In Memoriam -- Bobby Kapaona

A long-time friend of The Shadow passed away earlier this month.

Bobby Kapoana, a volunteer in Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi's office, died earlier this month of an undisclosed illness. Most of you may be unfamiliar with Bobby's name but he is no stranger to this blog. Bobby was affectionately known in this blog as The Shadow's wine steward.

Bobby at work at Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi's November 2006 Reception

As The Shadow travels from reception to reception, he meets many artists and features them prominently on this blog. However, every time The Shadow is in Supervisor Mirkarimi's office, he always takes the time to talk with Bobby after taking the many pictures that you see on this blog. Bobby was always one who could make a person laugh and loved to travel. Towards the end of each reception, the party was always at the wine desk where Bobby kept everyone entertained.

Bobby's presence was definitely missed last Friday. And he will be missed by regulars to the Third Friday Art Receptions -- and by The Shadow.

The Shadow Views Quilts at San Francisco City Hall

On January 19, 2007, The Shadow had the opportunity to visit the offices of San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi for his monthly "Third Friday Art Reception". This was The Shadow's first visit to Supervisor Mirkarimi's office since November. This exhibit is entitled "Artful Aging: Quilts by AgeSong Senior Artists".

One of the colorful quilts from the show

This exhibit consists of several quilts (large and small) that were created by the residents of AgeSong, a senior community located in the Hayes Valley area of San Francisco.

An AgeSong resident and one of the artists with three of his quilts

To quote from the press release provided to The Shadow by Supervisor Mirkarimi's office:

This show will be dedicated to Harriet Tubman, an African-American icon known as "Moses" to her people for her work with the Underground Railroad leading slaves out of bondage to the North. Ninety-nine years ago, in 1908, Harriet Tubman established the first home for the elderly and indigent blacks. Located in Auburn, New York, this has since become known as The Harriet Tubman Home. Her vision and concern for the elderly continues today in assisted living communities throughout the world and specifically in AgeSong's Hayes Valley Care and Laguna Grove Care.

Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi (right) with an AgeSong resident/artist and her quilt

This show will run through February 14, 2007 in the offices of Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, San Francisco City Hall, 1 Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 282, during normal business hours. For more information on AgeSong, visit their website.

For more pictures from the reception, click here.

"Let's Go" -- A New Exhibit

On January 17, 2007, The Shadow had the opportunity to once again visit his friends at ARTWorkSF at another art exhibit.

Boatworks by artist Rosalie Anelli Yerby

This show is the opening show for 2007 at the recenty rennovated Hotel Triton in downtown San Francisco. Artists in this show includes:

• Ben Dominguez
• Tom Schwabenlander
• Lois Llewellyn
• Joe Sobiesiak
• Imelda Picherit
• Jo Farrell
• Rosalie Anelli Yerby
• Ethel Jiminez
• Molanda Chiang
• Charlotte Kay
• Will Bullas
  
  

Bicycle in Sheeps Clothing by photographer Jo Farrell

In the words of Curator Matt McKinley:

How we get from here to there: Planes, trains, automobiles, motorcycles this energetic show depicts all our modes of transportation. Our desire to travel and explore is bolstered by the options we have for transport. This show, which includes painting and photography, is a salute to the multitude of machines that geive us freedom to roam!

This show, as The Shadow mentioned earlier, will be at the Hotel Triton, 342 Grant Street (at Bush Street) in San Francisco through February 7, 2007. The exhibit is available for viewing 24 hours a day.

The Shadow with artist Charlotte Kay at the Reception

More pictures from the reception can be found here.

The Shadow Returns with a New Blog

After taking a much needed rest from the holiday season, The Shadow has returned to give you his unique brand of the dark side of culture and news.

But there will be changes for 2007.

After speaking with several people, The Shadow has decided that this blog, The Shadow Knows, will be exclusively dedicated to the arts and culture around San Francisco and the world. Many of you who have been faithful members of this blog for the past 2 years know of the mixing of arts, culture and politics and news on this blog. The Shadow has now decided that adding political and other news would take away from the art and culture aspects of this blog.

So beginning today, look for a new blog here in blogspace -- Good Night and Good Luck. This blog will continue to bring you The Shadow's opinions and news of the day on the political front. This new blog is starting slowly, but will pick up speed as the month and year progresses. Comments are welcome, as always.

The Shadow Offers His Golden Globe Pics

The Golden Globe Awards will be awarded later this evening. As a public service to all, The Shadow will offer his pics in selected categories for this evening:

• Best Picture, Drama -- Babel
• Best Actor, Drama -- Helen Mirren, The Queen
• Best Actor, Drama -- Will Smith, The Pursuit of Happiness
• Best Picture, Musical or Comedy -- Little Miss Sunshine
• Best Actress, Musical or Comedy -- Meryl Streep, The Devil Wears Prada
• Best Actor, Musical or Comedy -- Johnny Depp, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dean Man's Chest
• Best Supporting Actress -- Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls
• Best Support Actor -- Brad Pitt, Babel
• Best Director -- Clint Eastwood, Letters From Iwo Jima
• Best Animated Film -- Cars
• Best TV Series, Drama -- 24 (Fox)
• Best Actress, TV Drama -- Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer
• Best Actor, TV Drama -- Kiefer Sutherland, 24
• Best TV Series, Musical or Comedy -- Ugly Betty (ABC)
• Best Actress, TV Musical or Comedy -- America Ferrera, Ugly Betty
• Best Actor, TV Musical or Comedy -- Zach Braff, Scrubbs

The Golden Globes will be the barameter for the Academy Awards, scheduled to be given in March. Stay tuned.

The Shadow Visits San Francisco Women Artists

Along with ARTWorkSF, The Shadow also has a standing invitation to visit the gallery of San Francisco Women Artists each month. The Shadow paid a visit to the gallery on January 11, 2007 for their opening reception.

The title of this exhibit is "Artist Choice". In this show, artists were invited to submit 2 works each. Not all of the works submitted made the show, but the response was so enthusiastic that the gallery is considering having another such show later this year.

A sampling of the work available at this exhibit

You can view this work through February 3, 2007 at the San Francisco Women Artist Gallery, located at 3489 Sacramento Street (at Laurel Street) in San Francisco. Gallery Hours are Wednesday - Saturday from noon to 5:00 p.m.

You can view more pictures from the reception here.

The Shadow also needs to mention the reception held by San Francisco Women Artists last month, entitled "Children's Treasures". This was a wonderfully curated show. Unfortunately, time constraints did not allow The Shadow to put in a proper entry.

Artist Sandra Lo with some of her work at Children's Treasure Show last month

Fortunately, pictures from the reception and lots of the work on display are here.

The Shadow Views a (Sub) Text

It is a new year, and The Shadow is now ready to bring you more art receptions in 2007.

We will begin with our monthly First Thursday visit to the ARTWorkSF Gallery.

Passages (Re)Birth by artist Maggie Malloy

This month's exhibit is entitled "(Sub)Text". The artists featured in this exhibit are Maggie Malloy, Judith Miller, and Eric Bohr.

Top to Bottom: Artist Eric Bohr, The Shadow and artist Judith Miller, artist Maggie Malloy and friend

In the words of ARTWorkSF's curator Matt McKinley:

The artist selected for this show utilize their aesthitic perceptions to create their own unique "languages." What's on view is the visual processing of how each non-verbally communicates both message and meaning -- the deconstructed words and phrases of Eric Bohr, the coded messages of Maggie Malloy and the cryptic cyphers of Judith Miller.

The messages within the works in this exhibit are definitely open to interpretation. Some are very suttle and other just stick right out at you.

Top to Bottom: Forgetting by artist Judith Miller, Erect by artist Eric Bohr

This show will be open at the ARTWorkSF Gallery, 49 Geary Street, #215, through January 22, 2007. Gallery hours are Tuesday - Saturday from noon to 5:30 p.m.

As always, all works at the exhibit are available for sale or lease (for a three-month period).

More pictures from the reception are available here.