The Andrews Gallery

First Official Show in the New Space

2010-02-15T18:20:00.000-08:00

Tuesday February 23, 2010
2400 Kettner Blvd #212
8:00 PM
Free, All Ages, & Open to the Public

What joy to be hosting Seattle-based experimental cellist Derek Johnson along with Andrew Senna for our first performance in the new space. We will also be featuring some never-before-seen-in-San-Diego paintings by the tenacious Zack Hawkins as well as other gallery artists.

Some background info on Derek and Andrew (from the press release):

An Olympia, WA native, Derek Johnson has played the cello since 1979. In 1986 he began to veer away from the traditional, and has since developed an intricate experimental practice. Aside from the usual classical gigs, Derek has recorded and performed with the likes of Old Time Relijun, Unwound, Maher Shalal Hash Baz, Desolation Wilderness, Arrington De Dionyso, among others and has regularly performed in various capacities at the Olympia Experimental Music Festival, the Olympia Film Festivals, the Seattle International Film Festival, and the Palais Ideal Festival in Chico, CA. His performance at The Andrews Gallery is part of his first solo tour which will cover some 6,000 miles in just under three weeks.

Also touring with him is Andrew Senna who runs Aphonia Recordings. His set will include found sound, field recordings, guitar, voice, and sound collages. Andrew is a very talented musician and technician, with a masters in Sound Design and Recording for Film from Vancouver Film School. Using tape recorders, mini-discs, microphones, looping pedals, guitars and contact mics to illicit warbling and sparse curtains of sound, Andrew populates surging vocal harmonies with references to Americana and folk traditions.

SEE YOU THERE.

Our move

2010-02-12T18:05:00.000-08:00

Read the latest newsletter announcing our move and new projects here.

Recent Press

2010-02-12T17:47:00.000-08:00

FW Weekly recently published a great feature on The Andrews Gallery and its Texas connection. You can read it here.

Also, Drew's portrait of Paul Williams was published in both the Salt Lake City Weekly as well as San Diego CityBeat along side Sarah Nardi's article on that "seminal" figure.

Chapter One: A Look Back

2010-02-08T13:09:00.001-08:00

For your pleasure (ok, and mine too), here is a somewhat chronological look back at the first sixteen months of The Andrews Gallery. As we bring our first phase to a close, we want to thank each and every one of the artists, musicians, poets, performers, and patrons who have made this project a reality. Drop us a line to come see our space in the Kettner Arts Complex in Little Italy.

My goddaughter visiting me from France. Photo taken before the opening of Ron Tomlinson's exhibition.

And now, from the beginning:

The first week after doing the keys, before doing any work on the space, we had a "soft opening". What you can't see is that these paintings are covering up large holes in the drywall.

Amazingly, we had a great turn out on that first night, foreshadowing a year of good crowds.

Half-finished paintings.

Francois of Le Papagayo next door. We can't thank him and everyone at the restaurant enough for their amazing support.

My mother and me.

Matt Curreri rocked out for this first opening. The beginning of an incredible creative relationship. That's Kevin Gosset hammering away on the base.

One of our first exhibitions of figurative works by Anna Clark.

A nice mayhem begins to settle in the studio.

This plant, brought by a gallery supporter on our very first night, has been in the gallery ever since.

Singer Tracey Stockalper (center) uninterested in the discussion at one of our early openings.

Christmas time. In retrospect, think those 'icicle' lights were a mistake (really ugly, my apologies!)

Ben Groff's 'Forays in Formalism'

Sculptor Jesse Hensel builds a door in the gallery in advance of his exhibition 'The Rising Son'

Intern Discussions.

There is a system, I swear.

The south wall became red.

Studio shot, early Spring 2009; a mix of student work, gallery artists, and my own paintings.

One of my favorite shots of Jesse Hensel's 'The Rising Son'.

The Frontier Brothers came from Austin, TX to rock out.

The crowd adored.

And rocked out themselves.

Br'er came to play from Philadelphia that same weekend.

Matt Curreri in the gallery, March 2009.

The great Adam Nichols comes from New York to work on his (re)composition of a Beyonce song on the in-house 1984 Baldwin FunMachine.

May 2009, The Great Wall of Ukes, by Owen Burke (ps, Burke is now set up at Queen Bee's in North Park).

Art Party

From our 'Saturdays of May with Matt Curreri' series.

Brooklyn-based Big Tree gave Leucadia a night to remember.

Big Tree, with newly acquired Andrews Gallery shirts, packs up the morning after their show to continue their nation-wide tour.

Erwin Dazelle, all the way from the French Basque Country, with gallery patrons during the opening of his solo exhibition 'A La Tienne: Inside the Wine'.

Ryan McCann comes from New York to work on his laptop.

A crowning moment, Ron Tomlinson in the gallery for the opening of his exhibition 'The Language of Abstraction'.

The Hook Brothers, in from Houston TX, for their two-man show, October 2009.

Steven Hook before the openning.

My portrait (in progress) of Paul Williams for the Artists x Artists exhibit at the Encinitas Public Library. I believe it will accompany an article in this week's SD CityBeat.

Max Earnest, once a student at the gallery, now pursuing his practice in Eugene, OR.

Los Angeles-based painter and mixed-media artist Ben Wolf Noam considers the collages of Steven Hook.

Eric Terry matches the art.

Br'er makes a triumphant return late 2009.

And rocks the harmonium for a mesmerized crowd.

Before a 'Kettner Nights' artwalk at our new 'headquarters' in the 2400 Kettner Arts Complex.

Gallery goers.

Discussions abound during Michael McAlister's exhibition 'Assembly Required'.

The In Motion Trio sets up for a night of improv.

Max Martin and Matt Connolly take a break from Los Angeles and building things for Mike Kelly to visit the gallery, with photographer Michael Meleck.

The shows are that good.

The ground-breaking Mattson 2 play for a packed house.

Lovely visitors from San Francisco come and work out of the gallery, January 2010.

Just a snap-shot, but I think it captures the breath of what we have done since opening in the late months of 2008. These pictures represent the effort and resolve on behalf of everyone who has ever been involved with the gallery to promote creativity in all its different forms and to make it accessible for anyone and everyone to experience. It has been an improbable journey so far, and it would not be possible for me to adequately express my gratitude to everyone who has worked with me to make this project the success it has been. Similarly, I cannot wait for what the future has in store.

GET IN TOUCH, GET INVOLVED.

Drew Snyder
Leucadia, CA
February 2010

Vacancy 2: Friday, February 5, 5:00 - 9:00 PM

2010-01-29T16:20:00.000-08:00

Some of these artists I know and admire very much, there are some with whom I am unfamiliar; either way this promises to be a interesting show.

Mañanaland Mondays @ the Leucadian

2010-01-25T12:41:00.001-08:00

Just finished up the Mañanaland EP, which you can hear (and I'm told download for free?) on the MySpace Page. We'll be playing songs off the EP as well as some of our other material for the next three Monday nights (beginning tonight) at the Bar Leucadian. There will be copies of the record for you to have at the shows. For those of you who have never been to the Leucadian, its a most delightful place, and we are really happy to have the next Monday nights to hang out all together and play some of these songs for the first time. We'll be playing with speacial guests on different nights and will announce those as they come. The shows are FREE, 21+, and start at 9 PM so come on down for some music, drinks, pool, and good times. See you there!

Lands on Fire & La'tim(e) 1/16/10, 7:00 PM

2010-01-12T12:19:00.000-08:00

Flyer by A.P.S. Walker

We are happy to have showcase sets by musical ensembles Lands on Fire and La'tim(e) as we usher in our new gallery room group show. The feature of the group show is painter Zack Hawkins, whose arresting brushwork is not to be missed. Also on display are gallery artists Ron Tomlinson and Jesse Hensel, gallery owner Drew Snyder, and (back by popular demand) Michael McAlister. We're also excited to have some special friends in town from San Fran and NYC. Show starts at 7:00 PM and is as always, free, all ages and open to the whole wide world. See you then!

Click here to learn more about Lands on Fire and to hear a few of their tunes.

Zack Hawkins, Marine, Oil on Canvas, 54 x 48 in

In Motion Trio with the Mattson 2 on 1/2/10

2009-12-26T13:43:00.000-08:00

The Mattson 2 on one of their Japan tours.

In Motion Trio with the Mattson 2
January 2, 2010 - 7:00 PM @ The Andrews Gallery
Free, All Ages, & Open to the Public

I love writing that date 1/2/10. Does it remind anyone else of that scene in Home Alone when the old man gives his enemies "to the count of 10, to get your ugly, yellow, no-good keister" off his property?

In any event, I am seriously excited about In Motion Trio playing with the Mattson 2 at the gallery on the second day of the new year. Thanks to Jeff Wilson for producing the show. For anyone who missed the In Motion Trio's last two shows at The Andrews Gallery, you can check out a few pictures here.

We are really lucky (as are you) to have the Mattson 2 playing on the bill. These guys are as talented as they are cool, and you will not want to miss the opportunity to check them out in such an intimate Encinitas setting (seeing as though they are usually traveling around the world playing to bigger crowds).

We will send out an email announcing the show and other January events. Sign up to receive it here.

Happy Holidays to everyone, see you all soon!

The Last Month or So

2009-12-10T11:03:00.000-08:00

I was just recently given a trove of images by photogs Caroline Couturier and Benjamin Maury documenting some of the events sponsored by The Andrews Gallery over the last month or so, plus some pictures from the last Art After Dark at the Oceanside Museum of Art (couldn't resist). I thought it'd be a good time to catch up and share them with you.

We begin with images from an event at Brushworks, our affiliate studio in Little Italy (located in the 2400 Kettner Arts Complex). We will be increasingly active in this beautiful space over the coming months and hope that you will have an opportunity to come check it out.

Paintings by John Hook on display at Brushworks, our affiliate studio in Little Italy

Zach Hawkins at Brushworks

Paintings by Steven Hook (left) and Susie Snyder (right)

Friends of The Andrews Gallery, Grant Gleason and Seth Combs soak it in. Paintings by Ron Tomlinson in the background.

Here are a few images from OMA's Art After Dark. It was my first time at the event and I must say, it was awesome. What with all of the stellar art, free drinks and food, and people from all over the county, its more than worth the $15 ($10 if you're a member). Just the space itself is really nice, I love the open patio in the front. The next one might not be until March 12, but check out their website and sign up on their mailing list to get all the updates:

www.oma-online.org

The first two images are from the San Diego NOW exhibition featuring eight UCSD Visual Artists: James Enos, Jesse Mockrin, Zac Monday, Omar Pimienta, Lesha Rodriguiz, Tim Schwartz, Julia Westerbeke, and Suzanne Wright.

Caroline Couturier of Benjamin Maury @ OMA

They had tall monsters walking around as performance art. Pictured above, myself and M. Maury with tall dark wizard man. (For reference, Maury is well over 6' tall). Picture, Caroline Couturier.

Here are some shots from our one night crossroads event mixing art and science that showcased the DNA of different members of the San Diego Community.

Gallery Goers

More Gallery Goers

Talk turns serious at the drinks table.

Myself with Andy Bass (the brains behind the event) and Andrews Gallery supporter and poet, Zara Altair.

And here are some shots from our most recent opening of Assembly Required: Works by Michael McAlister, last Saturday.

Pictured: Mixed-media artist Melissa Stager (foreground), Painter Eric Terry (in yellow), and on the couch in the background filmmaker Daniel Gonzales, who is on the brink of completing his debut feature-length film 10 Days.

A selection from The Andrews Gallery Library

CityBeat's Seth Combs makes the trek up to North County for McAlister's opening.

Late-night in the gallery with Melissa Stager and Renaissance Woman (and stalwart Andrews Gallery supporter) Ida Deichaite

Footprints of Andrews Gallery March 2009 featured artist Jesse Hensel

Assemblage by Michael McAlister

No East Nor West (detail) by Michael McAlister

Hope you enjoy these photos. I can't help but to see them as a testament to the strength of The Andrews Gallery and the amazing support we get from such a diverse and wonderful community. It couldn't happen without you, so thanks.

A S S E M B L Y R E Q U I R E D

2009-11-29T12:54:00.000-08:00

Works by Michael McAlister
November 23 - December 31, 2009

Opening Reception - Saturday December 5, 2009
7:00 PM @ The Andrews Gallery

Don't miss the chance to see these wild assemblages up close and personal, as well as meet the man behind them. Come share a glass of wine and a good time as we close out what has been an incredible 2009.

Artists x Artists

2009-11-28T15:57:00.000-08:00

Opening Reception: December 13, 2009 1:00 - 4:00 PM

I'm excited about the Artists x Artists show coming up at the Encinitas Library. Mary Fleener has done an great job putting the show together. I was happy to get to preview most of the work in the show today. You'll be blown away by how diverse the work is.

I had the opportunity of painting Paul Williams, the legendary founder of Crawdaddy! magazine and a pioneer of rockn'roll criticism.

Paul Williams by Drew Snyder

The portrait is from a photo given to me by Paul's wife, Cindy Lee Berryhill. I'm told it was taken by R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe, which is ironic because Stipe was the first portrait I did after moving to New York in 2004.

Michael Stipe by Drew Snyder, 2004 (Collection Studio Bellecour, Paris, FR.)

Anyway, Paul Williams has a serious case of dementia brought on by an accident in 1995. Cindy Lee has mounted a website in an effort to raise funds for his condition. I strongly encourage anyone and everyone to read the website and lend your support:

http://paulwilliams.com/

If and when the portrait of Paul sells, all of the proceeds will go to the fund for his care. If you are interested in acquiring it, please get in touch through the gallery website.

To learn more about the Artists x Artists show and see all the works check out the website Mary Fleener put together. Hope to see you at the show!

Matthew Ritchie Present at MCASD

2009-11-28T13:21:00.000-08:00

Image from www.matthewritchie.com

Matthew Ritchie spoke at the Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla last week. The talk was worth it (I love when talks are worth it). Ritchie had a refreshing sense of humor, almost making a joke out of the the very complex matters that were the subject of his talk. He'd whiz concepts and visuals past the audience without a hope of anyone actually grasping what was being talked about, giving them two or three seconds to soak in some graph the complexity of which would probably merit weeks to decipher. Above the comical effect that that had, I'd venture to say it was an intentional component of his lecture, as if Ritchie was making a round about claim that we are just not capable of understanding certain things. Those incomprehensible things became the very subject of his talk, as they are the objects of his art.

Image from www.matthewritchie.com

His work does not, for the most part, jump out at me (other than when it literally jumps out into the space). I like the play back and forth between 2 and 3 D. Even though he called himself a painter, his most notable pieces are more routinely site specific installations that draw just as heavily from science as they do from anything else. The works are not gut works; they are the product of hours upon hours of heady deliberation, at times with Princeton physicists, at times experimental musicians, always with himself.

Image from www.matthewritchie.com

Ritchie has a solid grasp on the historical context in which he works, and his talk traced a time line that dedicated as much time to Einstein as it did Duchamp. It was informative and even fun to here him go through historic details that most everyone in the room already knew. Somehow it did not feel redundant, and that newness of old things moreover validated his attempt to comment on history in a new way through his art. Tracing an historical time line was all too appropriate in his talk because time itself is a paramount theme throughout all of Ritchie's work, and he had some thoughtful things to say on the subject. My impression was that he was focused on the past as something of his intellectual inheritance and on the future as a potent yet contrived new frontier. Had I asked a question, it would have been about the present. On the one hand, without thinking about it, the present is the most familiar or "knowable" stage of time for us. It is not susceptible to memory defects, nor do we have to divine it. It makes a certain sense to say that we are constantly situated in the present. On the other hand, if we push the concept of the present, it is difficult to see how it exists at all, other than as a concept. No sooner do moments occur than do they pass us by, and pinpointing the occurrence of a moment is quickly seen as impossible because of the reliable movement of time. You say a word, breath a breath, think a thought, and immediately those functions become nothing but registers of the past, filed away in memory. In this way we face the past, and Ritchie was making claims about the predictability of the future. I would have asked Ritchie if he thinks the present is the most abstract stage of time, if he thinks it could be proven to exist other than theoretically, and what, if any, are the implications of this inquiry for his art practice.

Perhaps my favorite image off his website. I like the palette and what feels to me to be the more organic approach. Image from www.matthewritchie.com

For better or worse, I felt far more connected to his work after hearing him talk. I would not now be able to pass one of his pieces without taking a closer look. In front of his work, I would think back to his talk (I wonder if he would like that). And anyway, I am a sucker for fractals.

Image from www.matthewritchie.com

[Oh lest I forget, I must admit that I am roundly jealous of his collaboration with one of my idols Kim Deal (and her sister Kelly) on an installation. He closed with a clip from this.]

Learn more about Matthew Ritchie at www.matthewritchie.com. He has a show up at Chelsea's Andrea Rosen for another couple of days (until December 2), if you are in New York please go see it and let me know what you think.

Good Art All Over North County

2009-11-18T09:48:00.000-08:00

This week's issue of CityBeat highlights a handful of solid North County art exhibits and events. First and foremost is the cover art by Michael McAlister, who just happens to be our upcoming featured artist. Sarah Nardi writes a thoughtful review that actually takes his art as its object (somewhat rare for San Diego arts writing). McAlister's show opens Monday November 23, and we will host an artist reception at the gallery on December 5, 2009. Read Nardi's piece here. Also you can preview McAlister's works on display at the gallery here.

CityBeat points out that "Along with the Andrews Gallery and Project X, the Eric Phleger Gallery is bringing much more than paintings of dolphins to the North County art scene." This Thursday there is an opening for a special exhibition at our neighboring gallery that exclusively features artists living in the 92024 and 92007 zip codes. An excellent idea.

http://ericphlegergallery.com for more information.

Friday night will be another installation of the storied Art After Dark nights at the Oceanside Museum of Art (7:00 - 10:00 PM). Your $15 admissions ticket ($10 for members) will get you a palm reading and a buffet of sushi, pizza, and beer from local establishments along with live music, special installations, and OMA's current exhibition of UCSD graduate artists.

www.oma-online.org for more information

Let the North County momentum continue.

I meet Duane Michals

2009-11-05T11:27:00.001-08:00

Duane Michals

It was roughly six years ago that I acquired Album: The Portraits of Duane Michals from the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park, and since then the book has gone everywhere with me. Though it has been rained on in Paris, run over by a car in Yonkers (my ex-girlfriend driving), and sun-baked in San Diego, the thing is still intact, sitting on my desk as I write this post, and continues to be one of my favorite sources of material.

Drew Snyder, A Boy in Leningrad (after Duane Michals), 2005.
Oil on Canvas, 36 x 42 in.

Before last week, I actually thought Duane Michals was dead. I don't know why really, I just always thought he was dead. Perhaps it was because he looked old in his self-portraits, and those were from the 80's. So when I saw a listing by chance in CityBeat last week announcing that he was coming to the Neuroscience Institute in La Jolla to give a talk, I felt like I was seeing a ghost. Just the announcement in the paper gave me this feeling of seeing someone brought back from the dead. It was a strange feeling, as if I were experiencing some kind of split reality, some parallel universe (parenthetically I happened to glimpse a Lara Croft movie on TV this morning featuring Angelina traveling through time storms to alter reality). In retrospect the sensation that the listing gave me was all too appropriate given Michals' emphasis on the imagination, the unseen, on the make-believe that permeates our daily experience.

Duane Michals for Vogue

The man who introduced him, a professor at SDSU (I don't remember his name), made the point that photography came to be during the Victorian Age, a time when science was focused on things we do not readily visually intuit (ocean currents, atoms, subterranean geological surveys, blood systems, etc). It was a nice parallel insofar as photography, contrary to initial perceptions, is a similar science. Initially, photography was conceived as an earnest and truthful means of capturing reality, escaping the obvious distortions of more traditional artistic mediums. Now, as the man making the introduction pointed out, after sufficient critical contention on this point, serious questions about the "truth" of photography have redefined the medium. Indeed, even without taking into account the volition of the artist to, say, frame a scenario in a certain way or manipulate the light, a photo at its core cannot escape its nature as an image, as a representation of something. There is no representation that is not false representation. If something is of something it is necessarily not that thing. In this way does Michals' preoccupation with the imagination and the unseen as an object of his photography certifies his authenticity as an artist.

Duane Michals

Michals himself was hysterical. I would go see him at a comedy club just as soon as I would at the Neuroscience Institute. A wonderful 77 year old gay man who lives between New York and the country-side upstate with his partner Fred (of 50 years), he was sharp, crude, witty, and non-stop, even asking at one point, "Do I get paid by the word?". He spoke candidly about sex, religion, fantasy, the imagination, and death, which was a relief from the very intelligent but very dry introduction delivered by the SDSU professor. He was a bit contradictory, but somehow even his contradictions were consistent with the humanism of his overall talk, which in turn re-doubled his authenticity. He assured the audience that, on the cosmic time-line, our lives are nothing but a "fart" (accompanied by the appropriate sound effect). A favorite moment of mine came during the Q&A afterward when a young woman asked, cleverly, if he kept any pictures in his wallet, to which he replied with a momentarily stoic expression, "No, just condoms and viagra".

Me sheepishly getting Duane Michals to autograph my treasured book of his portraits. The inscription says, "Hello Drew, How do yo do?" [sic]. After he signed my book, our conversation turned to his upcoming talk and implored me to "applaud, no matter what."

Jerm Wright - 11/13 @ DEMA

2009-11-04T10:14:00.000-08:00

Upcoming on Friday the 13th, local artist Jerm Wright will be defying superstitions and opening a new show at DEMA in Encinitas. Not only is his work strong on many levels, but his devotion to fostering the arts in San Diego through SDA, ArtWars and other projects makes him an invaluable asset to our community. I have been looking for the pictures of his live art mural at The Andrews Gallery, when I find them I'll put them up on this post. That was a memorable night. Plus I still have the mural, if anyone has any suggestions of what we should do with it, I'm all ears.

We wish him all the best. Go see his show.

UPDATE 11/13:

Found! Pictures of Jerm working his magic at the gallery to the live music of The In-Motion Trio, courtesy of Ms. Amanda Walker.

Br'er / Power Animal

2009-10-27T15:35:00.001-07:00

Come out for Philadelphia-based-experimental-folk-indie-opera rockers Br'er - playing with their friends Power Animal - tomorrow night 10/28 at the gallery, 7:00 PM.

Free show duh.

Click here for the review of their last show at the gallery.

Erwin Dazelle, He Can't Be Stopped

2009-10-26T11:39:00.001-07:00

Coming off of his solo exhibition at The Andrews Gallery in June, French Artist Erwin Dazelle has been named the 2010 Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance [PRWCA} Artist of the Year. We are incredibly proud of Erwin, if unsurprised that his work is quickly gaining the recognition it deserves. This good news comes in conjunction with his recent successful events and exhibitions in Miami, France (Paris & Bayonne) and Monaco.

Click here for the article featuring Erwin Dazelle from the Paso Robles Press.

Click here for the article of Dazelle's new Rolex 24 feature.

Dazelle's new American Site.

CONGRATS ERWIN, we are keeping our eye on you and wishing you all the best.

Of Friends and Brothers

2009-10-25T12:55:00.000-07:00

Culinary Arts by M. Benjamin Maury

Last night was a special opening.

The Hook brothers' work shone, and shines still. So many good friends, old ones and new ones. So many laughs and great talks. It was one of those Saturday nights that make Sunday morning really poetic.

Thank you to everyone who came. Some pictures, following.

Early contemplation of Beauty.

Steven Hook, John Hook

Graced by the mighty Owen Burke

Falcons

On Fire: Best of San Diego

2009-10-21T11:30:00.000-07:00

Zach Hawkins, Gas Can (forthcoming at The Andrews Gallery, 2010)

We are honored to have been nominated by the readers of San Diego CityBeat to the Top Five Best Art Galleries in San Diego. Things have come a long way in just the first year of this project.

Voting for the top spot is open until October 26, and CityBeat will announce the winners in their November 11 issue. Anyone can vote, just go to www.sdcitybeat.com and click the banner at the top to have your say. There are a lot of different sections, look for The Andrews Gallery among the cultural categories on the last page of the survey. Making it into the top five in and of it self means a lot to the gallery, and who knows?

What is for sure is that it is only because of the amazing and diverse artists, musicians, poets, and patrons who have believed in the gallery that we have come this far. It couldn't have happened without you.

Don't miss our opening this Saturday, October 24, 2009. The art is incredible and we will be celebrating in true form.

THANK YOU!!

One Year Anniversary

2009-10-19T11:20:00.001-07:00

We are turning one. Saturday's opening will double as a celebration of our birthday.

I can't believe it really. Right now I'd simply like to thank all of the artists, poets, musicians, and patrons who have contributed to and believed in this project. Your support means a great deal to me. I look forward to many many years to come as the gallery evolves and takes on its new and different forms.

Thanks.

The Hook Brothers: New Works

2009-10-19T10:59:00.000-07:00

Opening Reception: Saturday October 24, 2009 7 PM

Steven Hook, Untitled (Orange and Purple)

John Hook, Horse Skull

We are proud to present the tenacious works of Texas-based emerging artists John and Steven Hook. The two brothers will be in attendance for a reception of their exhibition on Saturday October 24, 2009, which also marks the one-year anniversary of The Andrews Gallery. As usual the event is open to the public. Come enjoy free drinks and the opportunity to discuss these works with the artists themselves.

Steven Hook, Untitled

Steven Hook’s newest work consists of collages based on a variety of concepts. Incorporating components of cubism, abstract expressionism, and graffiti as well as quilted art, these collages approach issues of shape and color in a unique and daring fashion. Sometimes limiting the collage to simple paper cut outs, sometimes interjecting paint and other mediums throughout the tableaux, Hook builds layered and complex optic landscapes. The tessellations and patterns that result from his experience with quilted art and other textiles work to broaden his visual vocabulary. Steven Hook holds his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Boston University’s College of Fine Arts and is currently pursuing his MFA at the University of Huston, Texas.

Steven Hook, Weaves and Grids

John Hook

The abstractions of John Hook are expressive and painterly. His powerful brushstrokes and intricate gesture give his picture planes distinct movement. His work has a sense of atmosphere; despite their almost pure abstract qualities, we feel the weight of a world within them. His intuitive sense of color and form are on display in strength throughout this body of work. John received his Bachelor of Arts from Claremont McKenna College and is currently also working towards his Masters in Huston, TX.

John Hook, Horse Heads

This exhibit will highlight the work of these two brothers, juxtaposing two sets of work that differ greatly in style and execution but which are connected through intriguing and undeniable undercurrents. Join The Andrews Gallery and the Hook Brothers for an exciting an artist reception at the gallery on Saturday October 24, 2009, 7:00 PM.

John Hook, Gourds on Table 2

Thanks SD City Beat!

2009-09-29T13:55:00.000-07:00

From San Diego City Beat RedList 9/24/09

"DIGABLE ART
It's easy to forget that the guy behind the Andrews Gallery, Drew Snyder, is a young'un, still his 20s. But he's single-handedly upped the cultural cache of North County (Andrews is located in Leucadia). On Saturday, Sept. 26, the gallery closes The Language of Abstraction, an exhibition of works by renowned contemporary artist Ron Tomlinson. Snyder likes to do things multimedia, inviting local and touring musical acts to perform at openings and closings. In this instance, it's all about the ladies: Joanie Mendenhall and Angela Correa's Correatown will both be performing. The evening begins at 7 p.m. at 1002 North Coast Highway 101.
www.theandrewsgallery.com"

Click here for the link.

September Newsletter

2009-09-22T12:21:00.000-07:00

http://www.theandrewsgallery.com/newsletter/2009-09/

Check out the September Newsletter. If you aren't on our list yet, you can sign up here.

Image-in Project, Bali: A Charity Art Reception and Auction Saturday October 10, 2009 7:00 PM

2009-09-20T11:47:00.000-07:00

The Andrews Gallery, in conjunction with EvenKiel Photography and A Heart For Children (AHFC), is proud to present a charity art auction of photographic images taken by underprivileged orphans in South East Asia.

The Image-in Project travels to under-developed regions with gathered resources, including donated digital cameras, to provide orphaned and/or abandoned children with the opportunity to experience the artistic and creative art of photography. The children, ages seven and up, are given instruction on not only how to operate the cameras, but also on basic concepts of what makes a good photo, raising their awareness of things such as composition, color, and expression. Over a period of two weeks, the children learn about the fundamentals of photography, and are then set free to creatively shoot pictures in their surrounding environments. The results are staggering. The ability of these young children, who live with such hardship, to capture the people around whom they live, the landscapes in which they have grown up, and the spirit of their own surroundings in an honest and straightforward fashion is truly inspiring.

Once the two week photo shoot is over, the images are brought back to the States and are sold in select events geared towards raising funds to send back to the orphanages where these children can hopefully improve their standard of living. AHFC has already used funds raised from these efforts in 2008 to replace the roof of an orphanage in Bali where over one hundred children were constantly awakened by water falling on them during the night.

The Andrews Gallery invites you to an artist’s reception of the kid’s works on Saturday October 10, 2009 at 7:00 PM where these photos will be featured and sold in a continuation of these efforts. This event is free and open to the public. Everyone is encouraged to come out and experience these images first hand to take a piece of art home in support of this good cause.

Visit AHFC and The Image-in Project to view more images and to learn more background information about these efforts.

A Night of Art and Music For You

2009-09-19T10:43:00.001-07:00

Saturday September 26, 2009 @ 7:00 PM
The Andrews Gallery

In conjunction with the closing of our current featured exhibition The Language of Abstraction, we are excited to be hosting Correatown from Los Angeles and local icon Joanie Mendenhall for a night of good art and sweet songs. The show is free, all ages and open to the public. It's not one of those nights you want to miss...

Click Joanie and Correatown to check out their music.

The Latent Print - A New Arts Journal

2009-09-02T12:43:00.000-07:00

www.thelatentprint.com

Check out this new "Online and Literary Arts Project", which has been gaining a solid momentum since their launch party a month or so back. I appreciate a journal dedicated solely to the arts, lord knows San Diego needs more of them. Keep an eye on this website. Support them how you can, start by spreading the word!

48 Hour Film Project

2009-09-01T10:25:00.000-07:00

The 48 Hour Film Project came to San Diego and the results were pretty amazing. My personal favorite was Hotel San Remo, in the 'Horror' category. After watching it, you'll be impressed that this film, from initial conceptualization to post-production, was created in just two days (they receive the category randomly only at the beginning of the competition). Hats off to director John Grimshaw, as well as the frightening Rimas Morkunas, an acclaimed Lithuanian actor and film maker, Ida Dechaite (who here makes her acting debut), and the three other actors in the film Josee Brisebois, Monica Moon, and Thurman Dalrymple.

Check out the films in the competition here.

Where's our Bergamot Station?

2009-08-16T10:52:00.000-07:00

I spent the last few days wandering around Los Angeles and stopped to see the current shows at Bergamot Station. The obvious perk of this place is that, among the forty or so galleries and artist spaces that are there, you are bound to find something that speaks to you. While I saw plenty of things I liked, my particular favorite had to be the current two-man show at The Gallery of Functional Art.

First there was Chris Mason, who's wire sculptures were on display in the front room. These pieces were a certain homage to the human form. The swirling wires did well to promote the movement of climbing in the otherwise fixed forms. The big figure, frozen in mid-rappel down the gallery wall, was probably most impressive to me, but what worked in the larger format was not lost in the smaller pieces. There is no question that Mason has a solid grasp on things like form and contour, and somehow I get the feeling that the guy has a good sense of humor.

Image from www.thechrismason.com

The second artist on display in The Gallery of Functional Art was painter Martiros Adalian. Having Armenian heritage myself, I was immediately drawn to the -ian suffix of his last name. However (and happily), his paintings were the real draw. I never take a painter like Adalian for granted, and often I think his breed takes a back seat to displays of weaker aesthetics mired in conceptual fog. Not that there isn't fodder for conceptual musing in these paintings (the juxtaposition of regal figures next to vicious K9s for one), but I would argue that the foundation of these works clearly consists of the paint, the forms, and the other various visual elements. The faces in particular have that certain quality of brushstroke that cannot be faked (must be seen in person). Adalian's attention to brushwork as well as to composition for me reinforces the power of representational painting as an art form more honest than realism but more relative than pure abstraction (a shared tenant with current gallery feature Ron Tomlinson's work).

Images from www.adalart.com

There were of course other shows worth seeing at Bergamot. I enjoyed seeing one of Alida Cervantes's portraits prominently displayed at Greenfield Sacks (the image of which is on their homepage). It was, as always, good to see the work of the late Peter Voulkos, which was at the Frank Loyd Gallery. I actually just saw some of the same works at Braunstein/Quay Gallery up in San Francisco and seeing them in a different environment was helpful in getting to know them better. The SMMoA (also housed at Bergamot Station) has an exhibition of Barkley Hendricks, most of which I saw for the first time at the Nasher Museum at Duke University last year. For those who like Hendricks, I would strongly recommend checking out Sedrick Huckaby, another influential up and coming African American painter who's work is seriously mesmerizing (I find him far superior to Hendricks). The Mostly Sculpture (Damn It) exhibition at Samuel Freeman was very intriguing, the wall of wax hammers (pictured below) was a favorite of mine.

All in all, the trip to Bergamot Station will not be a waste of your time. By far the most nagging thought I walked away with from my visit was how badly San Diego is in need of a place like this. From what I have heard, seen, and read, Bergamot Station, originally funded by the City of Santa Monica, has been a serious boon to the art scene in Los Angeles as well as to the overall cultural fabric of Southern California since its conception in 1994. Why has this not yet happened somewhere in San Diego? Don't we have some trendy industrialized location somewhere? Don't we have the funds? The artists? The interest? Any ideas??

Ron Tomlinson: The Language of Abstraction

2009-07-28T14:50:00.000-07:00

August 7 - September 30, 2009

(There is nothing quite like getting up close to one of these paintings.)

The work of Ron Tomlinson has come to San Diego, and we could not be more excited to host him and his paintings at The Andrews Gallery beginning the first week of August.

Do not miss the opening reception at the gallery on Saturday August 8, 2009 7 PM.

We will also present a showcase of Tomlinson's works at Brushworks Studio, located in the Arts Complex at 2400 Kettner Street in Little Italy, just north of downtown San Diego. This event will take place on Thursday August 6, 2009 at 7 PM.

Biography:

Ron Tomlinson was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1945. He holds a Masters of Fine Arts from City University of New York, Brooklyn College, where he studied under the tutelage of Philip Pearlstein. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Boston University, majoring in painting as well as minoring in sculpture and psychology. He attended the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, where he studied also with Philip Pearlstein, as well as other illustrious figures such as Alex Katz, Ben Shahn, and John Cage. He has lectured on his work at various museums and universities, and was a professor of painting, sculpture, and film aesthetics at Texas Wesleyan University. His work is held in both public and private collections throughout the United States and abroad. Tomlinson currently lives and works in Forth Worth, Texas.

We have also published a beautiful catalogue of Tomlinson's work, subtitled The Language of Abstraction, which you can browse and purchase online here.

Here is a reproduction of the catalogue's forword:

They are perhaps not the most obvious things to put together, language and abstraction. After all, language is often construed as the most powerful means we have of lifting ourselves out of abstraction. It is the tool we use to represent, express, and clarify our experience. It is the shining star of our reason. However, the ruse is in the representation. If the function of language is to represent the things of our world, then our words must necessarily be distinct from that which they are meant to describe. Simply put, the word is not the thing; it is merely a description of the thing generated by our reason. In order for language to operate, words must obliterate the uniqueness of things for the sake of categories. In other words, our ability to clarify the world depends upon our ability to abstract it. Ron Tomlinson understands this principle, and deploys it throughout his paintings in an earnest mission to understand the nature of both art and human experience.

Tomlinson’s paintings are neither abstract nor realistic; instead they straddle the two realms. Thanks to his immense technical skill, validated, for example, through his decade-long series of chair paintings, his works all succeed in giving us glimpses of something “real”, be it a pan, a cigar, a motorcycle, or a human being. They all on some level speak the language of recognizable images. However, the means by which he attains such clarity is unequivocally abstract. This is seen through such trademark qualities as his vivid and painterly brushstrokes, his enthralling use of color, and his oft-fractured picture planes. The power of his perspective is rooted in his ability to embrace the true abstraction of our world, and in turn employ it towards a dependable representation of our experience. His vision can be categorically trusted because it is stylistically honest to the nature of art as the practice of putting forth images, i.e. things that, by being representations of real things, are necessarily other than those real things, and thus abstract. Tomlinson’s paintings never force reality upon the viewer. By embracing the abstraction of the world, Tomlinson’s work wears its falseness on its sleeve. In this way does his vision become incorruptible, as opposed to the so-called “real world”, which will always be saturated in doubt because it claims to be real. By representing the real world in its honest and abstract form, Tomlinson’s work offers us a world far more authentic than anything realism could ever offer, while simultaneously surpassing the visual capacity of purely abstract painting. Through Tomlinson’s vision, we are shown that faces are no longer made up universally applicable words stripped of any singularity (i.e., eyes, ears, cheeks, brows), but rather by an intricate combination of contrast, color, line, and form. Tomlinson trades in truth, not symbols. He does not overlook the fact that these physical components are the fundamental building blocks of our experience. These components are the language of abstraction, a language that Ron Tomlinson speaks with the utmost fluency.

Someone could, and I expect will in the future, devote volumes to the life and work of Ron Tomlinson. Just as the majesty of his visual representation breaths life into his paintings, so too has his own magnetic personality ignited wonderment and discovery in countless people throughout the five decades of his career. The well of information that springs from Tomlinson’s brush is deep, and will never run dry. It is in and of itself an inspiration, the consistency with which so many different people have been moved by him and his work, and yet in a way it surprises me little, for the vigor of Tomlinson’s honest and learned vision is there for you to share, for you to make your own.

We are particularly excited that the artist will be joining us both for the opening reception and the downtown showcase. Do not miss the opportunity to view these works and meet this living master. We look forward to seeing you.

Little and Large, In Motion Trio

2009-07-27T13:57:00.000-07:00

Our Little and Large reception at the gallery was a great night. Sander Rosenberg's light installation and complementing bracelet were glowing in the Gallery Room along with a great mix of Andrews Gallery artists. It was the first time we have exhibited multiple artists in the Gallery Room and it all flowed together very nicely, if I do say so myself. In curating the show, we stuck with the Little and Large theme, and it was nice to have a diversity of size among the pieces displayed. As a little bonus, I was excited to preview just a few paintings by our upcoming featured artist Ron Tomlinson.

A serious treat of the night was the In Motion Trio. This is a group of incredibly talented young musicians who played five original improvised jazz compositions in the Studio Room. We have a recording of the night which I will post soon. The group came back and did a show the next week with artist Jeremey Wright doing live painting. Stay tuned for pictures of that night as well.

Mañanaland's San Diego Debut w/ Joanie Mendenhall and Jesse Bowen

2009-07-14T14:40:00.001-07:00

In addition to working at the gallery, I've also been working with some amazing friends on a little musical project we've named mañanaland (not to be confused with some Jimmy Buffet wannabe dude). Come check out the show Thursday with Jesse Bowen and the lovely Joanie Mendenhall.

Sander Rosenberg: Little & Large

2009-07-06T12:37:00.000-07:00

Event Details: Saturday July 18, 2009 7:00 PM at The Andrews Gallery.

In conjunction with the San Diego Visual Arts Network and over 40 other exhibition venues throughout San Diego County, The Andrews Gallery is pleased to welcome sculptor Sander Rosenberg to the gallery room in the promotional exhibition for the San Diego Museum of Art, Little and Large.

The show, inspired by the Calder Jewelry show at the SDMA which opens July 25, calls for sculptors to make one piece of jewelry and a corresponding piece of sculpture. Rosenberg, exhibiting his trademark inclination towards an innovative and technologically savvy aesthetic, has designed a bracelet adorned with beads in which he implanted LEDs, and has forged a sleek chandelier with similar materials to accompany it. We are particularly proud that Rosenberg's piece has been selected for use during the Little and Large Launch Party and Fashion Show at the Sīrĕn 4th Floor pool deck of the Sè Hotel in downtown San Diego on July 8. The event will be MC'ed by Radio Host Philly Joe Swendoza and will feature runway models displaying a selection of jewelery made for Little and Large.

The Andrews Gallery will host its own reception for Sander Rosenberg at the gallery on Saturday July 18th, 2009. The event will kick off at 7pm and will feature not only Rosenberg's bracelet and chandelier, but also select Andrews Gallery artists and live jazz music by the In Motion Trio. This event, as always, is free and open to the public. See you there!

Visit the SDVAN Website for more information on Little and Large.

Oh July...

2009-07-02T16:29:00.000-07:00

Ron Tomlinson, Still Life with Red Cup

Long overdue post.

Erwin Dazelle's exhibition is getting ready to enter its last week of display, and thus far I've been impressed and pleased with the give and take between members of our community and Mr. Dazelle's works. He came from a region of France that is, as I have written below, very much like our own, and spent a nice sejour in our area. His stay here only reinforced my conviction of the similarity between the French Basque Country and San Diego, for he reiterated to me many times how at home he felt here, and how much he loved our city. Likewise, it's been a pleasure to bring someone from far away to San Diego County for the benefit of everyone in our community.

Ron Tomlinson, Veronese with Harley

With June behind us we are busy getting ready for our very special upcoming featured artist Ron Tomlinson. Tomlinson, a verteran artist and alumni of New York City during the sixties, creates works of a caliber that is difficult to do justice in words (although you will undoubtedly see me try in the coming weeks). Suffice it for now to say that the paintings are here, they are alive, and they will be on display very soon. Look for the official public opening to happen on Saturday August 8th at the gallery, as well as a satellite exhibit at the Brushworks Studio in Little Italy. The images in this post are just a few of Mr. Tomlinson's the paintings that we will be exhibiting in the weeks and months ahead.

Ron Tomlinson, Cigars

I look forward to all the goings on this summer, and remind you all to swing by the gallery and say hello. There are still Banjukes to be had, and so many wonderful paintings of all ranges by our talented selection of artists. Also, there are a few slots available for painting sessions in the studio room, so if you feel like tapping into your creativity this summer, The Andrews Gallery is the place to do it.

A la tienne!

2009-06-13T11:43:00.000-07:00

Saturday June 13, 2009 - 7PM @ The Andrews Gallery.

Opening reception tonight for Erwin Dazelle's debut exhibition in the United States, Inside the Wine. See a preview of the show here. He came out all the way from France for the vernissage and is currently somewhere in Oceanside on the hunt for some new all American Boots. Hopefully he'll succeed before the show tonight.

Click here for directions to The Andrews Gallery.

See you tonight!

They Came, They Saw, They Conqured

2009-06-10T13:28:00.000-07:00

Big Tree just hit the road, and I am reflecting on how great it was to have them here. Last night was easily some of the best music we have ever had in the gallery. Frankly I'll be shocked if they don't make it big. And its so good to have old friends visit in new places. Such good music, such good guys.

Thanks to the band and to everyone who came out.

Some pictures, in reverse order:

Loading out

After hours
Passing out percussion to the audience
Crowd
Tom

BIG TREE @ THE ANDREWS GALLERY

2009-06-08T16:18:00.000-07:00

TUESDAY JUNE 9, 2009 @ 7:00PM

New York-based "wonder" band Big Tree will be playing the gallery tomorrow as part of their current West Coast Tour. As always, show is free, all ages, and open to the public. You will not want to miss the opportunity to see these musical savants play their sweet songs in a setting of art and good cheer. The backdrop? Large scale, hand painted throwbacks to the old French style Chat Noir posters, done by none other than our current featured artist Erwin Dazelle.

"Wonder is what comes out of this curious group. Wonder. Big hearted wonder... Big Tree reminds us that the world is ready for experiencing." - Indiemonday.com, 2008

Check them out here: Big Tree.

Saturdays of May - Series Finale, Owen Burke, Overview

2009-06-01T10:55:00.000-07:00

Outside shot during our Series Finale, May 30.

Matt Curreri and Joanie Mendenhall playing their closing set with Keli Ross Ma'u (not pictured). These two dedicated a great deal of time and effort to make these shows the success they were, and whats more I have a feeling they had fun doing it. These fine artists have brought something special to the gallery, and they have my gratitude for it.

For those of you who missed the shows and haven't heard their music, check it out for yourself: Matt | Joanie. Their CDs are a gift to your ears, I suggest you buy them (on itunes, Lou's Records, and elsewhere).

On this last night, the public got to experience the display and demonstration of Mr. Owen Burke's amazing hand made artisan instruments. The word of the night was "wow" as people crossed the threshold of the gallery to soak in the staggering wall o' Ukes [Etc].

The installation will be up for another week, if I were you I would not pass up the opportunity to see them all in their full display.

The man of the hour, Mr. Owen Burke.

We also heard from local act Orange Electric, a great new group [with a rather stunning drummer].

Lead singer of Oranage Electric Amanda Walker with Andrews Gallery artist Michael Meleck, whose photography has earned high marks for its scrupulous attention to light, exposure and composition.

The goal of this series was to gather a rolling momentum as we put forth to the community over the course of a month a diverse selection of San Diego artists all flexing their imaginations through different avenues in an open environment of stimulation and creativity. The result was magic. Every show was free and open to the public, and all of the artists magnanimously participated for next to nothing. To see so many talented musicians and poets perform on a backdrop of such stimulating art was a true pleasure for me, and from what I've heard time and time again, it was a boon to every member of our community.

I see this series as a not insignificant and material testament to the true potential of the San Diego community to embrace the arts in a relevant way. I want to thank all of the artists who helped make it possible, and to all of you who came out to enjoy the shows.

And by no means is this the end. Mark your calendars for the upcoming dates:

June 9th we will be graced with a performance by Big Tree, an awe inspiring musical ensemble from New York City. Then on June 13 we will host painter Erwin Dazelle from the French Basque Country for his debut exhibition in the Unite States, A la tienne! Inside the Wine, which is our June Gallery Room feature. Stay tuned for more information.

North County Art Happenings Saturday 5/30

2009-05-30T10:28:00.000-07:00

Be sure not to miss the finale of our Saturdays of May series TONIGHT @ 7PM.

Also, there is a cool gallery in Oceanside called the Swiv Tackle Circus that has their first photography opening tonight. The show is called Get Gone. You can find more info here.

If I were you, I'd make it a night of art in North County San Diego. Do it!

Ukes Etc - The Handcrafted Artisan Instruments of Owen Burke

2009-05-29T13:03:00.001-07:00

Owen Burke has been making and playing musical instruments for over two decades, breaking barriers and exhibiting high levels of innovation with his various creations. His intimate familiarity with a diverse selection of materials and the sounds they produce has resulted in a spectacular body of work, a selection of which we are proud to display in the gallery today. Mr. Burkes instruments are celebrated in venues ranging from museums to concert halls, a testament to the exceptional quality of their artistry and sound.

THE BANJUKE

Takes five

minutes to learn,

takes a lifetime to master.

The Banjuke, Mr. Burke’s latest simple 4-string hybrid innovation, has spurred a heated interest among all who’ve used them, appealing to both novice and weathered musician alike. The Banjukes are meant above all to be played; to be taken anywhere and used everywhere: the park, the beach, a picnic, your bedroom. They are light, gentle, portable, durable, and versatile (doubles as a drum), giving you the opportunity to have live music by your side at all times.

Do not miss the finale of the Saturdays of May with Matt Curreri. We'll be demonstrating these fine instruments along with hearing performances by Matt Curreri & Keli Ross Ma'u (on steeldrums) and local ensemble Orange Electric.

As always, show is free, all ages, and open to the public. 7PM. See you there.

Erwin Dazelle and The Andrews Gallery on FrenchCulture.org

2009-05-28T16:34:00.000-07:00

The French Embassy is on to us! Check it out here.

6 x 6 Poetry Reading

2009-05-19T13:27:00.001-07:00

Taken from an idea of poetry readings started by poets Sonnet Graham and Jeffrey McDaniels a few years back in New York, we are very excited about the first installment of our very own 6 x 6 Poetry Night, featuring twelve diverse and talented poets from all over San Diego County (well... one coming down from Los Angeles). We have put together six men and six women, and will alternate male/female with each poet reading for 6 minutes. This reading is in conjunction with our current series The Saturdays of May with Matt Curreri, and will also feature live music by Mr. Curreri & The Exfriends and Joanie Mendenhall.

Saturday, May 23rd @ The Andrews Gallery.

The night begins at 7PM and the performances will run until 10:30PM

A list of our participating poets:

- Amy Dixon
- Morgan Fritz
- Tomas Gayton
- K. Lorraine Graham
- Michael Horvitz
- Tomas Lucero
- Brad McMurrey
- Michael Meleck
- Camille Tallon
- Frank Tangherlini
- Gabriela Anaya Valdepeña, Winner of this year's San Diego Book Award for Best Poetry, for her book "Roses of Crimson Fire", written in collaboration with the Bay area poet Richard Denner.
- Amanda Walker

As always, this event is free and open to the public. Drinks and light food compliments of The Andrews Gallery.

SEE YOU THERE!

The Importance of Art - SDFAS

2009-05-17T14:27:00.001-07:00

I just saw, per a San Diego Fine Art Society tweet (SDFASnews), a rather nice article/write up on what looks to be a new series of shows called Sunset Sundays. You can find the story here. I love the idea and look forward to it continuing.

May Series Continues

2009-05-17T11:08:00.000-07:00

Last night's the third installment of our current series The Saturdays of May with Matt Curreri was an amazing success. John Meeks, equipped with his trusty capo, played a beautiful set to a mesmerized crowd. Also his band deserves a special mention; they are a pleasure to listen to as well as to hang with. The Exfriends' set was a rowdy one as they were accompanied by their long lost 5th member Ray Suen, who's been away tour with The Killers. 'Happy When I'm Gone' was my favorite. There will be video footage coming shortly.

We are a little behind on our photo uploads but here are some choice pics from the second night of our series. Stay tuned for more pictures and video of last night. AND, do not miss next week's show - the 4th - as it promises to be perhaps the best show yet, with the debut of the much anticipated 6 x 6 reading. Thank you to all who have come out and supported this series with such remarkable enthusiasm. More is on the way, let the momentum continue.

Jill Bolte Taylor

2009-05-15T14:42:00.000-07:00

I found this story, which was re-played today on Fresh Air, rather compelling.

Click here for the link.

Its something I think that everyone can relate to, not necessarily just artists or scientists. In fact I liked it because for me it spoke to, among other things, the relationship between those two fields, which are often cast in a contrasting light.

Video Clip

2009-05-13T19:47:00.000-07:00

Matt Curreri and Keli Ross Ma'u in the Gallery performing Dirty Stayout. Dig the steel drums.

Three Guys Who Paint

2009-05-06T17:39:00.001-07:00

New exhibition up at the Encinitas Library entitled Three Guys Who Paint featuring the works of local artists Kevin Anderson and Micaiah Hardison as well as gallery owner Drew Snyder. The show will hang through May. For those of you who haven't been, its a good opportunity to visit the library, which has sweeping views of the water and is all in all a beautiful building. Located behind city hall off Vulcan and E street (or something like that).

Be sure to stop by, take a look, and give us your feedback!

May Series Opening Night

2009-05-03T18:51:00.000-07:00

Last night we kicked off the the Saturdays of May with Matt Curreri to a full house. Matt's set with Keli was something totally new and was very well received. The steel drums were an excellent addition to Mr. Curreri's standard charm...and it doesn't hurt that Keli is a musical magician. I think the best part is that he transforms them from being some kind of cliché sound to having some real substance and intricacy.

Some choice shots from the night...

Floyd's show is looking spectacular in the Gallery Room

Thanks to The Perry Edwards for a great show.

And thanks to everyone who came out: hope you had a great night. Let us know what you think, we are always interested in your feedback. AND for those of you who weren't there...there are four more to come, so you have a chance to redeem yourself.

Write-Up in the Reader

2009-04-30T23:04:00.000-07:00

Check out the write-up of our May series in the San Diego Reader here.

Eric Phleger Gallery

2009-04-30T00:41:00.001-07:00

How could I resist mentioning a brand new (and by the looks of it very slick) fine art gallery right here in Leucadia. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Phleger himself, and he is a good man. This new gallery is not three blocks from The Andrews Gallery, on the south side of Leucadia Blvd on Coast Hwy 101. If I were you I would make May 2nd a night of art in Leucadia; the opening of their inagural show In a Different Light will take place from 6-8pm. We get started here at The Andrews Gallery with our series opener of The Saturdays of May with Matt Curreri at 7pm. You could even squeeze in a dinner at Le Papagayo? I think you could, and would be happy for doing it.

All the best to the Eric Phleger Gallery. Check out their website here.

The Saturdays of May with Matt Curreri - Official Schedule

2009-04-15T11:23:00.000-07:00

"Comme on voit sur la branche au moi de Mai la rose" - Ronsard

Wow I love that quote, and as it is a rather beautiful homage to the month of May, I felt it was all too appropriate to inscribe onto this screen thus.

I am very pleased to officially announce our extraordinary five-event series The Saturdays of May with Matt Curreri, where we will feature explosions of art, music, poetry and much more all for you, all for free, all at The Andrews Gallery.

[Was that too rhythmic?]

The calendar this year has graced us with not four but five Saturdays in May, giving us not four but five golden opportunities to experience different combinations of visual art, music, poetry and more all in a Bacchic celebration and promotion of the Arts in our lives and in our communities. These events, like all of the events held at The Andrews Gallery, are for the express purpose of providing a venue for anyone and everyone to come participate and enjoy themselves in an environment of creativity and imagination. Accordingly, all events are free, all ages, and open to the public.

This series in particular is geared towards highlighting the tremendous talent that exists right here at home in San Diego County, and in particular the young and emerging. While The Andrews Gallery represents and works with artists from various locations throughout the world, all the participants in this series are current residents of San Diego and are working in one way or another to have San Diego live up to its potential as a thriving community for the arts.

So following is the official schedule and below that will be profiles of the various participants for you to browse and investigate further.

The sounds of Matt Curreri along with…

5/2 (SERIES OPENER) – Steel drum virtuoso Keli Ross-Ma’u and local music group The Perry Edwards. On display in the Studio Room: San Diego emerging visual artist Andre Couturier and his new series of prints entitled Guys and Dolls.

5/9 – The Exfriends and the prodigious abstractions of San Diego painter Floyd Elmore. Elmore’s new show Obstacle Illusion is a May Gallery Room feature.

5/16 – The Exfriends and the formidable John Meeks

5/23 – The Exfriends and the debut of the 6x6 Poetry Series, where a diverse selection of 12 talented San Diego County poets will each read for 6 minutes. Special musical guest: Joanie Mendenhal.

5/30 (SERIES CLOSER) – Orange Electric. On Display and being demonstrated: Ukes Etc, the artistic handcrafted string instruments of San Diego native Owen Burke.

Each event will begin at 7:00PM at The Andrews Gallery. While we do not specify an end time, all live music will end by 10:30PM at the latest.

Participants:

First and foremost, there is Mr. Matt Curreri himself, along with his band The Exfriends. I haven't ever met anyone who has heard Matt's records without loving them, and subsequently the mastermind behind them. I don't know, you just sort of fall in love with the guy (see: his keys player). Musically, its the kind of thing where you can just leave the album in the car CD player for four months without even realize that four months has gone by since you changed music. I did so with his 2003 acclaimed album How to Play the Songs of Matt Curreri, which was recorded in some Chinatown basement where Matt lived in Manhattan (ironically, the place burned down a few weeks ago - end of an era, amen). Metronomes were banished for that album, and I say all the better. One way or the other, with this album unambiguously vindicates his title as "Sweet Mathew" (track 2). He the moved to San Diego where he formed The Exfriends with some local geniuses who polished themselves up a bit and released two more albums, Excersize Music for the Lonely (2006) and the more recent Joy of Life (2008), both to critical acclaim. These albums, all released on Brooklyn-based City Salvage Records, and the amazing live presence that went along with them, earned them high kudos from the San Diego Union Tribune, who dubbed them "one of San Diego's best indie bands" in 2008. One great thing about this series, is that Matt (along with all other participants) will not only be playing, but also hanging out and enjoying the other performances. I strongly encourage everyone to chat Matt up, he is so articulate and always willing to hold a conversation, no matter how petty the topic. The Andrews Gallery is very proud to be hosting Matt as the centerpiece of this new mixed-media artistic series extravaganza that promises to be no small revolution. Do your ears a service and check out Matt Currier and the Exfriends here.

Keli Ross-Ma’u is currently one of the premiere Steel Drum musicians in Southern California. He has been playing music professionally since he was eleven years old, beginning in his father’s band Semisi and FulaBula. While equally accomplished on the keyboard and bass guitar, Keli honed his abilities as a composer, band leader, and mentor of music at Trinity College, Connecticut, and through his extensive international travel. After receiving his BA with honors in Music in 2005, he began a lecture series on the Steel Pan at high schools and educational committees in Wellington and Christchurch, New Zealand, University of the South Pacific in Fiji, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, and Münster, Germany. Keli’s style is eclectic, featuring strong backgrounds in funk, jazz, classical, Latin, and the unique Pacific island groove from his father’s Tongan heritage. He introduced the steel sound of the Caribbean into FulaBula when he was sixteen, but found the opportunity in 2004 to immerse himself in the culture and people of Trinidad and Tobago where the Steel Pan originated. Keli studied and practiced with a Steel Pan Orchestra called Pamberi in San Juan, Trinidad, and participated in the Panorama competitions during the season of Carnival. Pamberi later that year was the gracious voice for an eight-minute memorial piece composed and conducted by Keli called Dancing Ashes. Check out his website here.

Andre Couturier Maitret is a San Diego native of many hats, exploring the areas of fine art, design, illustration, and digital media. Nouveau Pop, Andre's latest series, is a digital illustration print series of his collection showing the force of love, through warm toned compositions and contrasting illustrations achieved through a finesse of technology and creativity. 2008 exhibits displaying Andre's recent achievements and work include: "North Park Festival of the Arts", winner "Best Print/Drawing" and "Most Popular Vote" 2008; "Ray at Night" North Park; "More Super Sundays" Hillcrest; "Colosseum Fine Arts Gallery" and "Kettner Nights" Little Italy; "Airport Lounge" Little Italy; "Gelato Vero" Mission Hills; and currently "Saks 5th Ave" Fashion Valley.

Hailing from the beaches of North County San Diego, The Perry Edwards are the band to watch in 2009. Hints of psychedelic, blues, and modern indie rock can all be found in the sound that is so unique to this 4 person band. Besides an all star line up featuring talent like Will Mahlan, Tommy Graf, and the brother's Sean and Justin Sanders, The Perry Edwards also boast high energy shows and brilliant songwriting, and with a name like that, they must go good.Check out their music here.

I am very excited about our May Gallery Room featured Floyd Elmore and his exhibition of brand new works entitled Obstacle Illusion. Elmore, originally from upstate New York, is a current resident of San Diego with work in private collections all over the world. His abstractions are as powerful as his personality. I'll let his bio speak for itself (its a good read).

John Meeks is someone who I am particularly pleased is participating. I first had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Meeks perform at a series of shows put on by Sezio (who are awesome) at the Luce Loft. He endeared himself to my heart with his sort of contemporary twists on a Hank Williams Sr kind of sound. And it just so happens that his band is incredible, equipped with honeyed bends on the lead guitar, a bass n' drums dynamic that is solid as a rock, and a fiddle as the cherry on top. I can't wait to see what the art looks like as the back drop to these sounds. Check John's music out here.

Ok on May 23rd we are premiering a brand new poetry series at The Andrews Gallery. This series is modeled after a series which I frequented often that was put on by a wonderful poet in New York named Jeffrey McDaniel on the campus of Sarah Lawrence College. The series is called 6x6 and will feature twelve poets reading for six minutes each. The master list of poets is still being formulated, but I assure you it promises to be a diverse crowd, people of all ages and styles. Won't want to miss this one.

What to say about the beautiful Joanie Mendenhall? Her performances are sobering. Hearing her euphonious voice only instills the desire to hear it again. She'll destroy you with her wit and then promptly melt you with her smile. Am I being too poetic? Hardly. After years of lending her skills as sidewoman and collaborator to acclaimed southern California indie acts such as The Exfriends, Correatown Joanie Mendenhall went back to her roots with the release of her solo album ON A STRING, Joanie’s most ambitious work to date. The San Diego Union Tribune has lauded praises on Joanie and her new project, asserting that ON A STRING “combines pop smarts with a keen melodic sense and an inviting old-school sensibility that favors patience and quality over slick formulas and audio artifice”. Whoever wrote that knows what they are talking about. The thing about Joanie is that she is a trained classical pianist who can light up the likes of Schubert or Bach. This bedrock foundation provided the grounds for a pop album that is far more dynamic than most. Co-producer and engineer Ben Moore (Switchfoot, Anoushka Shankar, Rob Crow of Pinback) brought impeccable production standards to the project, while multi-instrumentalists Ray Suen (The Killers, Louis XIV) and the gifted Tyler Ward helped Joanie flesh out the arrangements and create the lush and unpredictable sound of ON A STRING. Like on her 2004 debut album, Joanie again moonlights on several different instruments (piano, guitar, bass, and vibraphone), while Suen and Ward shine on drums, upright bass, violin, and guitar. ON A STRING earned Joanie her fifth consecutive San Diego Music Awards nomination, as a 2008 “Best Pop Album” finalist. Last but not least, the cover art is perfectly apt for the album (I love it when things come full circle). Check her out here.

Local music act Orange Electric are a rowdy bunch of emerging artists and musicians who have no small dose of talent and, at least for the drummer, good looks. Come check out their chops on closing night.

Owen Burke moved to San Diego in the fabled summer of 69 and, after fleeing war torn Detroit, found himself in a garden paradise free to pursue the arts. As a painter, musician, sculptor, mixed-media artist and sometime self described "ditch digger", he paved the path for his current practice of hand crafting a series of aesthetically striking and sonorous stringed instruments. He has steered his focus primarily towards the Ukulele, saying plainly of the four stringed instrument: "I just love the ukulele, I think everyone should play one, because everyone probably could". The accesibility of the Ukulele peaked his interest, and the rest is history. He has been on the forefront of crafting the hybrid Banjuke, which (I can personally attest) is perhaps one of the most addicting instruments you will ever lay your hands on, whether you are a musician or not. Check Owen's work out here.

AND WITH THAT, all I have to say is, do not miss these events. Come enjoy the parties, the free drinks, the amazing artists, and, of course, the powerful art. The Andrews Gallery is deeply grateful to all those who chose to support it and the arts in general. It doesn't work without you. I'll keep updating these profiles (especially the poets) as we near the date. See you then.

Be a Visionary. Buy Art.

Over the Weekend: Musical Marvals @ The Andrews Gallery

2009-04-14T20:03:00.000-07:00

This weekend bore witness to two incredible live music performances at the gallery. With the beautiful works of Jesse Hensel still gracing the walls of the Gallery Room, we ushered in Austin, TX-based indie phenomenon The Frontier Brothers on Friday night and the avant-gard ensemble Br'er on Saturday. With the help of all the art, the free drinks, and the newly painted red wall, the two acts had everyone who came mesmerized.

The two bands couldn't have been more different. The Frontier Brothers played a rather explosive show, staying consistent with their reviews of having a "thrilling cinematic intensity". We had a great turn out, packing the gallery with well over 100 people. There was some video shot by our favorite Lithuanian actor and film maker Rimas Morkūnas, and we will post the footage of the night soon.

Saturday night was a last minute show, where we featured Br'er, an expirimental/ acoustic/ folk band all the way from Philadelphia. This utterly graceful foursome featured operatic vocals, cellos, violins and a variety of other diverse intsruments, including one of those saws that is played by a bow.

[Br'er ate Karina's 7 minutes before their set. See evidence above]

This band is a new favorite of mine and I encourage everyone to check out their website. I wish them much luck as they finish up their tour (still have a way to go!) Their dates are listed online and if you happen to be in the same town as them, I would highly recommend making their show.

All-in-all the weekend's rain could not thwart all the good energy and wonderful times had during these events here in Leucadia at The Andrews Gallery. We deeply thank all of those who came out to enjoy the festivities and support the Gallery. Again, we could not exist without your vision.

LOOK OUT for The Saturdays of May with Matt Curreri (official schedule coming very very soon).

Crazy Wall Animation

2009-04-07T13:13:00.000-07:00

I love this video, its mesmerizing. Check out their website here. Thanks to my friend Kate for sharing.

A Night of Art And Music For You

2009-04-01T15:32:00.000-07:00

Friday April 10, 2009 @ 7:00PM

We have officially extended the display dates of 'The Rising Son' into April, giving all of you who have not yet experienced this show to come soak it in. And for those of you who have, I have a feeling you'll be back.

On April 10th, we will host another one of our epic events. We are in the process of making some changes to the Studio Room which promise to turn out good. The real treat of Friday is that we will be appealing to more than one of your senses. On top of all of the visual nurishment that we provide, we will feed your ears with the Austin, TX-based indie phenomenon The Frontier Brothers. They are currently on a West Coast Tour, and have made The Andrews Gallery their southern most stop. Dubbed “the love child of Randy Newman and Stephen Malkmus" by the Dallas Observer (Oct. 16, 2008), “doggedly interesting time and again” by the Huston Chronicle (Oct 10, 2008), and as having a “thrilling cinematic intensity” by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Dec. 24, 2008), you wont want to miss these galactic rockers who claim to be visiting from another world? Check them out on MySpace or on their website.

The night is all ages, open to the public, and free. We put these events on so that the community has a stimulating venue to experience the arts and engage with each other. We encourage everyone to come, to be a visionary, and to support the arts at The Andrews Gallery in the ways that you can.

Gallery Shots

2009-03-30T17:22:00.001-07:00

A few shots from the night of the opening party for The Rising Son, March 6th. Studio Room on top, Gallery room on bottom. We went out on a limb with the Christmas lights in the Studio and I must say, they turned out awesome.

Updates!

2009-03-23T11:00:00.000-07:00

A few changes to the schedule are being considered and a big event is in the works for the entire month of May. Because of the incredibly strong response that we have received regarding our current feature, The Rising Son, we will be extending the dates into April, giving those of you who have since missed out to come and enjoy this time defying exhibtion.

As was mentioned above, May is shaping up to be an exciting month at The Andrews Gallery. In a Bacchic celebration of the days getting longer and the weather getting warmer, we plan to put on a series of free events open to the public with erruptions of music, art, dance, and poetry. These events will be loosely centered around Matt Curreri and The Exfriends, a musical ensemble that has been dubbed "one of San Diego's best indie bands" by the San Diego Union Tribune (2008). Matt has played at the gallery before, and we are excited at the opportunity to showcase some new projects of his in a series of shows. In conjunction with these performances, each night will have something new in store for the community to enjoy and partake in. The Exfriends will share the stage with other local musical acts. We will showcase San Diego local painter Floyd Elmore as a new feature. We will premier a brand new poetry series with readings from a diverse selection of San Diego County poets. We will fuse art and music in highlighting the work of San Diego local Owen Burke, who's hand crafted instruments display stunning levels of artistry, craftmanship, and sound. We will do these things and much more, with the same ol' good cheer and fun times that have come to define our events.

The details are being worked out as we speak, and we will post a full schedule with all of the specifics very soon. As always at The Andrews Gallery, these events will be free and open to the public. The purpose of these events is simple: to encourage and promote the arts in our community, and to provide a venue for anyone and everyone to engage with eachother in an environment of stimulation and FUN. If you are interested in participating or have ideas, LET US KNOW.

Into a Thousand Parts Divide one Man, / And Make Imaginary Puissance

2009-03-21T11:57:00.000-07:00

"Enter Chorus

Chorus: O for a Muse of fire, that would ascend
The brightest heaven of invention,
A kingdom for a stage, princes to act
And monarchs to behold the swelling scene!
Then should the warlike Harry, like himself,
Assume the port of Mars; and at his heels,
Leash'd in like hounds, should famine, sword and fire
Crouch for employment. But pardon, and gentles all,
The flat unraised spirits that have dared
On this unworthy scaffold to bring forth
So great an object: can this cockpit hold
The vasty fields of France? or may we cram
Within this wooden O the very casques
That did affright the air at Agincourt?
O, pardon! since a crooked figure may
Attest in little place a million;
And let us, ciphers to this great accompt,
On your imaginary forces work.
Suppose within the girdle of these walls
Are now confined two mighty monarchies,
Whose high upreared and abutting fronts
The perilous narrow ocean parts asunder:
Piece out our imperfections with your thoughts;
Into a thousand parts divide one man,
And make imaginary puissance;
Think when we talk of horses, that you see them
Printing their proud hoofs i' the receiving earth;
For 'tis your thoughts that now must deck our kings,
Carry them here and there; jumping o'er times,
Turning the accomplishment of many years
Into an hour-glass: for the which supply,
Admit me Chorus to this history;
Who prologue-like your humble patience pray,
Gently to hear, kindly to judge, our play.

Exit Chorus."

Not to be one of those people who starts by citing the entire choral prologue of Henry V. Maybe late Saturday mornings just have this effect on me. After reading the passage again, this incredible feeling descends on me; that this here prologue is the only way he could have begun the play. As if he had no other option. As if anything else would have been impossible.

Shakespeare might just be my favorite painter.

The Rising Son, Continued

2009-03-11T12:04:00.000-07:00

You know what I like about our March Featured Artist Jesse Hensel? He doesn't just open doors, he builds them. Out of scrap and driftwood. Its a funny metaphor for the new show.

Time is a foggy thing, a thing seemingly impossible to, say, hold in your hand. I think good art is aware of this problem. I am always looking for work that conveys the movement of time while simultaneously acknowledging itself as a static or fixed thing. (For example, a book which at once tells the story of a character's entire life while at the same time collects dust on your bookshelf). The new show up in the gallery room does just this. The wild collision of innovation and empiricism in The Rising Son produces a snap-shot of Time itself, somehow causing thousands of years to suddenly become tangible and contemporary. The contradiction formed from this notion is a powerful result of the primitive modernity put forth by this show. I don't mean to attach too much complexity to the word "contemporary", I just mean that the whole thing feels present and new, even though it is saturated with bygone methods and materials. This must be what the artist means when he speaks to his art as forming "archaic bridges".

Indeed Time for me is a central theme of Hensel's overall project, and its a theme which is currently manifesting itself forcefully in the gallery. The Present, as a concept, has always been something that fascinates me if only for the fact that I do not see how it exists other than as a concept. No sooner do moments occur than do they become moments of the past. Even when people talk about the importance of living in the present, they often refer to or rely upon things they said just minutes earlier, in a way undermining themselves. Once we acknowledge this perpetual transfer of moments into the bank of time past, it becomes excruciatingly difficult to pinpoint the present. The Rising Son, by combining the forces of tradition and creative impulse, helps me grasp the present in a rather new and wonderful way.

The fleeting and elusive nature of the Present points to our experience as straddling two realms: the past lived through our memory, and the future lived through our imagination. And while I am not claiming in the least to understand the faculties of our imagination or memory, I can say that I feel more comfortable with these concepts than I do with a suddenly estranged Present that I thought I knew so well. When the expectation of knowledge is absent, we feel comfortable with our ignorance. Things that are definitively impossible to know grant us a freedom from the necessity of understanding, a necessity by which we are all in some way tortured. In unearthing this contradiction, The Rising Son achieves a self-awareness that releases us from the burden of needing to know and understand the art. While there might be a particular story behind the individual pieces, they are all constructed in such a raw yet thoughtful manner that they give us the opportunity to simply enjoy the physicality and life they exude. In enjoying those things, I end up enjoying myself. Strange how that works.

Come to The Andrews Gallery and take a break from knowing things, on us.

The Rising Son

2009-03-03T00:01:00.001-08:00

Reception fiesta Friday March 6, 2009 7:00PM @ The Andrews Gallery. All are welcome.

Directions.

Jesse is here and the show is breathing in the gallery. The room expands and deflates with the rhythm of this art's respiration. Look forward to seeing you, and look out.

Buying Art

2009-03-01T16:15:00.000-08:00

Ok ok ok, it is perhaps no secret that I myself am a painter and gallery owner, and so obviously I want you to buy the art that I create and represent. However, it is my hope that you will forgive me this bias, see past it, and seriously consider what I write here. This post means to enumerate the far reaching and compounding benefits caused by when you buy art, and hopefully this fact will enable you to be ok with my compromised position.

Disclaimer (2): This post operates under the fundamental opinion that Art is a positive force for any and every community. If you dispute this claim, I urge you to post comments as to why.

If you agree that having a strong Arts presence is an enhancing and desired quality, then you must see buying art as one of the most powerful means of attaining and sustaining such a presence.

I heard a woman on the radio the other day say that every artist is a small business. This way of thinking is a simple revolution. For too long too many see artists as the anti-business people, and this false distinction has worked to create a block in normal people's minds when it comes to buying art. In fact, I would go so far as to say that it has created disdain in the mind of many artists for the idea of marketing and promoting their own work. This is a tragedy, because self-promotion is essential for any artist looking to further their career. The most household names of Art History, particularly in the last century, have been people who tirelessly promoted their own projects (Picasso, Warhol, et al.). Good artists, like everyone else, should know that their fates are up to them, and that moreover it is no contradiction to their art or their principles for them to seek sales. Furthermore, people who are in a position to buy art should actively look for artist in whom they believe and make the choice to support them.

Parenthetically, I make an effort to say good artists because I am not, and no one should be, a supporter of making art for the sole end of making money. I would never advocate for such a base project. And the success of "commercial art" (i.e. art that has no aesthetic value but that people are willing to buy because it is for lack of a better word "safe" - see your nearest Holiday Inn) should be seen as an object of disdain to everyone. Indeed, the most effective way of combating such a relentless evil is by supporting that which is worth supporting. In that way you undermine shallow artistic ventures while bolstering those that are substantive.

That anyone in a position to buy art should actively look to do so has implications over and above the simple idea of a deserving artist getting paid. Art, unlike say hot dogs, and artists, unlike hot dog vendors, have a compacting effect on the quality of the community at large. Contextualized in economic terms, when you buy from a vendor, that vendor's business is bolstered, and (it is hoped) he or she then injects more capital back into the market place. This is good for the community, and there is no reason to suspect that this chain reaction is not set in motion when art is bought. But more so, buying good art encourages good artists to keep working, and this, if sustained, creates a flow of creativity and innovation that can be rewarding for a community in ways that money cannot buy.

The same goes for artistic establishments. In fact, even more so, because real art galleries make it their job to give to the community at large artists whom they deem particularly strong and worthwhile. As mechanisms that actively look for and seek to expose those who are exhibiting high levels of creativity, art galleries offer a source of culture and expansion to everybody. The more support they receive, the more resources they have to execute their missions. Most galleries have mission statements. Read them. Support the galleries who's missions you find worth supporting.

If good art enhances a community, what might it do to a household?

So far, mentioning artists, artistic establishments, and the community, I have only to discuss one last and most paramount beneficiary of you buying art. That is, you. I want to argue that there are few better feelings on this planet than becoming a Patron of something you respect, of knowing that you enabled someone you appreciate to continue what they do, and above all, to wake up in the morning to see hanging on your wall or posed in your living room a piece of art that you love and on which you chose to spend your hard earned money. And while you may be a fan of hot dogs, there is no denying that the satisfaction they give is but momentary (and can in fact be afterward quite troubling). Art is a gift to yourself that gives both visually and psychologically for as long as you retain the faculties of sight and thought.

Please share with me your reactions to this post, send it to and discuss it with all of your friends and acquaintances and ask them to do the same. Support your local galleries, and most importantly the artists they carry. Develop a collection at whatever means you have. Show it to people. Set an example for your neighbor. See what happens.

New Write Up

2009-02-25T13:03:00.000-08:00

The Gallery was recently written up on a North County Real-Estate blog maintained by Jeff Dowler. Many thanks to Jeff for his enthusiasm and support. Check it out here.

"Changing Perspectives in the San Diego Art Scene"

2009-02-24T16:49:00.000-08:00

On Saturday night The Art Produce Gallery in San Diego hosted an event aimed at fostering a dialogue between artists, art dealers, gallery owners, critics, and anyone else who considers themselves part of the San Diego Art Scene. The format was simple (I like simple): five questions posed separately to a panel of experts and higher profile members with solicitations for responses from members of the audience.

Turn out was high and I felt as though the energy was too. So much so that I hardly got a seat (in fairness this is partly my fault as I was a few minutes late). I ended up, at the encouragement of the director of Art Produce, climbing over a bunch of people and posting up on a table top, at the front of the room but way over to the side. I must have been outside the field of vision for the moderator, because I had a somewhat difficult time getting called on, despite my zealous hand raising. I wanted to respond to everything, because everything was interesting. Well for the most part. There were people filming the event, but I have not been able to find the video. I would like to watch it again to remember better what was said so if anyone has it out there please share.

The questions posed were, roughly:

1. What is wrong with the San Diego art scene?

2. Who buys art in San Diego?

3. Why stay in San Diego?

4. Something regarding Art and Media (?)

5. What solutions can be provided?

Throughout the talk, I was reminded of the school that I attended for college, Sarah Lawrence. It struck me that they share a common plight. That is, Sarah Lawrence is one of the most delightful places on the planet, a breeding ground for creativity, personal expresion, etc etc. It also happens to be the poorest four year college in its peer group (its endowment has shriveled to a mere 54 million dollars). There are a great many things that work against the College, but in general it seems to have a hard time raising funds because, in order to retain what makes it unique, it cannot simply adopt the measures that other more mainstream institutions have undertaken to bolster their endowments. In this way, Sarah Lawrence is and will continue to be forced to think outside the box in order to stay afloat. San Diego shares this dilemma, and it could be the city's saving grace.

At the discussion Saturday night, there arose a question of identity which I found rather interesting. On the one hand, people advocated measures which were essentially borrowed from communities that have worked in the past ("What we need is a Bergamot Station"..."At Art Basel..." ... "It was the same in the West Village in the 70s..." etc etc). A counter argument to this mindset seemed to develop, one which perhaps revolved around the idea that San Diego should play the hand it is dealt with the aim of fostering a completely unique identity. There was certainly the opinion expressed that San Diego's downfalls are simultaneously its virtues.

Me, I suppose I fall somewhere in the middle. Owning a gallery in Leucadia can be frustrating insofar as I want to participate in the San Diego art scene. Or any art scene really. My gallery would obviously benefit if it was located in the Bergamot Station or Chelsea or wherever. On the other hand, if I was in Bergamot or Chelsea, I would not be in Leucadia, and so I would not have had the opportunity to create/foster a unique scene up here. Now, don't get me wrong there is an art scene that already exists in North County San Diego, and I am in some ways just learning the ropes. However, (especially having just moved from five years of living in New York and Paris) it is evident to me that this area is not reaching its full potential. That can be discouraging or intriguing, and I chose to assume the latter. If one looks at North County as a blank canvas, then one can see it as a land of opporunity, a place where people can express themselves without the constraints of an already established scene (like NY or Paris).

That is abstract, and I am aware that more concrete suggestions and actions are needed. One solution to this particular aspect of the development of a San Diego art scene is obviously related to the need for more networking, and more effort on the part of the artists and community members to show up and promote each other. Yes promote each other. While there may be no direct gain for someone talking up and spreading the word about someone else who is doing good work in the area, ultimately we must understand that by promoting the scene in which we are participating, we are promoting ourselves. Networks like SDVAN are golden, it is free and does a good job of consolidating artists into a browsable directory. The only problem is that its not really hip. Not that I think the San Diego scene needs to be trendy but...well, just look at the website and I think you'll get my drift. Also, being hip is just not the mission of SDVAN, and I guess rightfully so. I really like the Art As Authority blog, and have been exposed to a lot through reading it. We just need more of it. I see a sort of redundancy on these sites. It is not necessarily their fault either, they are just dealing with what they have. However, I think Art As Authority, with its editorial component (which is crucial) and its blog format (which gives them good mobility), has the ability to broaden its horizon a little bit, and I believe it should. It just can't do that though unless it has people who are willing to participate. That means renegade art reviews for the sake of the art. That means taking pictures and video to document events. And that means doing justice to your efforts by sending that stuff out there and relentlessly trying to get involved. Etc etc.

I have a lot of other ideas, and could probably go on for a long time. Overall I thought the talk was very useful and I really want to thank everyone who organized it and made it happen. I met some people who seemed excited or on some level invested in the idea of a San Diego art scene (not least of which was Michele Guieu who also has a blog), which is a good sign. I encourage everyone to continue this dialogue. I am more than willing to offer my gallery as a venue for exchanging ideas and/or other good events having to do with any medium of creative arts. Also, what I would like to do is to invite people to post their thoughts or responses here or send them to me via the contact page of the gallery website. Maybe start with those questions that the panel posed. Or make your own questions or respond to something I said, whatever. That talk was cut short and I know that there are more opinions to be heard. I would furthermore encourage everyone to post comments and send thoughts to Mr. Kevin Freitas at Art As Authority, Mrs. Patricia Frischer at SDVAN, write to CityBeat and The Reader demanding more art reviews for the sake of the art alone. etc etc. Robert Pincus, critic for the Union Tribune, was saying that he would like to see more amateurs trying their hand at critical writing, so find shows that you find interesting and write about them, and then send what you write to Mr. Pincus. I'd like to read them too. In fact, I have a whole host of work at the gallery that is begging criticism, and anyone who wants to start here is welcome.

Press for 'Postcards and Paper Dolls'

2009-02-05T11:06:00.000-08:00

We have been getting some good write ups here and there for our new Featured show and the reception that will be held for the artist on Saturday, February 7th @ 7:00pm.

Check em' out!

San Diego CityBeat

Art As Authority

There was a write up with some great color images in The Coast News, but they are about as technologically savvy as cavemen over there, so there is no website. We scanned the article and put it on the press page of the gallery website. You can see it here.

We also got a little story up on the Union Tribune's SD Backyard website, which can be seen here. For those of you who don't know, sdbackyard.com is a great community website pertaining to all of San Diego County. I'd say its a valuable tool for anyone looking either to see whats going on in our area as well as for people looking to put themselves out there.

Look forward to seeing you all on Saturday...

Michael Meleck

2009-01-31T13:03:00.000-08:00

The Andrews Gallery is excited about the latest addition to our artists, and our first emerging photographer/mixed media artist. Currently living in Los Angeles, California, Michael Meleck is a man of many talents, and has an eye for catching some of the most striking compositions and colors that I have ever seen from a contemporary photographer. We are proud to add Mike to our ranks.

His latest series is a visual investigation of an abandoned factory on the Hudson River in Yonkers, NY [allegedly where DMX, a Yonkers native, goes to fire his assault rifles]. What I like about these photos is that, to me, they are paintings. I see them as abstractions, focusing on color and composition, line and form. In fact, I'd say Mike pays as much attention to the nuance and consequence of form as any good painter, abstract or otherwise (See, for one example, the barrels in the first image of this post).

You can view the photos here, and we will be updating that link to include the entire series, so check back soon.

Saturday February 7, 7:00pm @ The Andrews Gallery - Postcards and Paper Dolls, New Collage Paintings by Susan Snyder

2009-01-30T20:06:00.000-08:00

Reception? Opening? Party? Call it what you want, just be there...

We are ever so pleased to be hosting our February Featured Artist Susan Snyder at The Andrews Gallery on Saturday, February 7th. The event starts at 7:00pm and, well, I'll let you decide when it ends.

Susan - or Susie to those who know her well - is exhibiting a brand new series of never-before-seen collage paintings. In these paintings it has been said that she:

"artfully weaves the vibrant palette, diverse materials, and seemingly haphazard compositions of the Mexican aesthetic into the sleek abstractions that have defined her corpus for over two decades. Incorporating a collage component of kitsch cut outs, these paintings contrast the jocoseness of Mexican markets and vintage street fairs with a rather serious meditations on abstract form. In a few pieces, Snyder even goes so far as to uses chips from the 200-year-old walls in her studio to compose maps of Mexico. While each viewer may take something different away from looking at these paintings, the curious playfulness they evoke is sure to be universal."

...and I couldn't agree more.

Get a full preview of the show on our website.

SO, whats the moral of the story? Come to the party. Enjoy the cheer [i.e. the free drinks]. Meet the artist. And most importantly, leave with a painting. You'll feel good about it when you wake up the next morning, and so will I.

2009-01-30T19:51:00.000-08:00

The 2009 Arts Alive Banner Auction is taking place at 2:00pm on the same day as our reception for Postcards and Paper Dolls [the reception is at 7:00pm so there is no excuse for not coming to both ya hear?!]. Hats off to Danny Salzhandler who has worked his heart out for the banner project, which raises money as well as awareness for North County San Diego's visual art scene. I think the show is in its 10th year, and if I'm not mistaken, Danny is looking to pass the torch so anyone who is interested in taking on this noble task, speak now. I can put you in touch with Danny.

On top of being a community event that bolsters the arts in our area, another reason why the Arts Alive Banner Auction is so pertinent to the Gallery this year is that not only did I [drew] do a banner, but so did our November 2008 Featured Artist Ana Clark. I haven't seen her banner yet, but I have a feeling it is a big beautiful nude. I am told that these banners are auctioned off starting at $150.00 which is an amazing value, especially considering they are seven feet tall. And they go to a good cause so go to the event and show your support for Danny, Ana, the gallery, and most of all, the North County Coastal Artist Community.

Oh and I just forgot...another reason why this is even more pertinent to The Andrews Gallery is that our landlady Parvaneh has a banner in the auction as well. Our roots run thick and we've only been here for 6 months. Imagine......

2009

2009-01-15T18:59:00.000-08:00

...is here.

Ben Groff's exhibit is approaching its last week, and we want to thank the artist and all of those who have supported the show. All of the paintings can be seen here on our website. We look forward with great pleasure to bearing witness to Groff's future development as a wonderful and serious painter.

We are beginning to turn towards February's Featured Artist Susan Snyder, and her exhibit Postcards and Paper Dolls, New Collage Paintings. This show will open at the beginning of the month, and we will have a reception for the artist on Saturday, February 7th @ 7:00pm. At the Gallery, as always. Mark your calendars.

Here, a little sneak preview of Post Cards and Paper Dolls:

...and a glimpse of Snyder at work in her studio

Be sure to come get a look of this new show, which promises the refreshing intrigue of a curiously delightful painter. A biography and résumé for the artist as well as a press release for the exhibit are all available through the Gallery. Please inquire.

Happy New Year to all, let it be one of stimulation on all accounts.

2008-11-30T14:05:00.000-08:00

Où que vous posiez les yeux, trône ma publicité.

NOW SHOWING - Ben Groff's 'Forays in Formalism' - Reception 12/13/08 7PM

2008-11-28T07:22:00.001-08:00

The Andrews Gallery welcomes Boston based artist Ben Groff for our last show of 2008. Check out all of his images on the 'exhibits' page of our website. Be sure to come in and see the show for yourself, and look forward to the reception on SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13th, 7PM.

ANA CLARK

2008-11-20T12:35:00.000-08:00

November 15, 2008

OUR FIRST GUEST ARTIST

We have a great exhibit up now showcasing new works by Ana Clark. Clark was born in Madrid but has lived in Southern California long enough to call it home. For all the images of her work, and some more bio information, check out the 'Exhibits' page of our website (http://www.theandrewsgallery.com/gallery.aspx?gallery=current).

Her opening on the 15th was a complete success, with well over a hundred people showing up to enjoy the art, food, drinks, music and cheer. THANKS TO ALL WHO CAME, and know well that there will be many more to come.

OPENING PARTY

2008-11-20T10:56:00.001-08:00

October 18, 2008

We had our first opening party. Initially we were calling it a soft opening but frankly there was nothing soft about it. Thanks to all who came and continue to show support for the gallery. Thanks to THE EXFRIENDS for jamming last minute (for anyone who doesn't know they are amazing check them out at http://www.myspace.com/theexfriends.

And last but not least, our dear friends at Le Papagayo did an amazing job with the catering. CIMER

Jeff Dowler's Blog

2008-11-20T10:52:00.000-08:00

October 15, 2008

Many thanks to Jeff Dowler for graciously writing us up on his wonderful blog. He took the initiative right before our first opening party and we are thankful. Check it out here: http://activerain.com/blogsview/734428/Leucadia-Things-to-Do

The Andrews Gallery News Letter

2008-11-20T10:49:00.000-08:00

September 29, 2008

Sign up to get The Andrews Gallery News Letter: http://www.theandrewsgallery.com/newsletter-subscribe.html

You'll get monthly invites to the parties and information on the shows. Sign up to stay up to date and in the loop.

Website Lauched

2008-11-20T10:47:00.000-08:00

September 28, 2008

Check check it out - theandrewsgallery.com is up and running. Thank you BRIAN at realonlinemarketing.com.

First Post

2008-11-18T11:23:00.000-08:00

Ok so we made a blog.