Tomorrow Doesn’t Mean Anything.

Shawn Barber Tattooed Portraits

May 6—June 2007

Shawn Barber is a phenomenon.  He is the workingest painter that I’ve ever met.  I know. His annual output would shame Michelangelo.  He has over 2,000 friends on MySpace! This grouping of tattooed portraits is his second body of work this year [the first being the second “doll” series which was shown in Philadelphia earlier this year at the Lineage Gallery].  What, about 60-100 paintings plus numerous illustration projects, teaching and learning to tattoo?!  The dude’s a monster.  If you don’t already know it, check it out.  Shawn’s milieu is a retro, luxe, academicization of an “outsider” perspective: tattoo culture, portraits and art school baby doll setups seen through the eyes of a John Singer Sargent style bravura paint slatherer.  An impatient one too.  Shawn tosses paint with refreshing abandon.  The magic conjures dichotomies: an old school approach to new school content. Frisson.

The Shooting Gallery
839 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94109
415. 931.8035

We chilled between gigs at the relaxing Hemlock Tavern where we had front row seats to a wide left that took a dude down cold onto the pavement.  Nice follow through too.  Even the ladies present seemed to dig it.  I guess a well-thrown punch has a certain élan that transcends propriety like muscle cars.

I’m not sure how coordinated it actually was, but Juxtapoz Magazine hosted a sort of afterglow at 111 Minna Gallery.  111 Minna is an art gallery/bar/nightclub that’s been here for 10 years, “serving up a unique atmosphere in which to enjoy art, music, film, drinks, and whatever else happens to be the celebration or occasion of the day or night. We are in the business of Art & Leisure”.  Supposedly, artists’ work will be selected from a series of parties/openings resulting in a final exhibition of works in San Francisco.  This just might be Outsider Reality.  It was a pretty pumpin’ scene with lots of cross-over folks from both shows, DJ’s, a sound band, 2 bars, lounge, and a dance floor, not bad!  It’s always good to get those liquor sponsors too.  The floor was a buzz with samples of Absinthe.  I had a Snakebite [Pear cider with Stella].  I wish that I could still stay out all night!! Remember when tomorrow didn’t mean anything?

111 Minna Gallery

111 Minna Street
San Francisco, CA
94105

415.974.1719