Artistic adventures in San Francisco, with reckless and stylish abandon!

West Marin Review Release Party

Sun, 23 Jan 2011 11:44:44 -0800

I am very proud that three of my calligraphy pieces were chosen for the third issue of the West Marin Review. It is an award-winning literary and art journal published by Point Reyes Books, Tomales Bay Library Association, and friends and neighbors. In 2010 the West Marin Review was the only literary and arts journal to merit recognition at the prestigious New York Book Show, and Volume 2 of the Review caught the eye of editors at Marin Magazine, where it was included in Marin Magazine's 2010 Editors' Choice.

BAWT At Mina Dresden Gallery

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 19:26:31 -0700

My friend Tessa Merrie is just one of the many amazing artists in our building at the 1890 Bryant St Studios. When she asked for my help a few weeks ago with a great project idea, of corse I was honored to help!

She is very passionate about Bay Area Wilderness Training (aka BAWT), and wanted to help them by hosting a fundraising art auction, featuring the work of her many friends in the Bay Area arts community. The auction will be held on Thursday, June 24th, 5:30-9:30 at the well known Mina Dresden Gallery, 312 Valencia St. at 14th in the Mission (SF).

Ahora en la Mision

Sat, 19 Jun 2010 07:07:05 -0700

Back to the Picture has proudly been San Francisco’s premier framing resource for 25 years, and to celebrate, they’re hosting a fantastic invitational group show entitled “Ahora en la Mision” - or “Today in the Mission”. Their fabulous shop includes a beautifully lit gallery in the back, where they host a regular rotation of wonderful local artists.
Works from well-established Mission Artists hang side-by-side with emerging and mid-career artists who have recently made the Mission their home.

Participating Artists: Otto Aguilar Ellen Bergeron Ali Blum Christine Cariati Carlos Cartagena Nancy Cato Sylvia Chaidez Jennie Allida Dickenson James Elder Juan R. Fuentes Mariana Garibay Carmen Lomas Garza Tirzo Gonzales Sevilla Granger Liz Hager Ester Hernandez Anubhav Jain Yolanda M. Lopez Paul Madonna Julio Cesar Martinez Andrew McPherson Juana Alicia Montoya Emmanuel Montoya Sirron Norris Romeo Gilberto Osorio Russell Pachman Michael Rios Calixto Robles Patricia Rodriguez Michael Roman Jos Sances Larry Spenler Brian Stannard Hilary Williams
Ahora en la Misión is curated by Servio Gómez, Juan R. Fuentes, Maria V. Pinedo, and Randy Figures.

“Duet” featured in Studio Visit Magazine

Sat, 12 Jun 2010 12:41:14 -0700

The latest issue of Studio Visit Magazine features two partner pieces collectively know as “Duet”.

Published by The Open Studios Press in Boston, Studio Visit Magazine is a series of juried books presenting contemporary artists from across the US. Each high quality volume features approximately 150 artists, who have been selected by professional curators especially for each volume. It is received by thousands of curators and gallerists around the country. What a pleasure to be included in such a fabulous publication!

“Racing the Coast” wins an award!

Sat, 5 Jun 2010 12:16:02 -0700

“Racing the Coast” has been awarded third place in the Acrylic category by the shows Juror Richard Mayhew as part of the juried show on modern landscape painting entitled “Natures Treasures” at the Santa Cruz Art League.

Happy Arbor Day!

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 20:29:41 -0700

Trees are sanctuaries. Whoever knows how to talk to them, whoever knows how to listen to them, can learn the truth.
-- Herman Hesse

Exit Through the Gift Shop

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 23:17:42 -0700

I LOVE BANKSY!!!

He (or she??) really is my favorite big name contemporary artist of the last few years, and “Exit Through the Gift Shop” is just his (her? their??) latest creative coup! Tonight was the opening night, and it seemed like half of San Francisco was out to see the sold out screenings.

Article on Arteaser.com

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:57:47 -0800

Arteaser.com is written by Dormain Geyer, and is a wonderful resource for finding out about Artists and art shows in the Bay Area.
Being involved in the arts community here, there are always great opportunities to discuss art - making it, marketing it, managing it, etc. But the most interesting ones always dig deep into our motivations and inspirations. Dormain and I recently had the chance to chat art, and a lovely article came out of our lengthy and lively conversation. Below is an excerpt:

“BOLT” wins an award

Sat, 19 Dec 2009 20:38:00 -0800

The Coastal Arts Museum in Half Moon Bay, CA has generously awarded “Bolt” an Honorable Mention in their 25th annual juried show, on view through January 2nd. The show was juried by Alysanne McGaffey, Former President of CAL who is also nationally known as a Member of the Bay Area Figurative Movement

“Luxury Items” at ODC

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 19:28:26 -0800

"Hilarious, with a wicked intellectual spark," Monique “Fauxnique” Jenkinson is a local treasure of a performing artist whose work hurls itself into the gaps between dance, theater, drag and performance. She is currently the Artist-in-Residence at the ODC (Oberlin Dance Collective) Theater. You can read my blog entry from her Spring ’09 performance at the Climate Theater in the blog archives - April 18th 2009.

This Saturday evening at ODC, Fauxnique debuted her latest performance creation ”Luxury Items” at ODC Theater this weekend. “Luxury Items” is a witty and challenging commentary on “extravagance and necessity, the tyranny of comfort, and addictive properties”. Fauxnique’s reincarnations of historical it-girls including Marie Antoinette and Coco Chanel provide us with reflections on a “socially conscious aesthete” - something most of us San Franciscans can relate to. This solo, evening-length, dance-theater-drag extravaganza celebrates all that is “deeply, vitally unnecessary”.

Uber-talented Director Ellen Sebastian Chang must have had her hands full with so much material and talent! Not only did she have the ebullient Fauxnique to contend with, she also had the phenomenal talents of Video Artist Eric Koziol at her disposal. Eric has lived and worked in such far flung arenas as New York and Brussels, but currently calls SF home. His video imagery wasn’t just the backdrop, but in an integral part of the piece. The living wallpapers inspired by the Vertical Gardens of Paris, and the live writing projections were pretty spectacular, but the real show stopper was the giant Busby Berkley kaleidoscope made from Faunique’s own striking choreography.

Lucky for Fauxnique and her team, “Luxury Items” sold out in record time. Lucky for SF, they will be remounting the spectacle in February 2010!

“Luxury Items” was:
Written and performed by Monique “Fauxnique” Jenkins
Directed by Ellen Sebastian Chang
Video Art by Eric Koziol
Costumes by Shanti Markstrom
Lighting by Allen Willner

We begin by lounging in Versailles, reading the latest fashionista mags. She invites us into her inner conflict - sure it’s a waste of a tree, but it’s sooo glamourous!