A touchstone and a portal

As we get set to open our fifth show of the year, along comes this email out of the blue. It has put big smiles on our faces. Thank goodness for the kindness of other artists. Let’s get some more folks “popping into” FOG.

Hello Anne,

It is somewhat ironic that I have never set foot in your gallery, because I find myself popping in to your space pretty regularly via the web.  I have lived in Michigan since 1978, but FOG has become a kind of touchstone for me, returning me to my native state.  I was born and reared in California –– attended SFAI and was one of San Francisco’s first licensed street artists (1972). 

So this is just a little note of thanks for being a portal to the stomping grounds of my youth.

I wish for your gallery a long life.  

Stephen

Stephen Duren, American Artist

Eggsquisite

This was at the FOG door when I arrived to open the gallery: an eggsquisite octopus etched egg. Mark D. Powers has been delivering Friday free art eggs to various sites in the city for ten years and FOG is one of the recipients.  A BIG THANKS to Mark for his most special gift. 

Going to the Dogs

Jeffrey Nemeroff's Opening (Vol. II)

Jeff began his talk by commenting that his last FOG exhibition was about his love of the ocean. This one is more about his love of the weather at the ocean. His recent work focuses more on clouds and sky at Ocean Beach. These paintings have more brush work than palette knife and the surface is not at dense as his previous works.

Standing room only.

Taking a break photo by Cheryl Cooper

Their Art Lives On

We are greatly saddened by the recent passing of Janet Norris, one of the wonderful artists who has shown at FOG. Three other FOG artists: Mamade Kadreebux (12/31/17), Richard Kamler(11/1/18) and Tom Akawie (1/18/19) have also passed. All four artists presented a deep and richly nuanced body of work that made Far Out Gallery proud. Their art lives on...    

Janet Norris photo by Mark Hubbell

Mamade Kadreebux

Richard Kamler

Tom Akawie

Happy 100th Birthday, Ferlinghetti

from your friends at FOG. We sang some songs, we read your poems, we cut your cake and drank to you.

photos by Peter Munk (above) and Cheryl Cooper (below)

Anne read “The Artist,” and Peter read from “Little Boy” and also recited “Baseball Canto.”  There was a great reading of “I Am Waiting.”

All in all–including the cake and Prosecco–it was a magical event. Enough so that we’ve decided to host a yearly LF celebration.

Ferlinghetti / San Francisco Chronicle

Book Release Party at City Lights

Ferlinghetti’s new book, Little Boy, was released on March 19, and the release party drew a big crowd.

photos by Starr Sutherland

Join us for our own celebration chez FOG from 4-6 on MAR. 24

Lawrence Ferlinghetti's 100th Birthday

The whole city is gearing up for LF’s 100th birthday just two weeks from today. Anne and I went to the opening of his painting and drawing exhibit at Rena Bransten’s gallery at Minnesota Street.

S. Francisco Acrylic on paper 36 x 74 1/2 in. 1993

If you happen to be in Paris, there will be two weeks of celebrations at Shakespeare and Company, City Lights’ sister book store. We’ll be having our own celebration chez FOG from 4-6 on the 24th.  Everyone is encouraged to read a favorite poem, with cake and prosecco to follow.  Calling all “Whitman’s wild children.”   

Come in and peruse some of Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s books of poems on our window shelf.  We would love to hear you pick out a favorite, and give it a good reading.  Anne’s got a beauty, and so do I.

Join us for our own celebration chez FOG from 4-6 on MAR. 24

Introducing Hondo

…and he has something to say, dance, and show!

Carol A. Levy's Opening

TIDES: PAINTINGS AND WORKS ON PAPER

Her opening was packed with devoted friends from near and far as well as the regular FOG family art lovers.

Carol talked about the influence of her Buddhist practice on her life, and the fact that her life is her art. She described her process as a search and shared her method of making these paintings beginning with no preconception. She asks her mind to step out of the way to allow her intuition to take over. From there, she and the paint have a dialog where recognizable forms such as ships and figures emerge. Carol’s art straddles abstract and recognizable worlds for the viewer to explore.

Beauty inside and outside the gallery.

Hanging Carol A. Levy's Show

Carol A. Levy

Tides: paintings and works on paper

Opening this Saturday, March 2, 1-5 pm

Artist’s talk 2 pm

We Are Waiting

As February winds to a close, we have one more weekend to savor the striking photographs of Hank Keneally, and one week before the Tides - Carol Levy’s show of paintings opening on March 2nd.

photo by Starr Sutherland

March also marks a fantastic birthday: Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s 100th. Check out the schedule for all things Lawrence – including a documentary, an art show at Minnesota Street, a library tribute, a book release, and an open house at City Lights bookstore on the 24th.

We’ll also be honoring him here @Fog with a fete from 4-6, also on the 24th. Please join us and bring a favorite poem to read, or a good Lawrence Ferlinghetti story (I have a few to relate from my 43 years at City Lights).

Dressed for the Show

our good pal Clay

Gung Hay Fat Choy

Celebrating with Baba (above) and Jan (below).

Hank Keneally's Opening

Hank’s message: Take Time. Look Around. Listen.

Hank asks us to slow down. Much of today's media forces us into "automatic mode,” where things move faster than we can absorb them. At this rate, much of what’s around us is lost and cannot be acknowledged. It’s easy to lose our sense of self in our own environment.

His photographs are combinations of images taken mostly in San Francisco. They are montages of pavement, walls, dumpsters, trucks, etc., combined with painterly techniques from Photoshop.

These four took Hank’s message to heart. Drenched, they’re just back from stepping outside and seeing a rainbow.

Hanging Hank Keneally's Show

Please join us for the Opening of Hank’s

SAN FRANCISCO WALL ESCAPES

MIXED MEDIA PHOTOGRAPHS

Saturday, February 2, 2019

1 - 5 pm

Artist’s Talk at 2 pm

Robin Stearns' Opening

A spectacular event. San Francisco lovers, art lovers: Don’t miss Robin Stearn’s inspiring show.

Robin Stearns in front of Ghostly.

Bay Bridge 40x30 in oil on wood panel 2018

There are 18 breath-taking paintings of San Francisco on view.

One of the most expressive and entertaining talks ever.

And get a load of these cookies, would you?

A Note of Thanks

An end of the year note of thanks to all our Fog family and to our Taraval pals. We have forged a wonderful connection to the rich street life that we experience every time we open our doors: the amazing Jenny from the Sweet Passion Bakery, our lovely hair stylist Stacy two doors down, to the newest kids on the block, the After Hours crew, and Roberto at North Beach Pizza and Paul from the corner Sunsets Best Seafood. Our regular passersby who wave their hearty hellos: Esther from Walgreens, Gina next door, and of course, all our dog friends, who now perhaps are wondering where Carmen, the real boss at FOG, has gone. Anne and I feel so fortunate to be a part of this living, breathing community.  We wish you all a happy and healthy and artistic 2019.

A Sublime Solstice

A pretty wonderful event if we do say so ourselves. Thank you for coming!

The seasons go round and round…

P.S. WE’ll be open on Monday, DECEMBER 24, for you TO SEE STEPHEN FOX’S WONDROUS SCULPTURES..

Our Own Peter (and Lawrence)

Publlshed this month in Rain Taxi