Terrance Graven: October 2013

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Ilana Crispi Art Opening

I attended my friend Ilana Crispi's art opening tonight. This is one of the best artworks I've seen in awhile. The concept is extremely strong as well as the craftsmanship and aesthetics. I sat on her beautifully designed bench, which was cold, minimal, and made from dirt of The Tenderloin. While sitting and reading her artist statement, I enjoyed a couple of Hot Toddies in the gorgeous handcrafted teacups that contrasted matte-white, smooth porcelain with glistening rough dirt. The drinks were made from honey and tea harvested from the rooftops of Glide Church also located in The Tenderloin. Amazing!

Hours: Saturdays & Sundays, 12noon – 4:00 pm;First Thursday, November 7, 6:00 – 9:00 pmPrivate viewings are welcome. Email us for an appointment.At Ramon’s Tailor

Ilana Crispi invites you to experience the Tenderloin by sitting on it, drinking from it and eating out of it. Crispi has harvested dirt from a neighborhood park to make furniture and ceramic vessels for her installation Tenderloin Dirt Harvest: Please be seated on the ground.

With permission of the City, Crispi harvested dirt from Boeddeker Park, a one-acre city-owned park in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district that is undergoing a major renovation. Crispi spent months testing the quality of the dirt and creating hundreds of test pieces, discovering that at just the right temperature the Tenderloin dirt melts and becomes a self glazing clay. Some of her pieces layer porcelain with the dirt, creating a stark contrast between the valuable — porcelain was once as valuable as gold — with the grotesque and soiled.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Exploratorium Visit

My friend Eric and I visited The Exploratorium today for free day. On of my favorite things was a video piece by Sam Taylor-Wood entitled "Still Life" 2001. The time-lapse growing of a mushroom culture serious made my skin crawl.

mushroom culture

heat sensor

Freya Jobbins
Medusa

Friday, October 11, 2013

An Evening of Figure Drawing

Tonight the model was again Barbara. I don't think these drawings are very strong and sketching them felt somewhat forced. I am resorting to conventions and this is interfering with my ability to keep nowness. On the other hand, I did have a few intense moments, which hopefully is conveyed.

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Spirograph

After a wonderful opening at Creativity Explored, my friend Nikki and I returned to my studio and played with her old Spirograph. It brought back such strong memories of childhood creative times.

Art Opening at Creativity Explored

This month's show honored Day of the Dead and it was really outstanding...of course, I might be slightly biased because of all
the skeleton figures. My absolute favorites were the skulls by
Ricardo Estella...amazing!

October 10 - November 24, 2013

Venue
Creativity Explored

Location
3245 Sixteenth Street

Kevin Roach
Jewel of the Mission

Selene Perez
Muertitos de Azucar

Nubia Ortega
El Muerto Feliz

Quintin Rodriquez
Los Cholos Calacas

Quintin Rodriquez
Game of Death

Hector Lopez
Costilla

Ricardo Estella
Calaca

Ricardo Estella
Calaca (side view of above pic)

Ricardo Estella
Calaca

These following artworks were on display in the back working area. The pottery on the bottom is completely incredible and I really would love to purchase it.