The works depict “new nature inspired by nature, growing,” says Abplanalp, and are characterized by both horrific and playful vignettes. The subject matter of the paintings, drawings, and found-object sculptures is mainly fantastic imagery derived from the mind of the artist, but based on real plant life, bugs, and the like, as well as “a couple of gods, of course,” says the artist, referring to the “Slug God” and “God of the Soil” works.

This later painting presides as a sort of centerpiece of the show, he says.  In this work, the calm, slightly unfocused gaze of a face emerges from the malleable earth. “It’s based on a Mayan god that I found in a book, and the painting is extremely earthly – I just imagine this god made out of mud, rising out of the soil, and all these bugs living inside of him, and of course he’s very powerful. He is the earth.”

"i found squid head" by Robert Frank Abplanalp, part of "Specimens for the New Growth," currently up at Record Archive. PHOTO PROVIDED BY ARTIST

This body of work has been in progress for a bit, says Abplanalp. “I had been working in my sketchbooks for about the last year and a half, and had been doing a lot of plant life stuff, organisms, and bugs, and thinking a lot of what’s under the rocks, or behind bark, things like that. So the drawings kind of drove the show.” He describes his creation process as animating his ideas in the truest sense: “the way I was drawing was as if the drawings were growing. If I’m drawing a plant, I’m imagining it growing as I’m drawing it.”

Also included in the show are small and large canvases that had been in progress for about three years, which “couldn’t come together until these drawings were done,” says Abplanalp.  “So I concentrated on that, just drawing every day, my own nature.” Additionally, over the past 5 or 6 years, the artist has been playing around with little arrangements of found objects, “some natural, some pieces of industrial rubble, found on train tracks, in the woods, on the side of the road.” Eventually he shaped them into compositions which are also included in the exhibit.

Abplanalp’s reaction to insects is fairly normal and wise mix of interest and caution -  “I’m extremely fascinated by bugs, insects, and spiders and I had this idea that I wanted to start collecting bugs, but I’m also extremely terrified of them. So I don’t know if I can actually do it, because when I get close to them, I feel like I’m going to throw up.” His work thus far has included some found cicada corpses.

As we’re talking, of course, a giant albino spider tightropes its way across the metal grate tabletop, seemingly as disturbed by us as we are by it.

You might note the playful, anthropomorphized nature projected onto the artist’s depictions of the wee beasts, while they still retain their alien, unknowable nature. “They are not like scientific drawings,” he says, “it’s a whole world of stuff going on, so the creatures tend to have personalities…they are kind of playing, interacting with each other in a human way. But they are also reflecting the horror of the unseen world – what’s happening in the dirt, the soil. It’s horrible.”

Go see it: “Specimens of the New Growth: Recent works by Robert Frank Abplanalp.” Record Archive, 33 1/3 Rockwood St. Mon-Sat 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun noon-5 p.m. recordarchive.com.

We’re well past the mid-year threshold, and tumbling faster toward darker colder days. So let’s not squander one of this year’s last balmy First Fridays by staying in. The monthly, city-wide gallery night is held by non-profit, university, and commercial and indie art venues in Rochester, where we all trot about from station to station, filling our eyes and ears with what’s new and exciting in our community. On Friday, August 5, 6-9 p.m. (and sometimes later) you can check out art openings, poetry readings, and musical performances in various locations. Visit firstfridayrochester.org for a list of this month’s participating venues, and check our online events calendar at rochestercitynewspaper.com for more receptions and exhibits. Rochester Contemporary’s annual “State of the City” exhibition returns with “In the Loop,” featuring new artworks and projects regarding the divisive inner loop by Jim Mott, Cary Markerink, Mark Edward Grimm, The Landmark Society of Western New York, and Bartow+Metzgar with James Downer & Greg Stewart.

This exhibition kicks off the “Transitions-Rochester” project, which continues through November 13 and is an international collaboration between VSW, FOTODOK (The Netherlands), George Eastman House, and Rochester Contemporary. The reception for “In the Loop” takes place at the Rochester Contemporary (137 East Ave., 461-2222, rochestercontemporary.org), 6-10 p.m., and admission is $1 for non-members. An artist talk follows on Sunday, August 7 at 1 p.m.

At the Firehouse Gallery at the Genesee Center for the Arts & Education (713 Monroe Ave., 244-1730, geneseearts.org), artists Allison Craver and Lynne Hobaica will close out their residency with their joint-exhibition “Curio.” The functional ceramics include Craver’s delicate treasure chests and Hobaica’s whimsical works with renderings of robots and dinosaurs.

"Ralph Gibson: Photographs" will open at Lumiere Photo's new Spectrum Gallery. PHOTO PROVIDED

The brand new Spectrum Gallery at Lumiere Photo’s new location (100 College Ave., 461-4447, lumierephoto.com) will host a striking exhibition of “Ralph Gibson: Photographs.”  Cross the train tracks and visit the Hungerford building’s offerings, including Crocus Clay Works (Suite 225, 414-5643, crocusclayworks.com), which from 5 to 9 p.m. will host “Adornments & Adorables,” a show of works by Casey Wright and Amanda Preske, the ladies behind the popular Mayday Underground craft fair. While in the building, stop at Grass Roots Gallery (Suite 157, Door 1) for “bART without Orders,” a collaboration between Stephen Lindsey and Colleen Virdi.

I can’t believe it’s July already.

Here’s my little FF preview, originally printed in Rochester City Newspaper this week.

Many of the major galleries and museums are between shows for this edition of First Friday, giving you the opportunity to focus your attention on the smaller spaces and alternative venues you might not normally check out. The monthly, city-wide gallery night is held by non-profit, university, and commercial and indie art venues in Rochester, where we all trot about from station to station, filling our eyes and ears with what’s new and exciting in our community. On Friday, July 1, 6-9 p.m. (and sometimes later) you can check out art openings, poetry readings, and musical performances in various locations. Visit firstfridayrochester.org for a list of this month’s participating venues, and check our online events calendar at rochestercitynewspaper.com for more receptions and exhibits.

July’s featured artist at The Gallery @ Equal Grounds (750 South Ave., 242-7840) will be Tim Mack, who presents his wildly patterned and whimsical “Collection of Curiosities” 7-9 p.m. More creative strangeness can be found in the surreal works of Sean Madden, presented by Art to Zen Tattoo (4363 Lake Ave., 621-3515), which kicks off at 8 p.m. and will also feature live music by The Freakness.

Across town at the Baobab Cultural Center (728 University Ave., 563-2145), check out the work of Jim Pappas, Jack White, and Eddie Davis. Next door, Image City Photography Gallery (722 University Ave., 271-2540) will host “Light & Form, Time & Place,” the architectural, abstract, black-and-white photos of D. G. Adams.

PHOTO COURTESY D. G. ADAMS

Just a bit down the road is collectible art-toy haven Plastic (34 Elton St., 563, 6348), where local artists Melissa Cantwell, Marta Filipek, Bryce Grantham, Bill Hand, Chuck Harrison, John Perry, and Bill Pifer will present a custom toy show entitled “The Lowbrow Art Project: Rochester Edition.”

At the Hungerford Building (1115. E Main St.), many artists and groups will have their studios open for the public to view the work and speak with them. The Main Street Artists (Door 2, Suite 458, 233-5645) will feature work by Sandy Grana Kesel, among other member artists, at a 5-9 p.m. reception.

In keeping with the tangle of fiber shows happening locally, Nazareth College Arts Center Gallery (4245 East Ave., naz.edu) will host “Sum of the Parts: Art Quilts by Pat Pauly,” with a 6-8 p.m. reception.

In addition to these events, NeighborWorks Rochester and Sector 4 CDC are transforming a vacant storefront (757 Genesee St.) into an art gallery which will feature works by more than twenty local and student artists. The show takes place 6-9 p.m.

First Friday is tonight! Here’s the preview, originally published in Rochester City Newspaper…

It’s June, which means a few things for the arts community. Many – but not all – of the local college galleries have gone on vacation. It’s the sixth month, which means Rochester Contemporary’s super successful, annual “6×6″ show and sale is back. And finally, the weather allows you to fully enjoy your First Friday art trek. Visit firstfridayrochester.org for a list of this month’s participating venues, and check our online events calendar at rochestercitynewspaper.com for more receptions and exhibits.

You can preview Rochester Contemporary‘s “6x6x2011: Global” exhibition Wednesday-Friday, June 1-3, 1-10 p.m. (as well as online at roco6x6x.org). The actual opening party and artwork sale takes place Saturday, June 4, 6-10 p.m., and admission is $5. By now you know the drill: buy numbered stickers for $20 each, stalk your favorite pieces, and at the signal, claim them. Online purchasing follows on June 6 at 10 a.m.

At the Record Archive (33 1/3 Rockwood St., 244-1210), a group of Rochester artists will pay tribute to another in “Declan Ryan: An American Icon,” with a variety of works by Trudy Feikert, The Professor of Rap, the Family Storms, and more.

Over at the Hungerford Building (1115 E. Main St., thehungerford.com), The Rochester Art Club Studio (Door 2, Suite 437, 439) will feature work by Kathleen Hanney and Phil Bliss at a 5-9 p.m. reception. Stop by Crocus Clay Works (Suite 225, 414-5643, crocusclayworks.com) to check out “Graffita: Not Your Average Brazilian Post Card, Sabbatical Artwork by Kaaren Anderson,” also 5-9 p.m. For one night only, 6-9 p.m., you can visit post-apocalyptic “Museum of Future Past” (Door 2, Suite 129), which through artifacts and Marvel comic story arcs will bring viewers into the mythos of superhero and super-villain characters no longer with us. “The age of heroes has come to an end,” says artist Chris Wells, “but hope still remains.”

Studio 215 in the Anderson Alley Building (250 N. Goodman St., 490-1210) will host “School’s Out for Summer,” a collaboration with students who want to express themselves outside of the art room. Artist and educator Heather Erwin will be on hand to aid with exploring the creative process, and supplies will be provided while they last. Over at the Firehouse Gallery at Genesee Pottery (713 Monroe Ave., 271-5183), take in “Intake,” an exhibition of new work by artist and Nazareth College professor Mitch Messina. The Renaissance Art Gallery (74 St. Paul St., 423-8235) will hold a reception 6-8 p.m. for “Through the Artist’s Eye,” a show of new oils and watercolors by Judy Soprano.

An image from Judy Soprano's "Through the Artist's Eye," at Renaissance Art Gallery. PHOTO PROVIDED

Here’s your FF preview, loves, originally printed this morn in Rochester City Newspaper…

Here we are in the merry month of May, when all of the freshly graduated art students spill out into the world and on to their creative paths. But first, they must present their thesis exhibitions, allowing you to preview the fresh talent that’s about to hit Rochester and the world. This First Friday, hot spots for thesis shows are not only on college campuses, but also in the rambling Hungerford Building and in gallery spaces around town. The monthly, city-wide gallery night is held by non-profit, university, and commercial and indie art venues in Rochester, where we all trot about from station to station, filling our eyes and ears with what’s new and exciting in our community. On Friday, May 6, 6-9 p.m. (and sometimes later) you can check out art openings, poetry readings, and musical performances in various locations. Visit firstfridayrochester.org for a list of this month’s participating venues, and check our online events calendar at rochestercitynewspaper.com for more receptions and exhibits.

The Hungerford Building (1115 E. Main St., thehungerford.com) will host loads of thesis exhibitions, including “Current” by ceramics MFA student Virginia Pfau, which takes place 6-10 p.m. in suite 311; “O’WHAHSA’,” Leah Shenandoah’s MFA show with sculpture, fashion, jewelry, and music, and a 7 p.m. performance in suite 404; the RIT metals and jewelry BFA exhibition in suite 310, including Lia Beauchemin’s “Every Other Day” and Kate Cosden’s “Reflex.”

While you’re in the Hungerford, check out functional and decorative ceramic wares Crocus Clay Works (Suite 225, 414-5643, crocusclayworks.com), which will also host “Bird’s Eye View,” a show of handmade bird houses by Carol Snook. Throughout the building, more than 25 resident artists will host open studios for the Leap into Spring at the Hungerford event, 5-10 p.m. Travel southbound on Goodman to the Village Gate (320 N. Goodman St., unit 209) to view the RIT Industrial Design Senior Show, with more than 20 artists who contributed work under this year’s theme, the symbol “#.”

“Off the Newsprint,” a showing of work by a team of former illustrators for the Democrat & Chronicle, will be on view at Studio 215 in the Anderson Alley Building (250 N. Goodman St., 966-5953). Participating in the exhibit are Heather Erwin, David Cowles, Maria Friske, Joanne Andrews, and Christopher Fisher. The Firehouse Gallery at Genesee Pottery (713 Monroe Ave., 271-5183) will host ceramic sculptor Tybre Newcomer’s “Sanctuary,” which pays homage to the role of tools through the creation of reliquaries for the objects. At the American Association of University Women’s Perkins Mansion (484 East Ave., 244-8890), photojournalist Kris Dreessen provides a look into the consequences of industrialization in post-civil-war Central and South American communities in “Life in Remote Places: A Fragile Balance.”

An image from Kris Dreessen's photo exhibition, opening at Perkins Mansion this Friday. PHOTO COURTESY KRIS DREESSEN

Rochester Contemporary (137 East Ave., rochestercontemporary.org) and The Surface Design Association will present the “Northeast Regional Contemporary Fiber Exhibit,” with artworks by 22 fiber artists from the region. The reception takes place 6-10 p.m. At FourWalls Art Gallery (179 Atlantic Ave., fourwallsartgallery@gmail.com), a photographic thesis exhibition by Sara Tkac entitled “You Look Just Like Her” will open 6-9 p.m.

During your travels through the Hungerford Building (1115 E. Main St., thehungerford.com) be sure to stop by Crocus Clay Works (Suite 225, 414-5643, crocusclayworks.com) to check out the functional and decorative ceramic wares, as well as “Bears and Brews,” featuring handmade works by John Ballou, the local artist behind JackBear Stamps, as well as local brews, 5-9 p.m. On the first floor, check out “Numb: Portraits from the Pharmaceutical Age,” by Lisa Zarnstorff at Grassroots Gallery (Suite 157, thegrassrootsgallery.com), 5-10 p.m., and artwork by Maidie Andrews at All Things Reggae Art Gallery (Suite 166, mamajahwit@yahoo.com), 6-10 p.m.

Check out Ann Porter's stained-glass works in the "Hawks and Doves" exhibit at the Shoe Factory Art Co-op.

“Hawks and Doves: Perspectives on American and the World in Conflict” opens 6-10 p.m. at The Shoe Factory Art Co-op and the Military History Society of Rochester (250 N. Goodman St., Floor 2. 732-0036, shoefactoryarts.com), with art contributed by a horde of 28 local artists, including some of my faves: Jim Mott, Stephen Dorobiala, and Ann Porter. On the same floor, head over to The Blackbird Press studio of Robert Marx (Suite 211-213) for an exhibition and sale of the artist’s paintings, prints, and sculpture, taking place 4:30-8 p.m.

This info-bit originally published on Wednesday in Rochester City Newspaper.

The "Legal Wall" behind Village Gate. CITY NEWSPAPER FILE PHOTO

Let’s open this discussion up to a wider audience. What are your thoughts on graffiti? Respond on City’s website or here.

Despite the title, the show will feature new, mammoth work by each artist (including a 40 foot painting by Monci) as well as collaborative works between the two. All works draw from the artists’ visual and stylistic vocabularies, each finding new ways of looking at and expressing familiar subjects. Custom frames, constructed (with the help of Felix Caruthers, who is featured in one of Rutherford’s works) of found fascinations, will grace Rutherford’s work.

Rutherford's in-prog dreamy portrait of Mary Cross (and pal), with reclaimed-object frame.

Since vague ruminations of the show settled into Rutherford’s consciousness, she’s been sharing bits and peeks of reference photos, sketches, works-in-prog, and inspirations on a virtual progress blog dedicated to this endeavor.

Last week, I stopped over to Sarah’s studio to check out her nearly-finished works, as well as many of the collab pieces with St. Monci. Rutherford’s fantastical illustration style paired with her serious portrait skills have made superhero gypsy-vagrants of her circle of muse-friends. The show “is about the people I’m painting, obviously through my lens, but I am trying to give them a power of maybe…how they’d like to see themselves,” Rutherford says, in discussing what she calls the “fantasy-aspect, edging toward superhero.” Her portrait of 1975 Gallery director Erich Lehman, for example, reveals him as a champion of the arts and patron saint of the skaters, with his gaze raised and eyes set on some soon-to-be-realized vision.

The colorful, nostalgic paintings lend a sense of urban-fairytale adventure and contain steampunk, street, and natural elements. For the collab works, Rutherford says, St. Monci would typically begin work with his ribbons and jets of spray paint, and she would play off of his colors and forms.

Collab work by Rutherford and St. Monci.

Monci’s tight, kinetic, and soaring paintwork will have room to elicit maximum awe with that giant painting he’s promised. You can preview the progress at his site or on the lovely photography blog of his eagle-eyed wife, Hannah Betts.

This show is the second presented at Booksmart by 1975 Gallery, which will hold exhibitions twice annually in the space. A small-edition exhibition catalog produced at Booksmart will accompany the show. Also, 1975′s creator, Erich Lehman, designed this rad show card.

See you there.

In any case, here is a preview of some of the gems opening up this Friday (first printed in Rochester City Newspaper this morn)…

March’s art scene, like the weather, is rolling in as fiercely as a lion. First Friday, the monthly city-wide gallery night, is held by non-profit, university, and commercial and indie art venues in Rochester, where we all trot about from station to station, filling our eyes and ears with what’s new and exciting in our community. On Friday, March 4, 6-9 p.m. (and sometimes later) you can check out art openings, poetry readings, and musical performances in various locations. Visit firstfridayrochester.org for a list of this month’s participating venues, and check out all the flyers in cafes and such for more events happening the same night. Here are just a few:

1975 Gallery at Booksmart Studio (250 N. Goodman St., 1975ish.com) will present a new show by two members of Sweet Meat Co., “Nothing New: The Ruminations & Imaginings of Sarah C. Rutherford and St. Monci,” with new work by both artists as well as collaborations between the two.

One of Sarah C. Rutherford and St. Monci's epic collabs in "Nothing New..." opening this Friday. More on this soon...

“Winter Blooms” will open at the Firehouse Gallery at Genesee Pottery (713 Monroe Ave., 271-5183), and will feature artistic, functional ceramic work by Giselle Hicks and Kala Stein.

The Hungerford Urban Artisans (The Hungerford, 1115 E. Main St., thehungerford.com) will present the “FLUX: THAW at the Hungerford” in Suite 258, and continuing on Saturdays 10 a.m.-3 p.m. through March. Arti Gras comes to Anderson Alley Artists (250 N. Goodman St., 442-3516, secondsaturdayartists.com), with open studios, shopping, live Zydeco music and dancing, Friday 5-9 p.m., and continuing on Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. While in the building, be sure to check out “Collaboration Collisions” with work by local artist Heather Erwin and NYC artist Duane Sherwood, in Studio 215, 6-9 p.m.

The Mill Art Center and Gallery and The Rabbit Room (61 N Main St, Honeoye Falls., 624-7740, millartcenter.com) will host “Relevant: An HF-L Alumni Art Exhibition,” with work by Honeoye Falls-Lima High School alum, and includes work by internationally acclaimed artists. The 6 p.m. opening will feature live music by Steve Grills and the Roadmasters.

On the alternative-spaces front, check out “Book of Nights” work by Aydin Ture at Living Room Cafe (1118 Monroe Ave, thelivingroomcafe.com), 6-8 p.m. And at the Gallery at Rubino’s Cafe (1659 Mt. Hope Ave., 271-0110), 5-7 p.m., you will find “Whimsical Art” by Margot Fass, Mollie Wolf, and Martha Schermerhorn.

Today I’ll check out more of the newly opened shows, including the Mentors & Mentors exhibit at Rochester Contemporary [ which will hold the artists' talk on Sunday at 1 p.m. ]. I’m also excited about a near-future lunch date with Sabra Wood of Crocus Clay Works. What manner of artsy-goings-on and local charity matters will I report? Stay tuned, dear readers.

A view of Lucinda Storms' new work, painted under her creative alias "Belvedere." Those empties indicate works sold off the wall.

The colorful, creamily stroked, and whimsical paintings by Lucinda Storms [ aka artistic alias "Belvedere" ] make it exceedingly hard to maintain a grumpy mood. Her new show at the Record Archive presents a selection of cheeky-messaged candy hearts [ the familiar shape modified with endearing to not-so- phrases like "my nerd," "scum bag," and "booger" ]. Other works include human-plant hybrid girls, trippy, smokable butterflies, and some of her silhouette paintings of birds inspired by Audubon.

Storms' sweet sylvan sprites: "Nature Girl" and "Amanita M."

"Monarch Doobiefly"

At Four Walls, gallery director Shawn Dunwoody enthusiastically pointed out a favorite feature: the large windows. The former gallery space in the basement of 34 Elton Street was roomy to be sure, but entirely without natural light or a way to show the art off to passers by.

Victor Pacheco's "Fighter Cock #5" seen through the window front of 179 Atlantic Avenue

Local sculptor Victor Pacheco’s “Fighter Cocks #5″ is a work of cast, welded, and riveted battling bird-jets gliding over a bed of undulating, sweeping wood strips. Also in the “Form & Substance” show is his “Extraction Site,” a wall-installation of  a moving oil drilling rig pumping through a bank of ice.

Detail of Pacheco's "Fighter Cocks #5"

Francesca Lalanne’s work reflects her fascination with refining and renewing the surfaces of wood and metal, and draws parallels between the imperfections in and perpetual refinement of those materials and of the body and self. She finds stories in scars, and states that her work is often less about the object being created than the materials and language she is using.

A figurative mixed media work by Francesca Lalanne

Artist and professor Kitty Hubbard’s “Housing Projects” are inspired by her youth helping her mother fix up broken-down homes. “She has always been able to see the potential in buildings, and people,” Hubbard says. Other works in the exhibit address financial strains we feel “as individuals and as a country,” she says. The works incorporate shredded credit card bills and wax, “just barely holding the house together.” Lit from within, the former group emanates a sense of life and hope, but the darkened “discover MC visa” do not lend the same sentiment.

Detail of Kitty Hubbards' wax and milk container "broken homes"