Creativity Explored is a wondrous warmth filled place that is absolutely perfect for finding exceptional presents for people that you love, treasure, and care a lot about. But more than that - it's a remarkable and well run non-profit organization.
Creativity Explored is a nonprofit visual arts center where artists with developmental disabilities create, exhibit, and sell art. Many of the artists here - as referenced by the the Creativity Explored website - speak different languages - or in some cases - speak very little - if at all - so the importance of visual art and the importance of expression through visual art - takes on that much more significance.
I visited this space a little while back and was extremely moved by the wealth of diverse beauty that moved throughout this space. Creativity Explored not only has a gallery - which showcases these artists' works - but it also houses a store - where you can buy printed T-shirts and handmade bookmarks and such.
Probably the most moving aspect of this space is that you can walk around and see many of the artists creating the art at the space. The main gallery room in which they work - is large, well lit - and just full of love and inspired art.
3245 16th St
(between Spencer St & Dolores St)
San Francisco, CA 94103
Neighborhood: Mission
(415) 863-2108
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Sunday, March 25, 2012
The Artists Alley Review
This is a wonderful, 4000 sqft space, with great space utilization, to allow many artists to be showcased at once. I went here for the first time, for an event, and was pleasantly surprised to see soo many people inside wondering around and absorbing all of the local talent. Everyone there, staff and guests, were so friendly, vibrant, and eclectic. Walking thorugh this gallery gave me a new appreciation for the art talent. The fine arts business is in dire condition, from what I hear, so I am very pleased that a venue, such as Artists Alley, exists, to help keep such creativity alive. Lastly, the location is great, right on Mission, opposite from Westfield, close to BART, and plenty of parking just above.
I personally know the owners/management of this gallery and they are as exquisite as the art! They are really engaging with all the customers/people who just want to drop in and look at some gorgeous art pieces!
The gallery itself is HUGE and it's perfect place to impress co-workers/boss. The paintings provide a perfect backdrop for any occasion! I hosted a holiday party here and it was a hit! The alcohol was flowing, the appetizers were endless and the paintings on the wall were the iciest of ice-breakers! In the winter time, it does get a little chilly, so bring a shawl or cardigan to stay warm as you enjoy the visual treats of the local San Francisco artists!
863 Mission St
(between 4th St & 5th St)
San Francisco, CA 94103
Neighborhood: SOMA
(415) 522-2440
I personally know the owners/management of this gallery and they are as exquisite as the art! They are really engaging with all the customers/people who just want to drop in and look at some gorgeous art pieces!
The gallery itself is HUGE and it's perfect place to impress co-workers/boss. The paintings provide a perfect backdrop for any occasion! I hosted a holiday party here and it was a hit! The alcohol was flowing, the appetizers were endless and the paintings on the wall were the iciest of ice-breakers! In the winter time, it does get a little chilly, so bring a shawl or cardigan to stay warm as you enjoy the visual treats of the local San Francisco artists!
863 Mission St
(between 4th St & 5th St)
San Francisco, CA 94103
Neighborhood: SOMA
(415) 522-2440
Printed Matter Review
Collecting Artists' books is an unhealthy and often expensive habit. You can spend months or years searching for the one you need to complete a set, or worse yet, walk in to a place like Printed Matter and splurge on 20 that youve never even seen before. Wait. No. Thats not true. You cant walk in to a place like Printed Matter and buy 20 artists books that youve never seen before because there is nowhere else in the world that would have that many of these treasures in one place. And theyve got WAY more than 20.
Granted, you cant walk in and pick up a Ruscha 1st or rare Lewitt or something.. but thats not really what Printed Matter is about. These days, the high end stuff has all made its way in to private collections or dealers' hands and is priced through the roof. You can go to Borders or something and buy a $40 glossy hardcover monster book about Thomas Kinkade or you can go to PM and buy a $3 flip book of Jesus' face made out of barcodes.. its up to you.
Need the newest Prince book? They'll have it. Nieves? They have it! No shipping from BFE, either! Maybe you just want some inspiration or a book filled with 200 pages of the same word typed over and over and over and over again. Got it. My strategy is to walk in and start from the back and work forward. I pull any book that is completely blank or white on the outside first. Then I pull books that have nothing on the spines. I then go through my pile and weed out the ones I already have and usually buy the rest. A few newbies and straglers make it in on occasion as well.
195 10th Ave
(between 21st St & 22nd St)
New York, NY 10011
Neighborhood: Chelsea
(212) 925-0325
Granted, you cant walk in and pick up a Ruscha 1st or rare Lewitt or something.. but thats not really what Printed Matter is about. These days, the high end stuff has all made its way in to private collections or dealers' hands and is priced through the roof. You can go to Borders or something and buy a $40 glossy hardcover monster book about Thomas Kinkade or you can go to PM and buy a $3 flip book of Jesus' face made out of barcodes.. its up to you.
Need the newest Prince book? They'll have it. Nieves? They have it! No shipping from BFE, either! Maybe you just want some inspiration or a book filled with 200 pages of the same word typed over and over and over and over again. Got it. My strategy is to walk in and start from the back and work forward. I pull any book that is completely blank or white on the outside first. Then I pull books that have nothing on the spines. I then go through my pile and weed out the ones I already have and usually buy the rest. A few newbies and straglers make it in on occasion as well.
195 10th Ave
(between 21st St & 22nd St)
New York, NY 10011
Neighborhood: Chelsea
(212) 925-0325
Jonathan LeVine Gallery Review
It took me a while to finally get myself to the Jonathan LeVine Gallery. I had seen ads for a variety of cool shows by some great graffiti and comic book artists, but always wound up missing them. I finally made the trek to the gallery to see The Invader: Top 10 show, which featured popular album covers recreated with Rubik's Cubes. Awesome to say the least. There was also another exhibit of a french painter who created some truly stunning mixed media pieces and some disturbing (in a good way) portrait pieces.
This is one gallery I'll be keeping on my radar, because you can get yourself a solid dose of pop surrealism art without dropping major coin at a rip off like Moma. Plus, I liked the works here a hell of a lot better. It's also in a great building with many other galleries.
Most of the work is highly illustrative and though categorized as low brow/pop surrealism art, it is also commonly known under the graffiti movement prevalent in the art world now. Most of the work is emotional, powerful and controversial. in that sense it is also celebrated. these artists push the limits of art in a truly new form of art where no specific style exists in this movement save for the raw, surreal color pallet and the variety of artists that undress their world through their canvas, or at the JLGallery, the walls.
529 W 20th St
9E
New York, NY 10011
Neighborhood: Chelsea
(212) 243-3822
This is one gallery I'll be keeping on my radar, because you can get yourself a solid dose of pop surrealism art without dropping major coin at a rip off like Moma. Plus, I liked the works here a hell of a lot better. It's also in a great building with many other galleries.
Most of the work is highly illustrative and though categorized as low brow/pop surrealism art, it is also commonly known under the graffiti movement prevalent in the art world now. Most of the work is emotional, powerful and controversial. in that sense it is also celebrated. these artists push the limits of art in a truly new form of art where no specific style exists in this movement save for the raw, surreal color pallet and the variety of artists that undress their world through their canvas, or at the JLGallery, the walls.
529 W 20th St
9E
New York, NY 10011
Neighborhood: Chelsea
(212) 243-3822
Boris Jairala Review
Boris totally deserves an amazing review, his creativity and attention to detail is amazing.. He has painted me and honestly, I can't count the number of compliments I have gotten from his painting. Since that I have acquired another piece from Boris's collection and still the admiration for the decoration in my home has flowed abundantly. I can't wait to get my next piece from this brilliant artist. To top, his attitude is top notch, easy going and totally professional at the same time
I contracted Mr. Jairala a year ago. He worked on two items for me. Besides being very professional Boris worked in an extremely timely manner. Throughout the painting sessions Boris provided me with feedback on his progress. When I received my paintings I was quite mesmerized by the likeness of the individuals. The paintings he create for me were spectacular. Since then I have referred many of my friends to Mr. Jairala. I would recommend Boris to anyone who appreciates art and professionalism
Brooklyn, NY 11214
(917) 326-1979
I contracted Mr. Jairala a year ago. He worked on two items for me. Besides being very professional Boris worked in an extremely timely manner. Throughout the painting sessions Boris provided me with feedback on his progress. When I received my paintings I was quite mesmerized by the likeness of the individuals. The paintings he create for me were spectacular. Since then I have referred many of my friends to Mr. Jairala. I would recommend Boris to anyone who appreciates art and professionalism
Brooklyn, NY 11214
(917) 326-1979
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Public Glass Review
A coworker who has been making fused glass art at Public Glass for several years mentioned the Hot Glass, Cold Beer event, and I was instantly intrigued.
Ever since I met Dale Chihuly and was able to see him and his team work up close and personal, I've had a little bit of a crush on glassblowers in general. For those of you who've never seen glass being blown in person--it's damn sexy. So when S. mentioned that for $25 I could choose my very own unique drinking glass created at the studio, have it filled with beer or wine, snack on goodies, listen to live music, and watch two sexy Scandinavian glass blowers, I was so in.
The guest artists were total rock stars. Picture hot, edgy, Euro artistes, with guns big enough to wield the weighty molten glass, wearing tight T-shirts, and orchestrating a team of assistants along to some solid tunes in a smoking hot warehouse and you'll understand why they weren't the only ones sweating.
1750 Armstrong Avenue
(between Lane St & Mendell St)
San Francisco, CA 94124
Neighborhood: Bayview/Hunters Point
(415) 671-4916
Ever since I met Dale Chihuly and was able to see him and his team work up close and personal, I've had a little bit of a crush on glassblowers in general. For those of you who've never seen glass being blown in person--it's damn sexy. So when S. mentioned that for $25 I could choose my very own unique drinking glass created at the studio, have it filled with beer or wine, snack on goodies, listen to live music, and watch two sexy Scandinavian glass blowers, I was so in.
The guest artists were total rock stars. Picture hot, edgy, Euro artistes, with guns big enough to wield the weighty molten glass, wearing tight T-shirts, and orchestrating a team of assistants along to some solid tunes in a smoking hot warehouse and you'll understand why they weren't the only ones sweating.
1750 Armstrong Avenue
(between Lane St & Mendell St)
San Francisco, CA 94124
Neighborhood: Bayview/Hunters Point
(415) 671-4916
The Red Poppy Art House Review
This venue is exactly the way to incorporate art into real neighborhoods. This is what Peter Sellars was talking about when he said we should bomb all the museums and just have places in between bodegas and t-shirt shops where you can see and make art.
Nice programming, great work. It's small, but give me a break. Why don't you donate some money before complaining about the size, the chairs, and the fact that it's not a Big Block Bastion of Art where you pay two drink minimums and a helluva cover charge just to get in and schmooze. This is where to go when you just want good music, dance, or other without eating pbj and beans-n-rice for the rest of the month.
2698 Folsom St
(between 22nd St & 23rd St)
San Francisco, CA 94110
Neighborhood: Mission
(415) 826-2402
Nice programming, great work. It's small, but give me a break. Why don't you donate some money before complaining about the size, the chairs, and the fact that it's not a Big Block Bastion of Art where you pay two drink minimums and a helluva cover charge just to get in and schmooze. This is where to go when you just want good music, dance, or other without eating pbj and beans-n-rice for the rest of the month.
2698 Folsom St
(between 22nd St & 23rd St)
San Francisco, CA 94110
Neighborhood: Mission
(415) 826-2402
Palace Of Fine Arts Review
The Palace of Fine Arts is a monumental structure originally constructed for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition to exhibit works of art presented there. One of only a few surviving structures from the Exposition, it is the only one still situated on its original site. It was rebuilt in 1965, and renovation of the lagoon, walkways, and a seismic retrofit were completed in early 2009.
It's a popular attraction for me and others and is one of the key landmarks that I look for when I'm in or near San Francisco by land or water. The Palace is also on the top of my bring the tourists list, although I prefer walking here as part of a larger pedestrian tour of the City. And with lunch or dinner in the Marina. I love walking around and especially if there's a wedding party on the grounds. I also enjoy watching the swans and ducks, meandering around the columns, gazing up at the dome, relaxing in the park, and counting my blessings for being able to live in the Bay Area.
3301 Lyon St
(at Bay St)
San Francisco, CA 94123
Neighborhood: Marina/Cow Hollow
(415) 563-6504
It's a popular attraction for me and others and is one of the key landmarks that I look for when I'm in or near San Francisco by land or water. The Palace is also on the top of my bring the tourists list, although I prefer walking here as part of a larger pedestrian tour of the City. And with lunch or dinner in the Marina. I love walking around and especially if there's a wedding party on the grounds. I also enjoy watching the swans and ducks, meandering around the columns, gazing up at the dome, relaxing in the park, and counting my blessings for being able to live in the Bay Area.
3301 Lyon St
(at Bay St)
San Francisco, CA 94123
Neighborhood: Marina/Cow Hollow
(415) 563-6504
Studio Gallery Review
I never visit Studio without finding several pieces of art I'd love to own. The prices are reasonable, and the owner is so into the artists. She thoughtfully selects the art and the themes of the exhibits, and loves to share what she knows about each piece and each artist without being pushy in the least.....so each visit is a pleasant experience. Finally I bought a couple of small oil paintings right before Christmas to give as gifts. The recipients loved them-they were San Francisco cityscapes. Perfect for people you've known forever who seem to have everything. Studio is a great local business which I feel you, yelper x, should support also.
1815 Polk St
(between Washington St & Jackson St)
San Francisco, CA 94109
Neighborhood: Nob Hill
(415) 931-3130
1815 Polk St
(between Washington St & Jackson St)
San Francisco, CA 94109
Neighborhood: Nob Hill
(415) 931-3130
Creativity Explored Review
All of the recently purchased artwork in my apartment is from Creativity Explored. Why? Because the price is right, and the artwork is really amazing. This gallery is a non-profit that works with artists who have disabilities to create paintings, sculptures, film, you name it. The best time to visit is during one of their openings. Walk through the front gallery into a large warehouse covered in artwork. Piles of artwork. Artwork on the walls. Artwork on the tables. Everything is colorful and gorgeous, and the parties are a hell of a lot more fun than most I've been to in this city. But the collection is really some of the most original art I've seen. Try this place out, you'll be hooked.
3245 16th St
(between Spencer St & Dolores St)
San Francisco, CA 94103
Neighborhood: Mission
(415) 863-2108
3245 16th St
(between Spencer St & Dolores St)
San Francisco, CA 94103
Neighborhood: Mission
(415) 863-2108
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