ARTISTS RECEPTION:  Wednesday Nov 4, 6 - 8pm

Two floors of art  ~ curator comments 6:45pm ~ wine and hors d'ouevres ~ Charles Vickers, astrologer

NOIR

From dark humor to dark corners, the concept of 'noir' refers to a dark vulnerability palpable in the atmosphere of a scene that is experienced by the characters and felt by the viewer and speaks to pregnant moments full of complex of emotions.  A 'noir' presentation relies heavily on a viewer's own vulnerabilities (fear, apprehension, curiosity with the macabre) to fill the mood of the scene based on cues given by the artist, as if both parties are complicit in leading each other down a path with an indeterminate, potentially unpleasant, outcome...

Curator: Matt McKinley

Featuring: KAREN LUKE,  Also featuring: VICTORIA Q. LEGG, CATHERINE SMALL, TINA CASPER, CHRISTINE CIANCI, NICOLE FERRARA, JAMIE STOBIE, X. P. CALLAHAN, CHARLOTTE KAY, JENNIFER MACK, LISA SIMONSON, LORI KREIN, BARBARA LANDIS, DAN COPE, DANNELL POWELL

VIEW IMAGES

location: 69 Green Street (x. Battery) SF, CA 94111

Karen Luke (featured artist, Lower Level Gallery):

"I love the process of learning and constantly challenge myself to see the world in new ways. It’s not the subject itself, but the essence, or core nature that matters. That’s what I look for in my paintings. However my interests are quite varied as I’m most drawn to psychological, mysterious and evocative imagery. Growing up with a mixture of Chinese philosophy, folk practices and western religion, I was influenced to explore various religions and beliefs. I’m intrigued with the concept of spirituality and our place in the universe.  Is there another dimension(s) or other world? The “what if…?” These are some of the profound, interesting questions, the billions of possibilities life poses which inspires me to investigate, explore and capture."

On exhibit through JAN 15, 2010