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"

Indie Biz of the Week

Well another week has gone by and it is time once again for the Indie Biz of the week posting. Before I get to it though I wanted to talk a short bit about how excited I am that Blankspace will be celebrating 3 years this coming March!! Stay tuned for more updates on that..

Anyway, I am also posting some great events that are happening this weekend right below the Indie Biz of the week. Enjoy....

INDIE BIZ OF THE WEEK

Slash Jeans in Berkeley, CA is the indie biz of the week. I think this is one of the best places to find the perfect pair of jeans. Period.

I hate shopping for jeans, they are either way to long or made for girls with no booty. When Jason and I walked in to Slash for the first time we were like kids in a candy store. First of all let me say, a little sheepishly, that I was painfully unaware that Slash had started selling new jeans, we had been searching for the holy grail of jeans all over the country, and all along the store was literally right up the street from us. The last time I was there was to go to the fabulous basement filled with hundreds of great vintage jeans, cords, you name it, but the new upstairs section...absolutely yummy.

The "jeans lady" as people refer to her, is super nice and helpful and seems to know everything there is to know about jeans. I told her what I was looking for, she looked me up and down and then proceeded to pull about 12 pairs of jeans for me to try on. I really like that they encourage you to walk to the dressing room with a Doctor Seuss like pile of jeans in your arms, none of this 3 items or less.

Anyway, I did end up finding the perfect jeans for me, that fit like butter. I think I may wear them more than anything else in my wardrobe, it it time for me to go back and get another pair. Skinny jeans are everywhere in this store...BUT there are also many other great styles in stock if skinny is not your thing.

Bonus: they will hem any pair of pant for you, and they do a great job.

What more can I say, check them out for yourself, I think you will fall in love like I did. I believe everyone should treat themselves to a great pair of jeans at least once a year.

SLASH 2840 College Ave
(between Russell St & Stuart St)
Berkeley, CA 94705
(510) 665-5994

www.slashberkeley.com

Hours:

Mon-Thu. 11:00 a.m.--7:00p.m. , Fri-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m., Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m

WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND TOWN THIS WEEKEND



Southern Exposure's 9th Annual Monster Drawing Rally

Friday, February 27, 2009
6:00 – 11:00 PM
Donation: $5 & UP
Event Location: Verdi Club
2424 Mariposa Street (between Hampshire and Potrero Streets)

Southern Exposure announces the 9th Annual Monster Drawing Rally at the Verdi Club, a live drawing and fundraising event featuring over 130 artists. (shameless self promotion alert- Kerri and Jason have drawings that will be raffled in the "Drawing Drawing" later in the evening)

Providing the basic necessities of the drawing practice--pencils, charcoal, pens, markers, ink, and paper--Southern Exposure creates the context while the artists create the content of the drawings. The evening will consist of four one-hour shifts with approximately 30 artists drawing simultaneously each hour. As the drawings are completed they will be hung on the walls and available for purchase for $60 each. The Monster Drawing Rally promises to be an action-packed spectacle you won't want to miss!

more info soex.org

Blankspace presents:

Straight Talk: First Time Home Buyers Workshop

Saturday, February 28th 10-11:30AM
Space is limited so please RSVP at info@blankspacegallery.com
subject line: straight talk

Blankspace is hosting a free workshop for anyone that is interested in trying to purchase his or her first home. This will be an informal information session bringing
experts from the home buying industry directly to you in an intimidation free neutral environment.

This is a great chance to have you questions answered honestly without pressure. The expert guests are here to help and will be discussing the home buying process in the current climate, and will be available to answer questions in a no holds barred, straight talk style.

Areas of focus will be:
- Foreclosures- demystifying the process-where to start, what is the process, what is needed to qualify, the best way/places to look for foreclosure listings, beginning to end.

- The role of a broker
- Do I qualify for a loan? – tips on how to start the process and alternative ways of qualifying
- Rehabilitation loans- what are they, who can qualify
- What next
- info sheets with contacts and follow-up info

If you have a specific question, please email info@blankspacegallery.com before February 25th and I will add it to the list. There will also be time at the end of the session for a brief individual Q & A with the experts.

Coffee and light snacks will be served.

The experts who have helped make this event possible are

Kevin Skipper of Skipper Realty
Stephanie Kelley -Chicago Title escrow officer
Allen K. Moore- Loan Officer at Mason-McDuffie Mortgage

blankspace 6608 San Pablo Ave, Oakland, CA 94608 || blankspacegallery.com || 510-547-6608

The Tyranny of Harmony a show of paintings by Brian Caraway

Reception Saturday, Feb 28th 6-9pm

ZZA'S Enoteca
550 Grand Ave
Oakland, CA

Blankspace's good friend Brian Caraway has some new work that he will be showing at this great restaurant called ZZA'S. The show will run Feb 28th - March 27th. If you can make the opening reception there will be lots of great wine and pizza being served!!

PS-this show was curated by artist and all around awesome person Obi Kaufman who Blankspace loves.

Comm[unity] bulletin board

Here are some new and continuing open calls for you all to enjoy, please pass on to anyone you think may find the info useful.

I also wanted to mention that this coming Friday is First Friday, not only will Blankspace be open from 7-10pm but if you go to one of the galleries listed in this weeks East Bay Express -including Blankspace- and you let the East Bay Express know you came by, you could win prizes...mmm prizes... and as always shop local...support the local economy by keeping your dollars circulating through local business....that reminds me, scroll down to see the indie biz of the week...

OPEN CALLS

Bancroft Sculpture Exhibit

Entries Due: Post marked by February 14, 2009
Exhibition Dates: June 19 - July 19, 2009
Opening Reception: June 19th 5-8pm
Entry Fee: None

Awards:1st Place $1000, 2nd Place $500, 3rd place $250

Jurors: Carrie Lederer and Ann Weber

Here is a link to a PDF with all of the info and entry form: Click Here

Call for Artists

Deadline February 27

The City of Walnut Creek is currently accepting qualifications from artists
for individual artworks for the new downtown Walnut Creek Library.

Individual works of art will be purchased or commissioned to fill the
library’s common areas in the buildings’ lobbies, reading rooms, community
gallery, children’s library, and children’s garden, as well as outside in
adjacent plazas.

More information: http://www.bedfordgallery.org/public_art.htm

Contact:
Robyn Burror
Public Art Coordinator
burror@walnut-creek.org
925/295-1447

INDIE BIZ OF THE WEEK

Four Barrels Coffee in SF is the indie biz of the week. I had been hearing about this great new coffee shop in the Mission and when I was visiting Southern Exposure Gallery the other day I finally went in...if you go on Yelp there is a lot of talk about this business, some of the comments and quibbles are quite funny...but the bottom line; and this comes straight from a self proclaimed coffee snob-I had one of the best cappuccinos I have ever had outside of Italy.

Bottom line, it is all about the coffee, and Four Barrels gets it...I don't care if a monkey in an elephant suit is serving my coffee, if the barista can make a good cap, I am happy. I was walking down the sidewalk and every time I took a sip I sighed with contentment...

**Side note, the other best place (in my opinion) to get a great cup of coffee is Bittersweet Chocolate Cafe on College ave in Oakland.

Four Barrels

375 Valencia St
(at 15th St)
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 252-0800

* Hours:
Mon-Thu. 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Fri. 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sat. 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.