21, 7-10 pm
Performance by Loudmouth Yank 8 pm
http://galleryextrana.blogspot.com/

Contemplating Her Infinite Disguise is an exhibition of painting, drawing and mixed media works by Masako Miki and Chris Russell, that explore our connections and incongruities with the natural world. The opening reception is on Friday, August 21 from 7 – 10 pm. Graham Patzner of Loudmouth Yank will perform an intimate set at 8pm on the night of the opening.

Chris Russell’s landscape paintings and drawings evoke the subtle and sublime forces present in the cycles of nature. Evoking a reverence for natural phenomena, Russell uses geometric shapes and a bright color palette to reflect on our perceptions, illusions and disconnections with our natural environment. Masako Miki’s art explores notions of synthesis, incongruity and assimilation. Manipulating spatial elements through the integration of collage and painting, Miki’s compositions suggest a whimsical narrative, tipped slightly on its side.

In Contemplating Her Infinite Disguise both Miki and Russell allude to a personal or collective equilibrium possible through reconciliation with the natural world. The show runs through September 25. Gallery Extraña is located at 2912 Telegraph Avenue (1 block north of Ashby Avenue) in Berkeley.

www.chrisrussellart.com
www.masakomiki.com
www.myspace.com/grahampatzner

CHRIS RUSSELL was born in Boulder Colorado in 1983. He moved to Oakland to study painting at California College of the Arts. While a student at CCA, Christopher exhibited in numerous group shows including The Drawing Show at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, and Awesome: The Contemporary Sublime at PlaySpace. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts with "High Distinction" in painting and drawing from CCA in the spring of 2006. After school, he has continued to live and paint in the bay area drawing inspiration from the Pacific Northwest landscape. His time spent outside--whether it be backpacking, bicycle touring or traveling abroad has become an indivisible part on his studio practice. Since school, he has put together two solo shows and participated in various group shows. He currently lives and works in the East Bay as part of the artists' collective Paper Mill Studios.

MASAKO MIKI lives and works in Berkeley. She received her MFA from San Jose State University. She has exhibited throughout the Bay Area, including Kearny Street Workshop in San Francisco, Pro Arts Gallery in Oakland, Stanford Art Spaces in Stanford University, the San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, and the Creative Art Center in Saratoga. Her work is also available at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Artists Gallery. Recently she has finished artist residency program at Contemporary Artists Center in Troy, New York. Currently, her work is also on exhibit at Root Division Gallery, San Francisco and Berkeley Art Center, Berkeley. She has taught at De Anza College, Santa Rasa Junior College, Evergreen Valley Collage, Ohlone College, City College of San Jose, Mission College, San Jose State University, and University of California in Davis.


ABOUT GALLERY EXTRAÑA
Gallery Extraña was founded by Emily the Strange creator Rob Reger and artist, curator, and filmmaker Aimee Friberg in the spring of 2008. Its first show in July of the 2008 turned the heads of national press with the elegant illustrations of Nicomi Nix Turner. Its mission is to showcase contemporary, emerging, and mid-career artists primarily from the Bay Area. In addition to exhibiting eccentric, “strange”, and off-center work, Gallery Extraña is an alternative screening and performance space. Located in the Cosmic Debris Design house, the open gallery hours are Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 12-6pm. Call 510-845-3645 *290 or email galleryextrana@gmail.com for more information.
Loudmouth Yank, aka Graham Patzner, will be playing an intimate set at the Masako Miki and Chris Russell opening on Friday, August 21. Rumors have it, there'll be soulful, dirty folk ballads on the piano and ... honestly, I think you'll be counting your lucky stars you had the good fortune to happen upon this charming Oakland talent. Opening is from 7-10pm, Graham plays at 8.


"Graham Patzner is a singer/songwriter from Oakland, California. Musicianship is in his bloodline, but it became apparent at a young age that this skill did not transfer via genes. Graham began befriending imaginary people who began the laborious process of teaching him violin, guitar, piano, trumpet, and the batanjo. Frito, the wood-sphinx, described Graham's music as "bottom of the barrel, top-o-the-morning wispy autumn ballads meets Michael Bolton." The Berkeley Darners Monthly rated Patzner's "Nine Songs in the Key of Patzner" a C-, but a C+ for effort. His music can be heard at http://www.myspace.com/grahampatzner."

Friday, July 31, 2009

new treats to oogle over... masako miki and chris russell opening at gallery extraña on
friday, august 21, 7-10 pm.





more details soon!

Thursday, June 18, 2009

we made it!

we made it! Filmmaker Lawrence Jordan and projectionists John Davis and Brecht Andersch make it through the 12 hour premier of CIRCUS SAVAGE. Sat, June 13th - Gallery Extraña "projection room."
Lawrence brought this quote by Algernon Blackwood to my attention the day before the marathon screening of CIRCUS SAVAGE.

"The Screen flashes into light and with the picture consciousness passes across the world. The lie of the stationary photography is corrected, time is denied, partially at least, and space is unable to boast and swagger as it loves to do. The cinema frees and extends the consciousness, restores the past, and sets distance close beneath the eyes. Only the watching self remains, pregnant symbol in the darkness." Algernon Blackwood

Tuesday, June 2, 2009


I'm installing Lawrence Jordan's mini retrospective - the collages - colorful, the dioramas - delightful.

The show opens Friday, 7-10 pm. Come wish the artist a happy 75th birthday!

scroll down for more info...

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Friday is last day of Kristine Reano's BATHING IN THE CRYSTAL LIGHT

Here's a few sneak peaks from BATHING IN THE CRYSTAL LIGHT ---

Gleaming Crystals in the Sky, watercolor, ink, bark, fabric, 2009 ($350)

Hand crafted wooden eggs with lace cozies, (Large $55, Small $25)


Magical next inside the Summer Inuit home

Thursday, May 21, 2009

This month, leading up to the Lawrence Jordan show, we want to feature a few collage artists we dig--- the first one being Brighton based Jon Howe who I met at the University of Washington 8 or so years ago. This series featured are collage mail posts sent to friends of the very endearing Mr JON.

here's a peak:







Jon Howe is a British artist living in Brighton, East Sussex. He graduated with a BA (Hons) in Fine Art from the University of Reading, U.K., in 1997 and an MFA in Sculpture from the School of Art, University of Washington, Seattle, U.S.A., in 2001. His work can also been seen at 'The Most-Wanted fine art gallery' in Pittsburgh, P.A., U.S.A. <> & at: <>

These images are from a large series of mixed-media collage postcards made between 1999 and 2009 (a mail-art project, sent through the postal service). I have been sending postcards since I was a child, especially when I was away on holiday. I continually collect collage materials, images on paper, posters, newspaper, packaging labels, stickers etc. My collage postcard series is based around a lose narrative, through the images & the ideas of colour / composition, packaging design / instructional advertising & the popular culture of international media / ethnicity / travel / tourism.) Also, I have started to translate them into paintings on canvas & as hand-coloured photolithographs.

.....

thanks Jon!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Mystic Transformations, an exhibition of film still prints and dioramas by LAWRENCE JORDAN opens June 5 at Gallery Extraña

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 19, 2009 – Berkeley, CA

June 5 – June 28, 2009
Artist's Reception- Friday, June 5, 7-10 pm
Premier of CIRCUS SAVAGE – June 13, 11 am-11pm

http://galleryextrana.blogspot.com/


Mystic Transformations is an exhibition of film still prints and dioramas by artist and filmmaker Lawrence Jordan that opens on June 5 and runs through June 28 at Gallery Extraña. The reception and 75th birthday party for the artist will be on Friday, June 5 from 7-10 pm and will feature live music and a preview of the documentary film Lawrence Jordan. On Saturday, June 13, Jordan will present the premier of his12 hour film, CIRCUS SAVAGE. The 16 mm screening will be from 11 am -11 pm, with an open door to guests to come any time. As the film is non-linear, there are many entry points and it is not necessary to be there for the duration to appreciate the poetic lyricism, depth and charm of the film.

Jordan’s film still prints and dioramas are playful juxtapositions of two and three dimensions, creating strangely seductive narratives and intimate compositions. Jordan’s style is a delightful departure from collage maestro and famous recluse Joseph Cornell, with whom he worked with in the 1960s in New York. Most of the pieces in the show have never been exhibited and were created between the 1984 and 2004, the last year the artist made a two dimensional collage of this sort. The documentary that will screen at the opening Lawrence Jordan is a work-in-progress film about the artist, produced by filmmakers (and former San Francisco Art Institute students) Ashley James, Kathryn Golden and by Babeth Van Loo. It is a co-production of Searchlight Films, Berkeley, CA and Boeddhistsche Omroep Stichting (BOS) of the Public Broadcasting System in the Netherlands.

Jordan’s new work, CIRCUS SAVAGE is essentially a visual autobiography in which Jordan has culled footage from outtakes spanning his 56 years of filmmaking. Jordan has been highly prolific in his career, working in both his signature cut-out collage animation style and in live action in which the lives of his artist and poet friends weave lyrically in front of the camera. And, as P. Adams Sitney shared in his recent Art Forum feature on Jordan, he is one of only three living filmmakers whose work wears the “mask of the mystic”, a genre once prevalent in American avant-garde cinema. Lawrence is one of the most important innovators in the history of avant-garde animation. His meticulous and bizarre filmic assemblages have inspired generations of experimental filmmaking. A bookend to the premier will be a live scoring of one reel of CIRCUS SAVAGE by the experimental band Beno + Minnie. Gallery Extraña is located at 2912 Telegraph Avenue (1 block north of Ashby Avenue) in Berkeley.

www.galleryextrana.blogspot.com
www.searchlightfilms.org
www.buddhistmedia.com.

ABOUT GALLERY EXTRAÑA
Gallery Extraña was founded by Emily the Strange creator Rob Reger and artist, curator, and filmmaker Aimee Friberg in the spring of 2008. Its first show in July of the 2008 turned the heads of national press with the elegant illustrations of Nicomi Nix Turner. Its mission is to showcase contemporary, emerging, and mid-career artists primarily from the Bay Area, with a special focus on talent from the East Bay, where the gallery is situated. Gallery Extraña is committed to exhibiting eccentric, “strange”, and off-center work, and seeks to promote local and underrepresented talent. Located in the Cosmic Debris Design house, Gallery Extraña hours are Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 12-6pm. Call 415-238-7385 or email galleryextrana@gmail.com for more information.

For press materials or gallery information contact Aimee Friberg, Gallery Extraña/Emily the Strange 415-238-7385 galleryextrana@gmail.com 2912 Telegraph Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94702

Friday, May 15, 2009

Lawrence Jordan mini-retrospective coming in June, reception and artist's 75 bday June 5, 7-10,
and premier of Circus Savage (12 hour 16mm marathon) on June 13, 11am- 11pm!


Friday, April 24, 2009



a sneak peak from Kristine Reano's Bathing In the Crystal Light show -- Opens May 1

Thursday, April 23, 2009


this Sunday evening curator Jan Van Woensel brings CCA graduate students together to present their 'last day of magic' ritual documentation at the gallery's front room--- a little ritual magic will be happening in the back gallery simultaneously as Kristine Reano installs 'bathing in the crystal light' -- come make magic with us.



Last Day of Magic

Sung-Hee Chang, Emily Hoover, Amy Keefer, Dustin Kelly, Christine Kesler, Stephanie Lagarde, Elyse Mallouk, Amy Martin, Josh Martinez, Lynne McCabe, Piero Passacantando, Brindalyn Webster

Curated by Jan Van Woensel

Orange Alley Project
Saturday April 25th, 2009, from 6 to 9PM

Orange Alley (between 25th and 26th St)
San Francisco, CA 94110
http://orangealleyproject.com/

Last Day of Magic was a one-day closed performance of rituals about departure and transformation that took place on March 28th, 2009. The rituals are designed with a personal significance and shamanic purpose. They examine the artist’s interpersonal experiences with belief, sacrifice, loss, disappearance, and memory.

At Orange Alley Project, twelve volunteers reenact the rituals and create their own last day of magic experience.

The video of Last Day of Magic will be screened at Gallery Extrana on Sunday April 26th, at 7:30PM, 2912 Telegraph Ave (between Ashby Ave and Howe St) Berkeley, CA 94705. http://galleryextrana.blogspot.com/

Last Day of Magic will participate to Markers VII at the 53rd Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy. June 5th, 2009.


Last Day of Magic is a project initiated, organized and curated by Jan Van Woensel in the framework of his 2009 cross-departmental class at California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA. http://www.last--day--of--magic.blogspot.com Jan Van Woensel is an independent curator based in New York City and the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of New York Magazine of Contemporary Art and Theory http://www.ny-magazine.org

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

KRISTINE REANO with LULACRUZA

que contenta estoy~! super pleased to announce that LULACRUZA (lulacruza.com) will perform at KRISTINE REANO's bathing in the crystal light opening reception on MAY 1ST. If you haven't yet seen Kristine's work, you're in for a *super* treat. The reception is from 7-10pm at the gallery. We're also adding semi-'regular' hours (yes, thankyou for asking, we feel the love) --- starting in May we'll be open Weds, Thrs and Fri from 12-6pm.

Sunday, April 12, 2009







save the date! Kristine Reano's bathing in the crystal light opens on Friday May 1st. more details soon. xo gallery extraña

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

we love cat lauigan


We love Cat Lauigan's work. We heart our neighbor Oakland. We're stoked that Cat is from Oakland and hopes that means she's back visiting this coast soon!
++We recommend you spend some time here: http://catlauigan.com

William Kentridge's RETURN OF ULYSSES at Project Artaud

If the drawings, short films and theatrical installations of William Kentridge have left you un-satiated and longing for more, perhaps you'll consider attending his multi-media opera The Return of Ulysses (yes there's puppets), presented by SFMOMA at Project Artaud Theater this week. I attended the preview last night. Here's a few sneak peaks--





THE RETURN OF ULYSSES
An opera by Claudio Monteverdi
Directed by William Kentridge
Revival directed by Luc de Wit; produced by Pacific Operaworks, Seattle; musical direction by Stephen Stubbs; featuring the Handspring Puppet Company of South Africa

All shows are SOLD OUT except for tonight's benefit: Wednesday, March 25th 5:30-10 PM
visit www.sfmoma.org/kentridgeopera

Also, the exceptional and profound exhibit WILLIAM KENTRIDGE: FIVE THEMES is on display through May 31st at SFMOMA. http://www.sfmoma.org/pages/exhib_events

all photos copyright Aimee Friberg 2009