The BEAT goes on

The San Francisco studio scene.

The Beat Generation, hanging in North Beach in the 1950’s. The chic Union Square gallery row of the 70’s, the Gold Coast designer galleries of the 80’s, etc., it migrates from hood to hood. And now, here we are, Twenty-ten.

(above photo is of my Beatnik Dad’s 1950’s how to art books)

Artists are once again bringing it back to San Francisco. I am so glad that my studio is in the Mission Gulch, it’s becoming a center of creativity – just hang for a bit at Atlas Café and you will get a feel for the energy. Art studios in building after building, not to mention the new galleries popping up. Great new addition to the hood is Guerrero Gallery on 19th (guerrerogallery.com/)

Roots. Artists have roots in those who have inspired us. Each generation, blends to the next to create and express in new ways and some not so new ways. We bring to the canvas our elders and ourselves. We all want to (or should want to) create our own expression, and yet, there it is, some small inspiration from an artist that has inspired us. The brush techniques, the bold colors, the minimal application, what ever it is, celebrate their experiments and push forward to your own expression.

It’s been a busy couple of weeks but I did manage to finish up two paintings and started one of Bi-Rite Market. I keep going back to paintings of the places I see everyday. When you look closer, there is so much to see, so many color possibilities. But for this week all is on hold!

The show is up at Bean There Café in the Lower Haight – 14 paintings. Transporting to shows is time consuming; they all go into their bubble wrap envelopes, just to be pulled out again for hanging.

Tomorrow, Friday, April 23 is going to be busy - I pull down the show in the morning to boot it back to my studio for opening reception of the Mission United Artists Spring Open Studios that night 7 –10 pm (Open Studios Saturday and Sunday). Along the way I drop off Memphis Minnie’s Bar-B-Que to STUDIO Gallery for inclusion in the upcoming group show Delicious: work inspired by food & drink (May 5th – June 6th) www.studiogallerysf.com

Next week, it’s wrap back up two paintings to deliver to Artist Xchange Gallery for the group show: Wine and Dine (opening reception is Friday, May 7, 7 – 10 pm).

Speaking of Miss Taxie Cab-ernet, The Studio Pup… she has her studio toys and I have mine.

And then we have “our” toys. She has been learning how to ride with me on the bike – she is doing great! Soon will be riding to the Studio!