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The first Thursday of every month Hotel Biron, located at Rose Street, features a new artist from the city. This is a great space, small and intimate with a European feel. Brick walls, small tables, huge wine glasses, and cheese plates you’ll devour! Curator Heather Bernard has done a great job of featuring a variety of works, being nondiscriminative on what is shown. Tonight’s highlight was photographer Luxe. 

Luxe has been studying photography since the age of 15 and graduated in photography from the University of Santa Cruz.  She has been commercially represented since the age of 24.  Her work at the wine bar includes philosophy, gender studies, and ontology.  

Exploring a queer woman’s self-reflective view of existence and sexuality, the photos are of Luxe, herself.  Being the subject and photographer of a series, Luxe explores “The Look,” a mind/body conflict of how we perceive others to see ourselves. Most intriguing especially since photographers like to be on the “other” side of the camera.  

Her work, silver gelatin fiber prints, are selling for $195 each, a very cheap price for what they should be.  Luxe prefers her work be accessible to more people rather than selling to make a profit. I tried to show the prints in the order they were presented in the room to give a better feeling of the series.  Take a look and visit the Bar to see them for the next month!

This was a big event. I personally am not involved much in the hip-hop scene, but if you know about woman and Breakin’, “Sisterz” is the group to see. This year was the celebration of their 7 year Anniversary. Starting in 2001 by Sarah Smalls, the first year Sistaz gained huge recognition by their second performance by SF Bay Guardian as the “Best Monthly” Show in the City, yet they have been performing once a year ever since.

The event started at 9:30 until 2am. It ranged from visual art, dance (breakers etc.), DJ’s and MC’s.  Featured in the dark, (and I say that because it seems there were creative differences regarding lighting the art on the walls and setting the mood of the club) in the Main Room, were visual artists Bean, Kat Filipinas, and Kristina, with DJ’s spinning for people wanting to dance.

In the Dark Room, were visual wall artists Cat and Reanna, MC’s, ButterScotch, Neb Luv, Gypsy Luv, DeeandRoid, DJ Celski, DJ Zita, Lady Fingaz, Shredone, DJ ThatGirl and closing a sick performance was Madusa. Dancers (poppers, B-Girls, and Lockers) included: Full Force, Soul Sector, Culture Shock, Extra Credit Kru. The Dance Performances didn’t happen until 11:30.

It was a packed night when my friends where there. The only downfall (literally) was that Kristina’s art work was knocked down and broken by fellow dancers on the floor. Guess the Club bought that piece. I was personally disappointed that due to having so many things going on no love was given to the art on the walls. I feel, if you are going to have an “art” show, it should be properly displayed with lighting so people can actually see it.

So here is my LOVE to those that were overlooked: my friend Bean, her roomy Cat, Reanna, Kristina, and Kat Filipinas. I want to also congratulate all the talented women in the Bay Area and in California that were involved with the show. The following picture credit goes to Bean…Thanks Bean!

I had a last minute run-in coming home to my house with an acquaintance who was passing by in the neighborhood. It turned out to be Jo Boyer, who informed me of her art show that night. I was very excited to see what Jo’s talents entailed.The only experience I have had making ceramics was in high school and I am always impressed when people create works of art with clay. No doubt Jo has talent.Her collection of hummingbirds, some dying, some living, were so delicate with an amazing amount of detail. Her pieces sold like hotcakes, especially the actual bird nests that fit in the corner of the wall. Jo sold her work between $10-$100, which I thought was actually underpricing the worth of her work. There were pots that looked like coral from all the texturing on the outside and were much more symmetrical and lighter than anything I could imagine producing. I highly recommend that you check out Jo’s work at Ruby’s Gallery at 552 Noe St.

This Saturday, I had a whirlwind evening attending two art openings back to back. The first started out at what used to be called “Ellie Herman Studios”, but now is Energy, Health, Strength Pilates (EHS) since it changed ownership. Nancy Myers and Tracey Sylvester decided what better way to have a new beginning than have a Grand Opening Art Party.A great event, there was appetizers of fruit, nuts, a variety of cheeses and crackers, beautifully displayed on top of Cadillac Reformers from Slanted Door, live music with bass, piano and a great vocalist from Lavay Smith Trio, and featured photographer Andrew William Schmidt and Illustrator Rob Reger of the famous Emily Strange. I was impressed how they converted the space to fit everyone. The only downfall was the low ceilings which caused the place to get very warm, very quickly.The place filled up fast with many dressed up attendees and many with kids. Don’t worry Pilates and Art Enthusiasts this won’t be the last time they throw a party. According to Nancy you can catch the fun quarterly. Here are some pictures of the event. Unfortunately I had some camera difficulties so not many came out.

My second stop was at My Trick Pony, in which I had a very informative conversation with the owner/Ring Master Matteo Tachini. If you have attended the site, don’t worry. He assured me the new and improved one will be coming out soon with much more information on the place and actual online sales of shirts.This great little spot located on 14th Street off of Church is lined with Pony Paraphernalia and white walls. Over the last 2 1/2 years it’s been open, they have had monthly art openings every first Saturday of the month. The featured artist this month is a beard fanatic, Sarina Eastman. Her collection, “Weird Beard How You Touch Me”, had many polaroids of bearded men with actual vials of hair you could purchase for $40 dollars. The other wall featured more collage pictures with yarn beards, drawings, and cut outs of beards. My favorite was the flyer and display that had the phrase written in a beard, “I wasn’t sure if I liked beards but they grew on me.”I feel the owner himself is an artist in his own way, and I must say that this would be the place to get your ever intriguing fun T-shirt ideas to come alive. With many graphics and the ability to convert your photograph to graphic drawings, this is not your cut and paste type of shirt shop.Matteo and his intern/lead clown, Mica Phelan, can get your shirt made in a day or two with only a 15 minute wait time during open hours. I think by far the coolest feature is the ability to host your own movie nights in the space and in return get great shirts made for the theme of the night for $30 a person. So check it out!

This weekend I attended this great show that blended local artists, performers, and designers. A great taste of what San Francisco is about. If you have ever been to SomArts you know it is an enormous warehouse space. Located on 934 Brannan street next to Bed Bath and Beyond, the place was packed by the time I got there. With a “suggested donation” of $7 and cheap drinks it was well worth the money for a night out of entertainment. The event went from 2 -10pm with an afterparty until sunrise. I missed the various dance performers and bands but made it in time for the Fashion Show from 8-10pm.

Here are some pictures from some of the clothing designers. Just to list a few in the show were: Fati Beloved, SAA.Z Design, JewelryByRisto, Wild on the Inside, Wildlife Works, Little Red Sparrow, Antoniya Ivanovna and the last, but definitely the most memorable, BadUnklSista.

The feeling from a lot of the vendors were things you would see at Burning Man… a lot of fur, a lot of skin, and a lot of character.

Not included in the fashion show were other local designers and jewelers such as: Fluidance, Foxy Monster, Paper Organics, North Beach Taylor, Sequoia Emmanuelle and Pandora’s Trunk.

Check the Eternal Spring website for more information, and links to all the people involved, the list goes on and on.

On Friday, January 18th, Ross Mirkarimi (Board of Supervisors for District 5) had his monthly art opening. The featured artist just happened to be Gregory Bartning of Belle Images. His work was featured at SF Gallery 143 in December.

His newest collaboration with Trapeze World was a hit. There was over 150 people that came through during the 2 1/2 hour show. Many people commented it was the best show yet. Go Gregory!! If you happen to be in San Francisco for the next month, be sure to stop by Room 282 at City Hall! Check out some photos below.