Blankspace changing

As we move into a new year, some big changes are taking place. After careful thought and consideration, Blankspace will be closing its doors as of March 15th, 2010.

Back in 2006 we (Jason Byers and Kerri Johnson) were given a great opportunity to take over the artist run building located at 6608 San Pablo Ave. & following in the foot steps of our predecessor Lucky Tackle Gallery, we were excited to open Blankspace on March 18th. It has been a great 4 years and we are proud to have produced many thought provoking, cutting edge exhibitions, but now the time has come to make changes. Though we will miss the actual gallery space, we will not miss the ever increasing rent, badly leaking roof, drafty walls and general disintegration of the building that has been the home of Blankspace and its founders.

We are extremely thankful to all of you for your support and to all of the amazing artists that we were able to work with over the last 4 years. We look forward to an equally exciting and venturesome future and hope that you will continue to follow and support us as we embark on these new projects.

Thank you,

Kerri & Jason

Kerri Johnson will be shifting her energies to working with BayVAN (Bay Area Visual Arts Network) and the BayVAN galleryBranch Gallery along with new partners Nicole Neditch and Brook Baird.

As partner in BayVAN and curator of Branch, Kerri will continue to exhibit strong, cutting edge art work from up and coming Bay Area artists and to cultivate relationships with rising talent. She will also continue to work with many of the great artists that she has exhibited while curating Blankspace.

Jason Byers will happily be focusing on his own art career and upcoming exhibits, including a solo show this April at Rowan Morrison. He will also be lending his efforts to the upcoming release of the debut LP from fellow Lady Genius cohorts Kyle Williams, Matt Stromberg and Brian Caraway - a ton of shows and summer tour are sure follow its release, stay tuned. www.jasonbyers.net

For those of you that love the Blankspace shop, fear not, Kerri and Lena Reynoso ( co-owner of The Compound Gallery) have combined creative forces on a great new shop called Professor Squirrel. The new shop features products from small, independent local & national designers and artists. The shop will be located inside the new Compound Studios location at 1167 65th St. @ San Pablo. Items in the shop are available online at www.professorsquirrel.com. Stay tuned for upcoming events to take place at the new locale.

Coming up on First Friday, March 5th we will be open until 10pm

Steuart's exhibit is a must see and we are thankful and happy that we will be closing the gallery with his work gracing our walls!

Please join us for a special closing tea receptions for Steuart Pittman’s exhibit NOWHERE/ANYWHERE and on Sunday, March 14th from 3-6pm.
Also closing in the Shop, I'm Sure, Artists Charms, curated by Courtney Dailey

The blankspacegallery.com website will remain active as a great archive to all the great exhibitions and events we have produced over the years.
**You will continue to receive emails for Branch Gallery, if you would like to be taken off the list please email info@blankspacegallery.com with "remove from email list" in the subject line.

If you want more info about the Professor Squirrel shop email Kerri at sales@professorsquirrel.com or go online to www.professorsquirrel.com to join the email list.

For more info on branch gallery go to bayvan.org
branch gallery

455 17th St. 3rd flr
(btwn Telegraph & Broadway, one block from 19th st. BART)
Oakland, CA 94612

hours: Thurs-Fri 12-6pm, Sat. 12-4pm, until 8pm first friday

Blankspace
6608 San Pablo Ave
Oakland, CA 94608
510-547-6608
www.blankspacegallery.com
HOURS: THURSDAY - SUNDAY 12 – 6pm, First Friday until 10pm

email: info@blankspacegallery.com

Blankspace update

Blankspace was included in an exhibit showcasing East Bay Galleries:

Cynosure: New Work from East Bay Galleries

"Closing Party with Live Performances!"

This event is planned to start at 2:00 pm on Feb 20, 2010 at Worth Ryder Gallery, 116 Kroeber Hall, Berkeley CA 94720.

If you have not had a chance to see this show, this Saturday is the closing party from 2-5 PM. We'll have musician Jake Coolidge collaborating with Blankspace gallery artist Peter Foucault's drawing robot at 3, and Justin Hoover and Jonathan Grover doing video kung fu performance art at 4. And really, what better way is there than that to spend a Saturday afternoon?

Then mosey over to Blankspace (we are open until 6pm) to see a great solo exhibit by awesome artist Steuart Pittman.

shop online at blankspace

YAY! you can now buy items from Blankspace from our online store.

click here for the direct link to the page

UPCOMING

***********

NOWHERE / ANYWHERE
a solo exhibition of new work by Steuart Pittman

February 5th - March 14th, 2010
Reception: February 5th 7-10pm
First Friday Reception: March 5, 7-10pm
Sunday Tea: March 14th 3-6pm

Latest News from Blankspace

Blankspace Gallery is pleased to invite you to the inaugural show of the SHOP at blankspace, featuring specially commissioned charms by ten local and international artists. The artists have used paper, wood, plastic, and metal to make the charms, which have been interpreted as decorative ornaments, tokens to ward off evil, and as objects to allure and attract. Every charm is for sale, and will be available only for the duration of the two month long show.
We are proud to be partnering with local curator and purveyor of fun ideas, Courtney Dailey.

The inaugural show
I'm Sure: artists' charms for sale
opens Saturday, January 23rd 6-9pm
runs thru March 14th

Artists included: Alethea Beeker , Sita Bhaumik, Val Britton, Alex Gery, Helena Keeffe, Crystal Kovacs, Thomasin Parnes, Irit Reinheimer, Rachel Robertson, Leah Rosenberg, Fereshteh Toosi, Anna Whitehead, Julianne Ahn Onya Hogan-Finlay and Shoko Yamamura

Items will also be available for sale online!!!

Courtney Dailey is a maker of projects, exhibitions, and objects who is a recent East-coast transplant to the Bay Area. She has spent the last twelve years paying close attention to the display and arrangement of things, in retail spaces and galleries, and the Shop at Blankspace is the perfect melding of these two (quite related) worlds. In addition to her curatorial projects (as a founder of the projet MOBILIVRE BOOKMOBILE project, and as a long-time member of artists' collective Space 1026), she makes prints, books, drawings and annual Valentines.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!!

Blankspace is closed to the public for a couple more weeks. We have some exciting new announcements for 2010. Our gallery store now has an official name, The Shop. We are excited to announce that along with great local items offered year round, we will be hosting ongoing "pop shop shows" of curated items offered around a theme and available for a limited time. We are proud to be partnering with local curator and purveyor of fun ideas, Courtney Dailey.
The inaugural show, I'm Sure: artists' charms for sale opens Saturday, January 23rd 6-9pm
Items will also be available for sale on our websites shop page.

Opening in the main Gallery on February 5th:

NOWHERE / ANYWHERE
a solo exhibition of new work by Steuart Pittman

February 5th - March 14th, 2010
Reception: February 5th 7-10pm
First Friday Reception: March 4, 6-10pm
Sunday Tea: March 14th 3-6pm





OTHER NEWS
in the shameless self promotion arena...
Kerri Lee Johnson has work in a group show in LA curated by John Casey.
Odd Populi
Participating artists Martha Sue Harris, Billy Sprague, Kerri Lee Johnson,
Bill Dunlap, and Mike Lay.
opening Saturday, January 9th, 6-10pm
show runs through February 6th.
POVevolving Gallery
939 Chung King Rd
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: 310.594.3036
Email: info@povevolving.com

also,
++++++++++++++++
Opening February 5th
I will have a few small diorama's in a group show at Terminal 22 in Oakland
PAPER CUTS
"See fine art works and craft pieces that embrace the possibilities and strengths of paper as a primary media."
Opening Reception: Friday, February 5th 6pm - 10pm. Free drinks and cupcakes.
Additional hours: February 6th and 13th Noon - 5pm and by appointment.
2443 Telegraph Ave (cross street 25th)
Oakland, CA 94612
510.761.5822
info@terminal22.com

Shop Local at Holidayland Gift Sale

Holidayland is in full swing and we have so
many great gifty items available!!!

Come by and visit us Wed- Sun 12-8pm thru Dec 20th.

Get your picture taken in our Babe the Blue ox diorama.
$5 donation goes to purchase art supplies at 2 Oakland High Schools
Skyline and East Oakland School of the Arts.







Spin the Wheel O'Bounty
$1 gets you a spin and a chance to win
gift certificates adn other fun prizes




JUST A FEW OF OUR GREAT ITEMS:

Rowan Morrison
Found paper journals

Perfect bound with animal-free glue.
The paper assortment is unique for each individual book so no two journals are entirely alike.
$10
Made with love in Oakland



Potluck Pals by Schoolhouse Crafts
casserole totes
Never again balance that hot dish on your lap for the car ride.
Potluck pals take care of it for you.
made with vintage fabric and sturdy wooden handles.
$40 each



Kate Stirr
Handmade stoneware mugs
w/food safe glazes
$20-25 each





Sprout Studio
super cute earrings, hair clips and necklaces
made from vintage findings
$8-$30




1980's Inspired t-shirts and Sweatshirts are back!!
you asked and we handscreened
designed by local artist Steuart Pittman
$19.99-$24.99





Candice Gold
cutie cute hand raised succulents and flowers
$4-25 each









Handscreened Woodgrain
wrapping paper
6ft rolls
$9 each or 2 for $15





Handscreened 1970's inspired
t-shirts
exclusive designed t's
$19.99 each





Gina Tuzzi
Soul Carve Constellations
acrylic on wood
$60 each
each includes it's own tie dye pouch







Scott McLeod
small paintings on wood
$15-$75

Plaid Friday, November 27th, Indie Biz Shopping day

Hey All.

It has been a while, but boy do I have some great new Indie Biz news to tell!

First, Lena Reynoso (of The Compound Gallery fame) created an idea for an indie biz shopping alternative to the post Thanksgiving "Black Friday", November 27th. We are calling it PLAID FRIDAY.

In the past 6 weeks we have been able to mobilize over 50 local businesses and online shops to become part of the day. We were also able to get some amazing support from The EastBay Express, Yelp, OakBook, and Oakland Grown..they have all given us ad space and have been sending out eblasts and announcements for us. To top it off, we had an amazing web designer, Nicole Neditch of Objet d'art donate her services to come up with the awesomely cute website plaidfriday.com.

Go to the website to check out all of the great deals everyone is offering for the day. There is even an afterparty being hosted with drink specials for those wearing Plaid!!

I am so excited about all of the community organizational support and hope that you will help make this a successful campaign by supporting all of the local businesses, on November 27th and throughout the holidays!! Remember, Wear Plaid on November 27th While you shop.

Here is a link to some great press:
The Daily Californian :: Local Shops Hope 'Plaid Friday' Will Boost Sales

Posted using ShareThis

*******************************************************
HOLIDAYLAND 2009
featuring local artists, designers and crafts people

November 27 - December 20, 2009



Opening Reception:

* Plaid Friday, November 27th 6-9pm

First Friday Reception:
Friday, December 4th, 6-10pm

additional holiday cheer events Dec 13th and 20th 4-8pm

This is our 4th annual Holiday sale featuring over 100 local artists, designers and crafts people.
This gift sale has become a Blankspace tradition and for the second year we will be joining forces with The Compound Gallery located next door to create a holiday Extravaganza!

Both galleries will be themed with rustic Paul Bunyan decor and will feature small works of art, ceramics, accessories, paper goods, household goods, gifts for kiddies, jewelry and many more affordable indie gifts.

Many fun activities through out the sale including-
Getting your holiday photo taken in our themed photo booth (proceeds go to Art in Oakland Schools) and spin the Wheel o' bounty for prizes.

Galleries are open extended hours during the sale:
WEDNESDAY - SUNDAY 12-8pm
****

Sponsored by: Yelp and the EastBay Express

news, opens calls, indie biz updates and more

FIRST FRIDAY RECEPTION THIS FRIDAY, 7-10PM

It's Gonna be Awesome
New work by Narangkar Glover

September 10 - October 11

It's Gonna To Be Awesome features large scale oil paintings, one large scale (40 x 60 inch) embroidered painting, and a number of smaller studies. In this body of work Glover deals with personal space and individuality. The curvilinear shape depicted in her paintings is the homemade concrete skate bowl in her back yard. This is a landscape built for a single leisurely and social activity: skateboarding. The paintings serve as homage to the individualistic lifestyle around it, and the efforts made by individuals to sustain it.go to blankspacegallery.com for more info.

GALLERY HOURS: THURS-SUN 12-6pm

image: Today, oil on canvas, 2009
60" x 72"
PS- there are 2 other opening receptions happening next door at The Compound and Swee[t]art galleries during the same hours 7-10pm on Friday....3 great reasons to come to the Golden Gate Gallery District!!

INDIE BIZ NEWS

Things over here at the Blankspace camp have been very busy. So I apologize for slacking on the Indie Biz of the Week section of the blog.

So, as I mentioned last time I have been in my Blankspace bubble lately, but, I do want to mention a great restaurant that I have visited on more than one occasion and hope to return to soon.

Weird Fish is a small storefront restaurant on Mission St. in SF. This place is great for several reasons, the first being the affordable and extremely flavorful and well prepared dishes. I am not always comfortable ordering fish that is not Tuna or Salmon, but last time I was there I ordered the catfish served "buffalo wing" style. I swear that it was better than any buffalo style chicken wing I have every had. So good.

The food is tasty and affordable and more importantly the restaurant supports sustainable fishing practices and as their website states..."We serve locally grown vegetables, & prepare fish that is primarily farmed and sustainable. We are making conscious efforts to embody a green business practice at Weird Fish. All of our fish is farmed sustainably."

I have to also mention the french fries which are a delightful combo of yams and potatoes, yum.

Weird Fish

2193 Mission Street,
San Francisco, CA 94110

415.863.4744

Hours
Lunch
Mon - Fri: 11am - 5pm
Brunch
Sat - Sun: 9am - 5pm
Dinner
Sun - Thu: 5pm-10:30pm
Fri & Sat: 5pm-11:30pm

Closed on Tuesday

Open Calls

Pro Arts

Juried Annual 2010

Selections by Sherman Sam, Independent Curator, London

Registration Deadline: Friday, October 2, 2009, 6 pm

Exhibition Dates: November 24, 2009 - January 15, 2010

more info and to register online go to proartsgallery.com

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Artadia: The Fund for Art and Dialogue is now accepting applications for the Artadia Awards 2009
from all visual artists living and working in the 5-county San Francisco Bay Area.
APPLY NOW! APPLICATIONS CLOSE OCTOBER 15, 2009

Individual artists and collaboratives working in all media and at any point in their career are strongly encouraged to apply. Awardees will be selected in the fall of 2009 through Artadia’s two-tiered jury process. This is Artadia’s seventh awards cycle in the San Francisco Bay Area.

For eligibility requirements and to access the web-based application, please visit:

www.artadia.org
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Alternative Exposure Grant
Southern Exposure’s Alternative Exposure grant program seeks to fuel the energy of the local visual arts community by supporting the vibrant artistic activity that occurs on the ground level. Alternative Exposure grants provide direct support, up to $3,500, to individuals and groups working in the visual arts to create frameworks of support for other artists working and presenting work in our communities.

AltEx Round III Guidelines and Application lick here.

Application deadline: 6:00pm on November 6, 2009. See guidelines for specific information about how to submit a proposal.


SHAMELESS SELF PROMOTION

Kerri Lee Johnson
Exhibition Closing Reception RESCHEDULED ONCE AGAIN for SATURDAY, October 3RD, 3:30-5:30PM

Kerri Lee Johnson
New work at SFMOMA Artists Gallery
with Emily Payne and David Ian Clark

September 3- -October 8
SFMOMA Artists Gallery,
Building A Fort Mason Center,
SF, CA 94123
415.441.4777
gallery hours: Tuesday- Saturday 11:30am - 5:30pm

Hi All,

The closing reception has been rescheduled AGAIN! BACK TO SATURDAY, October 3RD, 3:30-5:30pm. Sorry for any inconvenience. For those of you who are still if planning on coming by on Saturday, the SFMOMA Artists Gallery the gallery is open regular hours 11:30am-5:30pm. The show runs thru October 8th.

I am unsure myself why the reception has flopped back and forth, but I apologize for all this confusion.!! My head is spinning, I understand if u all are equally confused!!

Included in the exhibition are multiple drawings, four scrimshaw pieces on faux whale bone and two limited edition hand-colored prints. Images of the work can be found on my website and on flickr.

For purchase inquiries please contact the SFMOMA Artists gallery at 415.441.4777 or email me directly at info@kerrileejohnson.com

Note: stay tuned for my new website set to launch in mid October.

Image shown: Offering (girl), 2009
gouache, ink and graphite on paper
8" x 10"

blankspace news, open calls and indie biz

OPENING RECEPTION THIS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12th 6-9PM

It's Gonna be Awesome
New work by Narangkar Glover

September 10 - October 11

*Sunday Tea: September 20th 3-6pm
First Friday reception: October 2nd, 7-10pm

*sponsored by NUMI Tea of Oakland

It's Gonna To Be Awesome features large scale oil paintings, one large scale (40 x 60 inch) embroidered painting, and a number of smaller studies. In this body of work Glover deals with personal space and individuality. The curvilinear shape depicted in her paintings is the homemade concrete skate bowl in her back yard. This is a landscape built for a single leisurely and social activity: skateboarding. The paintings serve as homage to the individualistic lifestyle around it, and the efforts made by individuals to sustain it.go to blankspacegallery.com for more info.GALLERY HOURS: THURS-SUN 12-6pm

image: Today, oil on canvas, 2009
60" x 72"
PS- there are 2 other opening receptions happening next door at The Compound and Swee[t]art galleries during the same hours 6-9pm on Saturday Sept. 12th....3 great reasons to come to the Golden Gate Gallery District!!

INDIE BIZ NEWS

Things over here at the Blankspace camp have been very busy. So I apologize for slacking on the Indie Biz of the Week section of the blog.

Sadly I have to report that Magnet, one of my favorite boutiques on the East Bay is closing their doors next week. It is not all doom and gloom, Camille jsut had a baby and the decision to close came more from starting a new chapter in her life and not from the messy economy. Sad for me, but I wish her many happy days with her new baby. I have feeling we will be seeing other projects from her in the future.

I have not been out of my Blankspace bubble in the pasr few weeks, so I have not much to report, but I did go to Slash jeans today and they have tons of great new jeans in stock.

Open Calls

Pro Arts has a new open call:

Juried Annual 2010

Selections by Sherman Sam, Independent Curator, London

Registration Deadline: Friday, October 2, 2009, 6 pm

Exhibition Dates: November 24, 2009 - January 15, 2010

more info and to register online go to proartsgallery.com

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Artadia: The Fund for Art and Dialogue is now accepting applications for the Artadia Awards 2009
from all visual artists living and working in the 5-county San Francisco Bay Area.
APPLY NOW! APPLICATIONS CLOSE OCTOBER 15, 2009

Individual artists and collaboratives working in all media and at any point in their career are strongly encouraged to apply. Awardees will be selected in the fall of 2009 through Artadia’s two-tiered jury process. This is Artadia’s seventh awards cycle in the San Francisco Bay Area.

For eligibility requirements and to access the web-based application, please visit:

www.artadia.org