Modernism Inc.

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Artwork: Shawn HUCKINS, “American Portrait II: Mrs. Joseph Hooper (After Copley),” 2022, oil and acrylic on canvas

To walk with nature as a poet is the necessary condition of a perfect artist
– Thomas Cole, Hudson River School

Artwork: Michael BRENNAN, “Hudson River School (Hudson River School / Frank Stella),” 2023, oil on canvas

Last night Modernism hosted a presentation of Jonathon Keats’ new inventions which consult other species as decision makers.

Research shows that humans cannot stand alone, and that loss of biodiversity is bad for everyone. People suffer when other life forms suffer, and vice versa. Individuals aren’t going to be better off unless the planet is better off. Our air conditioned lives prevent us from looking at self-interest at the appropriate scale. An easy way to begin is to assess the wellbeing of nonhuman kin we encounter every day.

Now on view at Modernism Gallery, and concurrently at the Institute of Contemporary Art San José, a laboratory directed by Jonathon Keats’ explores stress, which all species experience. An increase in stress over time indicates that conditions are suboptimal, and signals disapproval of the political status quo. Because all species respond to stress in ways that can be observed, and because their stress response can reveal environmental consequences of policies more swiftly and accurately than people can observe on their own, their inclusion in public discourse promises to increase planetary homeostasis.

For further information see link in bio or call (415) 541-0461.

“Victor Reyes: Memory Only” is on view now thorough January 10, 2025 at Modernism West / Foreign Cinema

The exhibition title reflects the ephemerality of the chimera Reyes once observed, a time and place that exists now only as memory. He recalls watching “the cellular death of the twentieth century” as the digital age was ushered in. This convergence is echoed in the competing presence of the gestural marks, Matisse-like organic forms, and hard-edge techniques found in this group of paintings, all created by painting a series of opaque and translucent layers with the use of screens and molds. With a color palette that ranges from bright and lively to dark and muddled, the works in Memory Only hold vigil for the vestige of San Francisco.

See the exhibition at link in bio.

Artwork: Victor REYES, “New Mission,” 2024, pigment & binder on canvas

Bookshelf Highlights: Books play an integral part of our daily life and work at Modernism. We are pleased to share with you some of our treasured volumes.

Today we present “Pamiatnik III Internatsionala.” This book, a detailed survey of Vladimir Tatlin’s [1885-1953] tower concept, was written by Nikolai Punin [1988-1953] in 1920. The title, which is Russian for “Monument to the Third International,” references Tatlin’s proposal for a radical Constructivist monument. The tower was to be made of iron and glass, stand 100 meters taller than the Eiffel tower, and straddle the river Neva. The glass chambers suspended throughout the structure (intended as government headquarters) were designed to revolve at different speeds, with complete revolutions ranging from one year to one hour. Due to technological limitations of the time and grandiosity of scale, the tower was never erected. Tatlin’s vision is remembered through literature, recreations of the structure, and photographs, such as this 1920 photograph of a model fabricated by students under Tatlin’s direction (see second image).

The Future Democracies Laboratory
Politcal Innovations by Jonathon Keats
Grand Opening, Wednesday, October 30th, 6-8pm at Modernism

Confronting simultaneous crises in American democracy and global ecology, a pioneering laboratory at San José State University has invented technologies to fundamentally alter elections and governance. Under the direction of experimental philosopher and artist Jonathon Keats, working in collaboration with SJSU faculty and students, the Future Democracies Laboratory has developed protocols for including all living beings in politics in order to better represent the interests of the whole planet.

For further information call (415) 541-0461 or click link in bio

A work of art is a renewable source of energy.
– Brice Marden

Artwork: Brice MARDEN [1938-2023], “Greyer Muses,” 2011

Today is the last day to visit Modernism at The San Francisco Fall Show.
Booth B1
Fort Mason Festival Pavilion.
11aam - 5pm

www.sffallshow.org

Featured artists:
EDITH BAUMANN | MICHAEL BRENNAN | LUCIEN CLERGUE | MICHAEL DWECK | JAMES HAYWARD | SHELDON GREENBERG | GOTTFRIED HELNWEIN | SCOT HEYWOOD | SHAWN HUCKINS | SAMEH KHALATBARI | HELEN KIM | NAOMIE KREMER | BRICE MARDEN | KRISTINE MAYS | LINDSAY McCRUM | MACHA POYNDER | JOHN REGISTER | VICTOR REYES | BEN SCHONZEIT | MARK STOCK | SAM TCHAKALIAN | JACQUES VILLEGLÉ

More info on the event at link in bio

Artwork: Helen KIM, “Shaping Space,” 2023, oil and cold wax

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Last night we toasted to the opening of the 42nd San Francisco Fall Show, in benefit of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.

Modernism is exhibiting at booth B1 in the Fort Mason Festival Pavilion through Sunday.

Event info at link in bio

Featured artists:
EDITH BAUMANN | MICHAEL BRENNAN | LUCIEN CLERGUE | MICHAEL DWECK | JAMES HAYWARD | SHELDON GREENBERG | GOTTFRIED HELNWEIN | SCOT HEYWOOD | SHAWN HUCKINS | SAMEH KHALATBARI | HELEN KIM | NAOMIE KREMER | BRICE MARDEN | KRISTINE MAYS | LINDSAY McCRUM | MACHA POYNDER | JOHN REGISTER | VICTOR REYES | BEN SCHONZEIT | MARK STOCK | SAM TCHAKALIAN | JACQUES VILLEGLÉ

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Modernism will be at The San Francisco Fall Show this week, October 17-20! Visit us at booth B1 in the Fort Mason Festival Pavilion from Thursday through Sunday.

Featured artists:
EDITH BAUMANN | MICHAEL BRENNAN | LUCIEN CLERGUE | MICHAEL DWECK | JAMES HAYWARD | SHELDON GREENBERG | GOTTFRIED HELNWEIN | SCOT HEYWOOD | SHAWN HUCKINS | SAMEH KHALATBARI | HELEN KIM | NAOMIE KREMER | BRICE MARDEN | KRISTINE MAYS | LINDSAY McCRUM | MACHA POYNDER | JOHN REGISTER | VICTOR REYES | BEN SCHONZEIT | MARK STOCK | SAM TCHAKALIAN | JACQUES VILLEGLÉ

More info on the event at link in bio

Artwork: Sam TCHAKALIAN [1929-2004], “Cheese Cloth,” 2003, oil on cavas

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ON VIEW NOW: 45th Anniversary Exhibition Part II

Part II of the 45th anniversary exhibitions features work by seminal Pop artists like Andy Warhol, Ed Ruscha, and Mel Ramos; a selection of historical Cubist pieces by artists such as Henri Hayden, Pablo Picasso, Albert Gleizes, and Georges Valmier; a new media room dedicated to light and video art; and an array of works by Modernism’s contemporary artists.

View the exhibition at link in bio.

Artwork: Eva LAKE, “The Torso No. 4,” 2013, collage

ON VIEW NOW: 45th Anniversary Exhibition Part II

Join us for the artists’ reception this Thursday, October 10 from 6-8pm.

Part II of the 45th anniversary exhibitions features work by seminal Pop artists like Andy Warhol, Ed Ruscha, and Mel Ramos; a selection of historical Cubist pieces by artists such as Henri Hayden, Pablo Picasso, Albert Gleizes, and Georges Valmier; a new media room dedicated to light and video art; and an array of works by Modernism’s contemporary artists.

View the exhibition at link in bio.

Artwork: Curtis RIPLEY, “Rushing Brightly” 2013, oil on canvas

ON VIEW NOW: 45th Anniversary Exhibition Part II

Join us for the artists’ reception on Thursday, October 10 from 6-8pm.

Part II of the 45th anniversary exhibitions features work by seminal Pop artists like Andy Warhol, Ed Ruscha, and Mel Ramos; a selection of historical Cubist pieces by artists such as Henri Hayden, Pablo Picasso, Albert Gleizes, and Georges Valmier; a new media room dedicated to light and video art; and an array of works by Modernism’s contemporary artists.

Artwork: Andy WARHOL [1928-1987], “Hamburger (Gold),” 1986

ON VIEW NOW: 45th Anniversary Exhibition Part II

In celebration of the 45th anniversary Modernism is pleased to present a two-part retrospective showcasing over one-hundred of the international artists working in diverse genres and media whose work has defined the gallery.

The new exhibit features work by seminal Pop artists like Andy Warhol, Ed Ruscha, and Mel Ramos; a selection of historical Cubist pieces by artists such as Henri Hayden, Pablo Picasso, Albert Gleizes, and Georges Valmier; a new media room dedicated to light and video art; and an array of works by Modernism’s contemporary artists.

Artwork: Ben SCHONZEIT, “Anniversary,” 2014, acrylic on linen

ON VIEW NOW: “Victor REYES: Memory Only”

“Memory Only,” Modernism’s first solo exhibition of seventeen paintings and works on paper by Victor Reyes, is on view through to January 10, 2025. The exhibition title reflects the ephemerality of the San Francisco chimera Reyes once observed, a time and place that exists now only as memory. Inspired by his experience of “the cellular death of the twentieth century,” the works in “Memory Only” hold vigil for the vestige of the City.

See the exhibition at link in bio.

Artwork: Victor REYES, “Hiro Protagonist,” 2024, pigment & binder on canvas

ON VIEW NOW: 45th Anniversary Exhibition Part II

In celebration of the 45th anniversary Modernism is pleased to present a two-part retrospective showcasing over one-hundred of the international artists working in diverse genres and media whose work has defined the gallery.

Part I of the 45th anniversary show featured the Russian and Ukrainian avant-gardes as well as several other areas of concentration such as Nouveau Réalisme and hard-edge abstraction. On view now, Part II largely completes the picture. The new exhibit features work by seminal Pop artists like Andy Warhol, Ed Ruscha, and Mel Ramos; a selection of historical Cubists works by artists such as Henri Hayden, Pablo Picasso, Albert Gleizes, and Georges Valmier; a new media room dedicated to light and video art; and an array of works by Modernism’s contemporary artists.

Artwork: Cork MARCHESCHI, “Goodbye Uncle Buddy,”1980, neon tubes and light

lightsculpture

Tomorrow evening Foreign Cinema, the home of Modernism West, will be celebrating their 25th anniversary. Many congratualtions to Gayle, John, and the Foreign Cinema family on this remarkable achievement.

We invite you to join us for Foreign Cinema’s immersive Moulin Rouge-themed gala Thursday, September 25, 2024 from 5-10pm. Proceeds to benefit nonprofit family homelessness interventionist Hamilton Families.

Few tickets remaining!

Link in bio or here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/foreign-cinemas-25th-anniversary-charity-gala-tickets-896583514427

Artwork: Jacques VILLEGLÉ [1926-2022], 16, rue Saint-Denis, 15 mai 1982, décollage mounted on canvas

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Congratulations to Victor Reyes! Last Thursday we celebrated the opening of “Victor Reyes: Memory Only” at Modernism West / Foreign Cinema.

“Memory Only,” Modernism’s first solo exhibition of seventeen paintings and works on paper by Victor Reyes, is on view through January 10, 2025. The exhibition title reflects the ephemerality of the San Francisco chimera Reyes once observed, a time and place that exists now only as memory. Inspired by his experience of “the cellular death of the twentieth century”,” the works in “Memory Only” hold vigil for the vestige of the City.