McGloughlin Gallery Pofile - Artweek.la June 2011
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San Francisco's Mcloughlin Gallery
"We are dedicated to showcasing local and international
contemporary art, with a "focus on the expressive and tactile. Our focus is
expressive art which showcases bold bright colors," so says Joan Mcgloughlin owner
and chief curator San Francisco's Mcgloughlin gallery of her creative
mission.
"Its textual tactile work that has a figurative
expressive approach. Most other galleries at the 49 Geary complex focus on
photography, though Mcgloughlin Gallery features only one I photographer. I
also mix European and local emerging artist, ultimately I want to create an
inviting and approachable stance," she adds
In operation less than a year, San Francisco's Mcloughlin
gallery, nestled inside the esteemed 49 Geary Street arts complex is testament
to San Francisco's increasing significance within the global arts community
Joan McLoughlin is not your
typical gallerist. She brings the passion of a collector and the business savvy
honed from 20 years of success in the fast-paced Silicon Valley start-up world
to her new and ultimate role as the owner of The McLoughlin Gallery in San
Francisco.
"I have always been
infatuated with art. As a young girl growing up in a small rural town outside
of Windsor, Ontario, I used to visit art fairs and was mesmerized by the
intense energy displayed on the canvas. I am especially attracted to figurative
work as it often celebrates the human form and provides a glimpse into the mind
and its emotions, which I find endlessly fascinating," reflects Joan.
Despite being early days,
The McLoughlin Gallery is already on track, tapping the network and expertise
of renowned gallerists/ collectors including Javier Perez of Peres Projects in
Berlin and Lambert Monet – owner of the Galerie Monet in Berlin and great
grandson of the great French impressionist Claude
Asked where she perceives the gallery to stand on a world
level Joan confides, "In the SF scene galleries tend to have a tendency to go
outside of SF to seek talent, either LA or NYC. I hope we can change that with
these upcoming fairs, and transform the perception of SF art. We, are
becoming well known for finding and promoting local San Franciscan artists,
while also tapping a pool of international talent with our shows."
Of the gallery's current portfolio of artists Joan says they
are generally more "hip and emerging," than most other galleries including
sculptors Laura Kimpton and Jeff Schomberg, and painter John Waguespack.
Jeff Schomberg is a self taught artist inspired by
Calder and Richard Serra who observes natural elements then represents them in
steel. He crafts sculptures from stainless steel, with the addition of
reduced and welded on sections ---
John Waguespack is an emerging artist residing in San
Francisco. Using oil on canvas, John creates abstract painting incorporating
pop-art icons to address political issues of today and the decade of his birth,
the '70's.
Laura
Kimpton --- Known for her daring and thought-provoking work; including "Celtic
Forest," a sculpture and fire site at Burning Man featuring a 13-foot ritual
statue surrounded by a fire moat and 25-foot steel trees. Laura will present her
solo show "Flying Solo" at The McLoughlin Gallery from June 2 through July 30,
2011
This
solo exhibition of 2D and 3D recycled mixed media creations draws upon Laura's
spiritual connection to birds and her own need to tear down societal
constraints that keep us from discovering and celebrating our inner core.
Using photographs, bird skulls, found objects, books, antique toys and resin,
she will transform materials rooted in the past to spirited objects of flight
and freedom.
Asked
about her work, Kimpton says, she's been inspired to reassess the concept of
Darwinian evolution and the notion of human's heading up the food chain.
Instead she has conceptually explored the notion of birds and humans forming a
sublime existentialist hybrid
On her
inspiration, she revealed, "When I went to burning man for the first time in
2003, I noticed that it was a world where those who learned through images, ie
spacial learners where put on a pedestal, worshipped, honored. This changed my
life.
I have
been creating art my whole life in my head or out. Early on in my life I
noticed that the world put people who could learn this silly symbol system
called the written language, ie. Linguistic people on a pedestal. I was
not one of these people."
Another stalwart artist, though one of a markedly
different genre is Renaud Delorme, a French mixed media artist who specializes
in images of celebrities constructed of found objects. His image of Grace Kelly
(160 x 67 inches) features hair made of tennis balls and wire cable.
Ultimately gallerist Joan
Mcgloughlin says she aims to "cultivate the incredible artistic talent in San
Francisco and provide an inviting gallery with an educational component where
the community can learn about contemporary art."
Testament to the gallery's
newfound success was its presence at two major Artfaires held in San Francisco
in May, namely the San
Francisco Fine Art
Fair held May20 - 22, and ArtPadSF.
Of the gallery's success at
the fairs, Joan adds, " The response from the San
Francisco art community was better than expected. Nine thousand
people attend the opening events at the 3 fairs. Yes, San Francisco is interested in art. We had
representation from major galleries from around the world. It was a great
opportunity for the gallery to get exposure. We captured the attention of
local collectors and collectors from Miami and LA.
The work of mixed media work of Delorme and photographic work of Nosratabadi
drew everyone to the booth resulting in multiple sales of their work. It
was a great first fair for us and we made a great first impression."
The
Mcgloughlin gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
and is located at 49 Geary Street, Suite 200 in San Francisco. For more
information, please call 415-658-1641 or visit www.mgart.com.
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