One of the best shows in San Francisco is only here for two days. Veteran gallerist Susan Alexander has put together a pop-up show in the Mission that opened last night and closes tonight, Sunday. Working with the theme “Fetish” – and paying more attention to it than many curators do to themes these days – Susan has assembled a congenial cadre of talented, like-minded artists.
The friend's apartment that Susan has taken over for this brief show is perfect for the event – clean walls, handsome wood floors, and a sunny balcony overlooking the back yard. There's ample room for visitors to hone in on their favorite pieces, and for each artist's work to make its own contribution to the theme.
I originally showed up on 14th Street to study a larger selection of Marsha Balian's eerie, implacable collages after seeing a few at the O'Hanlon Gallery in Mill Valley. But Marsha's restrained palette flows naturally into the work of painter Tracy Fitzgerald – and then expands into the paintings and constructions of Art Moura, a wild man who Susan characterizes as a “modern-day Basquiat.”
On the opposite wall are fanciful pierced metal figures by multitalented local Mark Bulwinkle, and a variety of metal shields by Joseph Mele. Paul Moshammer's quirky, well-crafted whimsical wood cutouts finishes off the feast.
Susan tells me that this is only her second pop-up, but there are bound to be more at other locations around the bay. This inspired selection of work, however, will expire at 8:00 tonight.
Fetish
Presented by Gallery Susan Alexander
Saturday and Sunday, October 5th & 6th
4:00 to 8:00 pm.
419 14th Street at Valencia, San Francisco
