Last week I attended the opening for A Complicated Dominion, the current exhibition running at the San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery. The bright light at the end of the tunnel for me was James Drake’s video titled “City of Tells,” a fifteen-minute loop showing on three screens situated in the back of the gallery hidden by a black curtain. The piece is formed by three Thanksgiving-like tables being filmed by a static camera except the dinner guests are hogs, snakes, and horses. Themes of sloth, destruction, artificial character, and deception swirl. I couldn’t help but think of excessive capitalism and the American Way that has become life here in the states, and the title might just imply a Las Vegas standard, a city of poker tells where victims unwillingly reveal blips of truth that lead to their (financial) slaughter.

The other shining piece was “Metronome (Cuttlefish)” by Tiffany Bozic, a circular, acrylic on maple panel piece that is 48 inches in diameter framed. Before you even approach the title card the painting is palpable. You can feel the oscillating tick-tock of a metronome as your eyes circle the canvas counter-clockwise following the squid. Metaphor for turning back time? Returning to a less complicated dominion where the creatures of the planet ruled above and below the sea? What is nice about Bozic’s piece is that, as an object, it is gorgeous, something I think that is important to works hanging in any gallery. Across the wall there are a few pieces that look better photographed than live, and an impressive over-sized print that upon closer examination lacks the finer quality of delicate registration. Regardless, an interesting show, and congratulations to any artist anywhere who makes it into any gallery show.

Paul Hayes will simply not stop working on his fantastic piece at the SFAC Gallery Window across the street. Red swarms have been added. He is giving a talk on June 26th at 6pm and that means you have plenty of time to check out the window before he speaks.

Finally, a quote: “Art is itself an organism, a body of work that evolves from a unique vision which, in turn, deepens through the continued effort to give it form. It is an organic outgrowth of those who pursue a commitment to make themselves artists. Talent, sincerity, training, hard work, dedication - all are important and, probably, crucial to it, yet none in itself, nor even all together, necessarily guarantees art.” - Thomas Albright, April 16, 1981.