New Works by Travis Louie, Kris Kuksi and Mercedes Helnwein
Showing October 11th through October 31st 2008
Opening Reception August 16th from 7-11 pm. Open to the public.
Hyperlink to image:
http://www.shootinggallerysf.com/full_images/gal_artist_25_2957_travispromo.jpg 

A twist of reality, mortality, and imagination in a collective exhibit of mixed media installations, paintings and drawings by some of the most loved and followed artists comes to The Shooting Gallery October 11th 2008.

As I drift off into another world of monstrous creatures smiling in formal portraits of German expressionism and film noir from the silent era, I come to realize Travis Louie has a genius combination of creativity and humor that is unmatched in today’s art culture. As if you just stepped out of a storybook you find these beautifully ugly creatures pulling you into a universe strangely awkward and delightful. His portraits are almost Victorian or antique with delicate yet precise technique. He uses acrylic paints over tight graphite drawings on smooth grounds, like “plate” finish illustration board or finely sanded, primed wood panels. The influences for his work are many; the genre films, his fascination with human oddities, circus sideshows, old Vaudeville magic acts, Victorian portraits, and things otherworldly, are all blended together to enable him to bring life to the characters and stories he writes to represent each one of them individually.

In a multifaceted collection of mediums including figurative, natural and grotesque mini-empires of ornate and assembled pieces Kris Kuksi creates an overabundance of stimulus to be drawn into. The installations are mind boggling, intricate and collective. Art, music, maritime cannibalism, breakthrough medical research, space exploration, the mind, human form, symmetry, geometry, psychology, spiders, bones, arthropods, anatomy, war, peace, humor, children, and toys are just a few things that are represented in his mixed-media assemblages. This divine imagery of creations is almost impossible to grasp to the full extent of details. I can spend hours discovering the things hidden in plain view.

With a focus on creating a scene that leaves room for imagination, the drawings of Mercedes Helnwein have figures facing a wall or turned away so that you can’t see the face. Helnwein’s drawings are vintage, engaging, portraying suspense or a violent undertone with an outwardly innocent narrative. With empty stares almost like a beautiful homicide scene, her characters seem sensitive, compelling, and guilty of a crime yet to be committed. This simple beauty, and elegant purity makes for an exceptional composition.

We are happy to bring a collection of new works by Travis Louie, Kris Kuksi, Mercedes Helnwein to The Shooting Gallery. The opening reception is on October 11th 2008 from 7pm till 11pm, and will show until October 31st 2008. This event is open to the public.

Location: The Shooting Gallery
839 Larkin St
SF CA 94109
Contact us for any questions at www.shootinggallerysf.com  or call (415) 931-8035.