Scott Courtnay- Smith is an Oakland based artist who I have featured on The Oakland Berkeley Journal. Being that Pro Arts East Bay Open Studio 2009 starts June 6th, I asked Scott to give me his list of must see artists. For information on ProArt, click here. Thanks Scott!
1.Idan Levin Jingletown (JABC) 2889 Ford Street, #41 Oakland, CA 94601 (415)505-8154 vantage@idanlevin.comwww.idanlevin.com Address for Exhibit Only June 6-7, June 13-14 Photography
Levin's photographs capture a secret urban environment that is around us everyday but goes mostly unnoticed. This is in part because he works at night when most of us are inside, and also because of the vantage points from which he shoots he shoots . His dreamily mysterious images contain an aspect of the clandestine nature of graffiti art-- without the defacement issue. A former soldier trained in reconnaissance, Levin reminds me of a hunter turned nature photographer that I once met while camping-- "This is how I shoot my trophies now", he explained, holding aloft his telephoto rig.
2.James Lovekin Swarm Studios 560 2nd Street, Studio 2 Oakland, CA 94607 (510)847-0530 jameslovekin@gmail.comwww.jameslovekin.com June 6-7, June 13-14 Mixed Media
James expresses his unique world view with paintings and collage that are at the same time visually stunning, thought provoking, and sometimes humorous. He works in collage and paint-- often combining the two. His sense of color is very distinct . Recently he made the switch from acrylic to oil, and the results are exciting, to say the least.
3. Lorrie Fink 3298 Lakeshore Avenue Oakland, CA 94610 (510)326-1990 lorrie@lorriefink.comwww.lorriefink.com Saturday June 6, Sunday June 7 Painting
Gorgeous, visceral and semi- abstract, Lorrie's recent work is loosely based on her observations of tide pools. A beautiful sense of color and form permeates her rich paintings in oil, alkyd and wax.
4. Janine Miller Janine Miller-Fritz "Nimby" 8410 Amelia Street Oakland, CA 94621 j.millerfritz@yahoo.comwww.appliedkineticarts.com Mechanical/Electrical
Industrial. Please see NimbySpace.org for details on event highlights on the evening of June 6th. Saturday June 6, Sunday June 7 Mixed Media Sculpture
I am including this pick because, if you haven't been to NIMBY, now is your chance to have your idea of art stretched out a little-- or a lot, depending on what you've already experienced. You won't be bored, I guarantee. And it's possible that you might have a religious experience.
In parting, I want to say that jpegs are no substitute for viewing live art, and so encourage everyone to get out and see as much as they can. - Scott Courtnay-Smith
