Patchwork, Minimum, Maximum

Went to the Patchwork group show at GR2 on Saturday night. Almost immediately, we ran into contributing artist Philip Lumbang. The painter of bears just ended a sold-out solo stint at GRSF and is about to do the same at GR2... But first things first. Patchwork featured familiar artists (Lumbang, Ghahremani, Reyes) as well as new blood that attracted a standing-room-only crowd (not that we have chairs, below).


Michelle was the architect of the show consisting of works on square-shaped fabric. She was inspired by the Praxis quilt made by her friends Jenny and Diana in honor of the late, great canine. I don't know how many times Michelle explained the wall hanging throughout the evening.


Below, Wendy and Eloise admire the Lowly Worm-inspired pieces. Who made them?


The Double Date Collective of Jeaux Janovsky and Cristina Paulos. But who were they on a double date with?


Former GR proofreader, current GR artist: Louise Chen.


Say hi to newest addition to the GR crew, James.



Eloise vs. To-Fu Robots.


More pics and links to the artwork will be posted soon at gr2.net by our web dude, Brandon.


On Sunday afternoon I was invited by my friend Gina Osterloh, whose incredible conceptual photography was featured in GR59, to see Minimum Yields Maximum, a humble yet ambitious group show at Monte Vista Projects featuring artists from the Philippines, Vietnam, and the U.S. The group show that she curated is in large part inspired by her mentor, friend, and Philippines art giant Roberto Chabet.


Gina spent a year in Manila on the Fulbright's dime and met many of the featured artists there. In the background, you can see "Two Rings" by Gary-Ross Pastrana, a set of photos that show jewelry that was melted into a sword, which he used to cut himself, and then melted back into rings again. Conceptual, painful, personal.



Two pieces by our mutual friend (and friend of GR) Louie Cordero, who seems to be shifting from the pantheon of metal to the Indian iconography. I love seeing his eye-popping colors and precise brushwork in person. He has a big show coming up in New York City, and these pieces are being sent there.


Reanne Estrad's "One Thousand, One Hundred Eight" is carefully placed strands of hair on bars of soap. Mounted in a box under glass on a pillar, the effect is beautiful and disturbing.


Hong-An Truong's video piece "Explosions in the Sky (Dien Bien Phu 1954)" juxtaposes not only pop music and war footage but classic rock and karaoke for an extra twist. Watch for just a few minutes and you'll see.



There's more and you can check it out for another week. If you're lucky, you'll see my friend Shizu Saldamando. I discovered that she's part of the Mt. Washington-based collective, too. Last time I saw here was a My Bloody Valentine concert. One of the many things I like about Shizu is that not only does she have artistic skill beyond her years but her taste in music is that way, too. She was under the weather with the Ebola virus but I took her picture anyway! So cool and talented...