The Shadow Says Good-Bye to a Wonderful Artist

This has been a very rough month for The Shadow. Two of The Shadow's closest artist friends are leaving the San Francisco Bay Area. The Shadow now wishes to spend the next two entries to say good-bye to them.

Artist Suzun Hughes and her husband, sculpter John Wilson, recently left San Francisco to take up roots in Virginia. They have a new live/work loft there and plan to open an art studio later this year.

Many of you have seen many of the photos that The Shadow has posted of Suzun's work on this blog. What many readers of this blog do not know is that The Shadow and Suzun became instant friends when we met over 3 years ago. She is a wonderful artist, a very compassionate woman, and definitely one of the best friends you will ever have on your side.

Artist Suzun Hughes with her signature work "Relic Totem"

Suzun was generous enough to invite The Shadow to a final going away party for her and her husband, John. The Shadow has no picture of the party, but will tell you that you missed the party of the year. This being San Francisco, let us just say that Suzun and John knows how to throw a party.

Suzun Hugues with one of her pets at the end of her party

The Shadow wishes to say good-buy to Suzun and wishes both her and John the best in Virginia. The Shadow will visit their new studio once they are settled and, of course, we will bring all of that to you. But The Shadow will tell you that the Bay Area art scene is losing a fantastic artist. But that is Virginia's gain.

The Shadow Closes Tongue In Cheek

Many of you remember when The Shadow visited the Monadnock Building last February to view the ARTWorkSF exhibit "Tongue in Cheek". If you do not remember it, you can read it here.

View from the Tongue in Cheek Reception

On March 21, 2007, ARTWorkSF held the closing reception for this exhibit. This exhibit opened December 29, 2006 and is scheduled to close March 30, 2007. The three artists featured at this reception were:

• Will Bullas
• William Mayfield
• Ben Dominguez

Top: Artist William Mayfield
Bottom: Artist Ben Dominguez
Artist Will Bullas was not present at the reception
This exhibit will be open until March 30, 2007 at the Monadnock Building, 685 Market Street, on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Floors.

More pictures from the reception are available here.

The Shadow Views the Art of Nathan Segovia

In keeping with the tradtion of visiting the offices of San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, The Shadow visited San Francisco City Hall during Supervisor Mirkarimi's monthly Third Friday Art Reception.

Top: A work from artist Nathan Segovia
Bottom: The Shadow with artist Nathan Segovia

Artist Nathan Segovia was the featured artists this month. Nathan is a San Francisco resident currently living in the Western Addition area of San Francisco.

Another work from artist Nathan Segovia

According to the press release from Supervisor Mirkarimi's office:

[Nathan's] art is classified as mixed media, ranging from solid surface art to photographs. He utilizes salvaged objects such as Victorian windows, scrap plastic, and antiques to create works of art that represent a visual fascination and passion for making the old new again. His art is created using spray paing, acrylics, and razors, creating art reminiscent of past eras with a unique urban edge.

If you wish to see the exhibit, you can see it at Supervisor Mirkarimi's office in San Francisco City Hall, Room 282, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday. The exhibit is showing through April 18, 2007.

More pictures from the reception are here. If you are interested in Nathan's work, you can email him at nomadjination@yahoo.com.

Photographer Jo Farrell Says Good-Bye to San Francisco

The Shadow was saddened to learn that photographer Jo Farrell will soon be leaving San Francisco.



After many years in the Bay Area, Jo will be moving to Hong Kong as of May 1, 2007. It will be a major loss for the Bay Area art community and a personal loss to The Shadow.
But Jo is not leaving San Francisco quietly.
Jo is offering original prints of her work from China, Cuba and Tibet through March 31, 2007. You can see and buy her work directly at her website or you can email her here.
Jo will also be giving her final San Francisco exhibit at the ARTWorkSF Gallery, 49 Geary Street, Suite 215, March 27, 2007 through March 31, 2007. You can meet Jo (or wish her well) at a special reception at the Gallery on March 29, 2007.
Stop by the ARTWorkSF Gallery and say hi to Jo and purchase her work.

The Shadow Views Minutiae

ARTWorkSF's First Thrusday reception for March was up to their usual standards. Many well-known ARTWorkSF artists appeared in the Gallery's current exhibit "Minutiae: The Little Things in Life Do Count!"

A Keyboardist offered music durign the reception

Artists featured in this exhibit were:

• Christine Cianci
• AnneKarin Glass
• Charlotte Kay
• Jennifer Mack
• Maurice Edelstein
• Richard Tauber
• William Ulrich
• Alan Mazzetti
• Rosalie Anelli Yerby
• Robert Bradshaw
• Victoria Heilwell
• Ethel Jimenez
• Victor Barbieri
• Gianfranco Paolozzi
• Adel Shaw
• Blake Tucker

One of the works from the reception

The beauty of this exhibit was not in the media used, but the detail that is shown in each of the work. All of the work in this exhibit can be appreciated more for the artist's attention to detail (material, color, brush strokes, etc.).

Another entry at the exhibit

This exhibit will be shown at the ARTWorkSF Gallery, 49 Geary Street, through March 24, 2007. Gallery Hours are Tuesday - Saturday, 12:30 - 5:00 p.m.

Scenes from the Reception

Of course, all work in this exhibit are available for purchase or rental (for a three-month period). Contact the Gallery at 415-673-3080 for details.

More pictures from the reception are available here.

The Shadow Meet Blazin

Recently The Shadow had the opportunity to view another solo art show from ARTWorkSF. The artist being featured is Blazin.

Solar Corona Cotilion by artist Blazin

The exhibit was entitled "Cosmic Flirtation". It was billed as "Paintings Exploring the Realms of Infinity -- A Nonscientific Visual Journey Through the Cosmos".

Cosmic Confluence by artist Blazin

Blazin explains this exhibit in her own words:

Outside the studio and off the dance floor, daily life finds my feet pretty much on the ground. When painting, however, my spirit takes off. It's out gallivanting through space; soaring among the galaxies. It keeps company with layer upon layer of other life forms -- families and communities of cosmic entities going about their missions in syncopated harmony. They skip through sunsets, flirt with constellations, set out on pilgrimages, and toe-stamp to celestial melodies. Each image offers a glimpse into an abundantly alive, unchartered universe.

With or without feet on the ground, life for me is richly colored, animated and upbeat. It's no surprise the art emerging from my studio wholeheartedly follows suit.

Blazin's art is as beautiful and mysterious as the woman herself. Her colors are very bright and reflect the philosophies that she quotes above.

Artist Blazin with The Shadow

This exhibit has ended, but if you would like more information about Blazin or her work, you can contact ARTWorkSF at this link.

More pictures from the reception can be found here.