Las Manos Gallery

Young Sun Han: sooner later

2012-01-28T10:53:00.000-08:00

Young Sun Han, artist, activist and reality personality will be
hosting a fundraiser at Las Manos Gallery to support the NGO
Life Funds for North Korean Refugees.

Han's publication, posters and photographs will be available
for purchase during the opening, which is Saturday, February
4th, 6-10pm.

Show Runs Feb 4 - Feb 12th, 2012

Fundraiser for North Korean Refugees at Las Manos Gallery

2012-01-22T10:07:00.000-08:00

YoungSun Han: sooner later

Fundraisingevent for North Korean Refugees,

with anexhibition by reality personality Young Sun Han

Opening Reception: Saturday February 4^th, 6-10pm

Show Runs Saturday February 4^th – Sunday February12^th

The recent death of Kim Jong-il prompted Korean-Americanartist and activist Young Sun Han to think about his own family’s connectionsto North Korea:

“My father’s family escaped North Korea somewhere between1949 and the summer of 1950 at the outbreak of the Korean War. They got us outjust in time by bribing Russian officials and stowing away in military tanksacross the border.”

When the artist’s father passed away in November 2010, YoungSun Han was left with hundreds of cell phone photos that documented hisfather’s battle with cancer. About six months later, Han began to assemble anintimate book with these images, recently published under the title, sooner later.The book portrays his family’s daily struggles and efforts to combat thedisease.

The 76-page full-color book will be sold along with limitededition prints and posters in an evening fundraiser at Las Manos Gallery, withhalf of the proceeds benefiting the organization Life Funds for North KoreanRefugees.

Life Funds for North Korean Refugees (northkoreanrefugees.com)provides protection and material support to defectors of North Korea who havefled the country or are hiding in shelters in China. They also provide food andbasic education to escaped children while lobbying for defectors’ recognitionof refugee status.

“I want sales from my exhibition to benefit LFNKR because myfather’s family was lucky enough toe escape North Korea and start a new life inAmerica, while thousands of North Koreans don’t have the same opportunity. Iworry about what will happen inside the country as the regime restructures.”

The artist will be present at the opening reception, and thebook will also be available for sale at his website: www.youngsunhan.com/ed_soonerlater.htm

Young Sun Han is an artist and curator who has exhibitedlocally and in Germany, Australia and New Zealand. He was the runner-up on therecent season of Bravo’s Work of Art: The Next Great Artist. He has been therecipient of the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange scholarship, 1^stplace in photography at the Union League Civic Arts Foundation, Fred EndsleyFellowship (School of the Art Institute of Chicago), and Jean Paul Ohadischolarship. He currently lives in Chicago.

Las Manos Gallery is located at 5220 N. Clark St., Chicago,IL. 60640.

www.lasmasnosgallery.com, 773-728-8910.

Upcoming Show in February!

2012-01-17T16:07:00.001-08:00

Photography In Color

Photograph by Patrick Manning

Opening Friday, February 17th, 7-10pm

Artists

Patrick Manning, Young Sun Han, Antonio Martinez, Lara Dorsett, Michael McGuire, Mark Pease, Mieke Zuiderweg, Paul Clark, Juan Fernandez, Sloan Tomlinson.

Show runs Feb 17th - March 2012

www.lasmanosgallery.com

Concrete and Ash

2012-01-08T15:03:00.001-08:00

Michelle Peterson-Albanoz makes sure to use discarded materials where ever she's at when creating her work. While in Florida she tends to focus on left-over concrete and waste paint. For this series she concentrated on concrete mixed with ash. Florida sports the adobe look so her thin-panel pieces reflect the architecture. Florida was hit hardest in the subprime loan debacle. Michelle was given loan applications for desperate home owners, which she then blended into her works.

Michelle burns a financial section of the newspaper in honor of the recession that started in '08. The subtle politics is worked into the pieces as subtext. The pages burn down to thin delicate layers.

A mix of ash from the newspapers and varnish creates a texture that can be applied to the concrete. Pushing and pulling it over dry and semi-dry layers adds a unique finish to another wise utilitarian material.

Here are just a few of Michelle's finished pieces from her concrete series:

Seasons' Greetings!

2011-12-21T16:46:00.000-08:00

Later-er Night this Friday!

2011-12-14T10:41:00.000-08:00

Later-er Night Andersonville - December 16th, 5:00 - 10:00pm

Join us for our second night of Late Night Andersonville, just a little “late-er” than usual. For four more hours, take advantage of the same discounts from Late Night Andersonville, plus once again enjoy free entertainment and refreshments.

Late-er Night Andersonville Events

5:00-8:00pm	Pictures with Santa Andersonville Holiday Pop-up Gallery
6:00-10:00pm	Art + Design Exhibition Las Manos Gallery
6:00-10:00pm	Free Samples of Chef Martin's Alpine Brand Sausages, Spark of the Heart Soups and CounterCulture Coffee's Holiday blend. Urban Orchard
7:00-7:30pm	Holiday dance show & sweet treats Gus Giordano Dance School
7:00-9:00pm	Christmas carolers Room Service
7:00-9:00pm	Live music Marguerite Gardens
7:00-9:00pm	Sci-Fiber Friday featured movie: "The Nightmare Before Christmas" Sifu Design Studio
7:00-10:00pm	Toffee tasting Terry's Toffee (at the Andersonville Galleria)
7:00-10:00pm	Live artist demos in the windows Andersonville Galleria
8:00pm	Meet characters from The Nutcracker Ballet Chicago Dance Supply

“Chinese Mountains” By Derek Ottens

2011-12-14T10:25:00.000-08:00

‘Chinese Mountains’ references Chinese painters, and writers, copying manuscripts, ideograms, and

landscapes over and over. If I do the same I may eventually get it right…

Like the educated but underemployed Chinese scholars during the Mongol Yuan dynasty I sometimes

share the cultural ideals of a reclusive world and often try to translate those ideals through a symbolic
shorthand.

Many Chinese mountain paintings were painted in shades of black and white to limit distractions and concentrate on the inner essence of energy and spirit. These mountains remain unfinished and with time will acquire a patina through handling and exposure to the elements.

Like the men for centuries wandering in mountains to purify spirit and find renewal, the making of these mountains seems to be a hike for me, realizing something that has no real purpose or function other than to be or to have been.

The inscription of the maker is inscribed on a Chinese landscape painting and each owner thereafter

adds their names or inscriptions as an ongoing response so the painting was not really completed when the artist put down his brush.

That evolution I would hope will happen with these mountains as they remain unfinished but will continue to acquire a patina through the hands of each consecutive owner.

Andrea Chiu - Together in a Red Room

2011-12-05T12:15:00.001-08:00

Artist Andrea Chiu installed her piece "Together in a Red Room" at Las Manos Gallery for this month's exhibition titled ART+DESIGN. Watch the video for a bit of insight into this incredible piece!

Together in a Red Room from Mieke Zuiderweg on Vimeo.

Art+Design Show!

2011-12-04T13:38:00.001-08:00

Urban Mischief, Scout, Brimfield, Haymaker and Room Service!

Click on the image to launch the slideshow!

The Art+Design Opening at Las Manos Gallery!

2011-12-04T12:31:00.001-08:00

Las Manos Gallery's ART+DESIGN show featured vignettes created by local Andersonville design shops. Each business staged furniture, lamps and objects in the space. The gallery paired art with each vignette.

People mingled and took the time to be in each space.

Sherry Elfstrom, left, the owner of Urban Mischief sits in the space she designed at the gallery. Artist Mitch O'Connell's paintings were paired with her boudoir-style setting.

Italian leather chairs were tested out and Ben Brant's piece made of Ipe wood was ogled.

Artist Christopher Ilth, left, sits with a few of his collage pieces on Friday night. At right Photographer Paul Clark talks about his 90-panel piece made up of small fuji insta prints.

Monika Wulfers and Derek Ottens discuss his piece "Chinese Mountains," at left. Ceramic vessels by Doug Reyes are seen in the image at right.

Artist Nathan Torrence tries out an electric guitar build by Phil Wright, who looks at artwork in the image at right.

Artist Jonathan Glick sits with a few of his "egg" candles. At left are his lanterns.

ART+DESIGN Show!

2011-12-01T18:08:00.001-08:00

OPENING FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2nd 7-10PM

In order tohave good design you must have original art. Las Manos Gallery is embracingthis concept by working together with independently owned design shops inthe Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago. Each business is invited to usetheir design method to create vignettes in the gallery.

Work bygallery artists will be paired with each unique installation. This gives thedesigners a chance to showcase their vision and give patrons an opportunity tounderstand how to incorporate new or existing artwork into their space with aneye towards good design.

Featured artists are Michael McGuire, Tricia Rumbolz, Patrick Manning, John Mosher, Ben Rosecrans, Rita Grendze, Michelle Peterson-Albandoz, Doug Reyes, Steve Green, Mieke Zuiderweg and James Peterson.

Manga book sculptures by Monika Wulfers

2011-12-01T17:17:00.001-08:00

Artist Monika Wulfers creates a cone-shaped sculpture out of Manga - Japanese comic books for boys and girls. Wulfers originally started working with newspaper strips, weaving both American and foreign papers together but transitioned into this series after finding the colorful booklets intriguing. Several of her pieces will be on display during Las Manos Gallery's Art+Design show this month.

Upcoming show at the Gallery!

2011-11-11T12:23:00.001-08:00

Incredible objects by Rita Grendze

2011-11-06T15:12:00.000-08:00

Rita Grendze is a sculptor that lived and worked in New York City and now resides in Geneva, Illinois. Her sculptures are made from varying materials including steel and found objects.

Grendze made the found object piece Fireplace after a long, tiring day of walking in the city. In observing the piece, it does exude a certain kind of hostile energy akin to the city; it's as if the piece might spontaneously burst into flames before the viewers eyes, just as Grendze felt like her feet were on fire after walking all day. Grendze’s steel sculpture Bountiful is more focused on contradiction, she uses welded steel in this piece to portray natural objects inspired by farming. The piece then becomes a bounty of obviously hand-welded steel as opposed to a bounty of homegrown food. This creates the contrast between city and country, man made and manufactured.

"Fireplace"

"Bountiful"

Lisa Whiting's Synapse

2011-11-06T14:39:00.000-08:00

Lisa Whiting’s whimsical piece entitled "Synase" is entirely hand knitted, felted, and then stuffed with rice. The piece comments on the idea of meditating on knitting, and registering how the artist’s thoughts combine together both literally and metaphorically. Whiting says that in making the piece, “the knit became a montra”, she became completely absorbed in the process. Whiting is a local Chicago artist and she owns a knitting shop in Andersonville called Sifu Design Studio.

Click Here to connect to Lisa's site.

Each "synapse" was created by an individual pattern. The pieces were then felted- a process of running the knitted construction through heat and moisture to matt the fibers together.

The tubes were also felted but fitted with electrical conduit to hold its form.

Photographs by Mieke Zuiderweg, Posting by Emily Eddy

Robert Burnier at Las Manos Gallery

2011-11-04T14:10:00.000-07:00

Artist Robert Burnier's paper sculptures have graced the pedestals of Las Manos
Gallery for the past several months. The work was meticulously created by
observing the multiple angles and planes of a single crumpled piece of paper.
The lines were traced, transferred into Google Sketchup and augmented into
3D shapes. The possibilities of this single crumpled sheet are endless...

Yupo paper is a actually plastic material. It ranges from artwork to commercial
use. The top of tic-tac boxes are one example. It has strength, flexibility can be
recycled.

"CP 3B1"

A detail of CP 3B1.

Post and Photographs by Mieke Zuiderweg

Halloween at Las Manos Gallery!

2011-10-30T12:04:00.000-07:00

Hundreds of parents and children took to the sidewalks of Andersonville on Saturday afternoon to take
full advantage of the candy available at the local businesses. Las Manos Gallery saw costumes ranging
from super heros to living iPods. Great weather lead to a great turn out...

A gaggle of tiny trick-or-treaters pose with artist Lisa Whiting's
work titled "Synapse."

A family of adorable gnomes posed outside the gallery during trick-or-treating.

A petite Abe Lincoln stands next to Robert Burnier's work made of Yupo paper.

Gallery Assistant Jay Fernandez gives out candy to a trick-or-treater in the gallery.

Photographs and Posting by Mieke Zuiderweg

The Colossal Blog!

2011-10-25T12:03:00.000-07:00

COLOSSAL

Check out this week's postings on the incredible art blog called "Colassal."
Michelle Peterson-Albandoz's artwork is featured!

Click here to view the Colassal blog.

TRENDLAND

Click here to view the Trendland blog.

New Works by Michelle Peterson-Albandoz

2011-10-24T13:27:00.000-07:00

Pilsen Photo Shoot

2011-10-24T13:25:00.000-07:00

Tommy J. Reyes, Director of Las Manos Gallery continues his

photo project capturing life as a Mexican-American living in

Chicago with a series of new images titled "Nessesicto Otro

Mundo."

His first project titled "Memorias Mediadas y el Archivo"

explored the clash between his classical education, life in the

Midwest and his traditional Mexican upbringing. This new

series, which takes place in his Pilsen (Chicago) neighborhood,

explores a magical realm and the reality of people's lives once

they come to live in America. A bus stop near Reyes' home

inspired the series after he watched many people step foot onto

American soil for the first time, holding suitcases and a lot of hope

with them...

A clash of culture. Sensible shoes slip into a traditional hoop skirt,

its size over-exaggerated to create a more dramatic visual.

Abdi (in costume) walks past a few onlookers on the way to the photo shoot location on Ashland
Ave in the Pilsen area of Chicago.

Tommy shows Rebecca how she needs to hold an embroidery hoop for the photograph. Embroidery
is often passed down through generations of women as part of family life and adds to a sense of
tradition in the image.

Tommy looks through his camera's top-down-viewfinder to compose the image of a couple
arriving in Chicago after a long bus trip from Mexico. The couple looks past Tommy as if to
catch a glimpse of their future. The two traditionally dressed women to the couple's left
represent the history and culture they leave behind. Their expressions are of hope as well,
but apprehension is prevalent because they can see the future and the struggles it will hold.

To follow Tommy's project please click HERE for his blog.

Post and photographs by Mieke Zuiderweg

The Process

2011-10-23T13:02:00.000-07:00

Tricia Rumbolz

Rumbolz writes quotes on tissue paper. These sentences are gathered over the years. Scientific facts,
books and conversations all add to her notebooks of ideas.

Each quote is cut down and layered on top of pre-existing words. The piece has taken several years
and is still in process.
Stop by the gallery this month to catch Rumbolz in process. Hours are Wed/Thur/Fri from
12:30-5:30 and Sat/Sun from 11-5pm.

Post and photographs by Mieke Zuiderweg

Artist Linsey Greer at Las Manos Gallery

2011-10-23T11:36:00.000-07:00

Lindsey Greer

Performance Artist Linsey Greer brought her piece

"Augustine's Hysteria" to Las Manos Gallery's

opening as part of Chicago Artists Month.

Greer set up several multi-media slide shows and

short films outside the front entrance. The

Augustine piece reflected old images of female

hysteria. Greer did "mimic dances" to each image,

catching passerby's and gallery patrons off guard.

Some were photographed with the "hysteric," a

stethoscope provided for added drama...

Post and photographs by Mieke Zuiderweg

Michelle Peterson-Albandoz Opening!

2011-10-19T10:58:00.000-07:00

Opening in D.C.!

Las Manos Gallery Owner
and Artist Michelle Peterson-
Albandoz will be having her
second solo show at Long
View Gallery in Washington
D.C. on Thursday, October
20th.

If you're in the D.C. area
please stop by!

Click HERE for more
information!

Las Manos Gallery Opening!

2011-10-15T14:17:00.000-07:00

"Synapse" by Artist Lisa Whiting made of wool pods

filled with rice. The piece drew visitors into the space

during the gallery's Chicago Artists Month Exhibition.

Artists Nathan Vaughn, left, and Robert

Burnier chat during the opening. Burnier's

sculptural piece made of Yupo paper is

in the foreground of the photograph.

Work by Michelle Peterson-Albandoz. The pieces are

reclaimed wood on panels.

Peterson-Albandoz used pieces of an old church organ

to create these rhythmic patterns.

Work by Tricia Rumbolz titled "723 Colors," made of

paper paint samples and glue on wood panel.

Artist Tricia Rumbolz works on her piece

"Excepts from personal inquiries" which

hangs behind her.

Artist Nathan Vaughn, left, talks about his piece titled

"You're in Crop Circles" at the opening on Friday.

Work by Peterson-Albandoz is seen behind the crowds

attending the event.

Artist Steven Green stands with his work titled "City

Lights II" made with charcoal on paper.

Attendance was brisk- the event was part of

Andersonville's Arts Weekend.

Friday was Andersonville's Night of 100 pARTies.

Performance artist Lindsay Greer poses with a passerby

as part of her "hysteric" piece.

Two men take a close look at one of Tricia Rumbolz's

pieces. Rumbolz takes quotes and sentences she

hears and reads about in her daily life, writes them

on tissue paper and adds them to the work.

"Synapse" by Lisa Whiting.

The Gallery celebrated its 18th Anniversary with a

sugary cake. Thanks to all the artists that keep the

space going!

Tommy Reyes, right, the director of the gallery, walks

the cake over to owner and artist Michelle Albandoz-

Peterson. Happy Anniversary all!

Post and photographs by Mieke Zuiderweg

Celebrating the gallery

2011-10-15T12:32:00.000-07:00

Las Manos Gallery's 18th Anniversary Show!

Las Manos Gallery party tonight!

2011-10-14T14:15:00.000-07:00

Las Manos Gallery turns 18

Join us to celebrate the Chicago Artists that keep the

space alive!

Tonight 6-10pm

Part of Andersonville's Night of 100 pARTies

Wine, snacks, food, good music and people...

Work in foreground by Artist Lisa Whiting. "Synopse" is

made of wool filled with rice.

Chicago Artists Month at Las Manos Gallery

2011-10-07T14:29:00.000-07:00

Opening - Friday, October 14th, 2011. 6-10pm

Andersonville’s Night of 100 Parties

Las Manos Gallery celebrates its 18^th Anniversary and Chicago Artists Month by featuring work by a variety of the city’s artists.

Featured artist Michelle Peterson-Albandoz, owner of Las Manos Gallery, grew up in the forests of both Connecticut and Puerto Rico. Her first-hand experience with the pristine quality and balance of the ecosystems made her hyper aware of the effect humans have on the environment. Living in a big city like Chicago alerted her to the constant construction and destruction. Planks and beams that would systematically be dumped into landfills instead make their way into Michelle’s studio, where she removes nails and cuts them down. She reassembles these shapes into reclaimed wood constructions, using rhythms and patterns as part of the process. By harvesting and reusing these discarded elements, Michelle not only devises an aesthetic object, but also creates a small but significant step away from the wasting of this incredible material.

Artists in this month’s show:

Michelle Peterson-Albandoz, Michael McGuire, Tricia Rumbolz, Ben Rosecrans, Robert Burnier, Steven Green, Lisa Whiting, Lindsey Greer, Ben Bauman, Doug Reyes and Nathan W. Vaughn.

Show runs October 14th – November, 2011.

Conceptual Artist Tricia Rumbolz

2011-10-02T11:55:00.000-07:00

Tricia Rumbolz with her piece "Excerpts From Personal Inquiries"

- Archival Ink on tissue paper

(piece is still in process and will be on display at Las Manos Gallery in October)

Time and Being: Conceptual Artists

Roman Opalka and Tricia Rumbolz

By Susan Thomas

Purity of intention and physical, focused energy are components essential to great conceptual art. Without them, a concept is merely visual, with results that range from cold or no connection with the viewer to something so intellectualized the audience feels stupid not to “get” the message. Alienating indeed. Successful conceptual artists use art as a means to relate to the world and to experience existence rather than simply express themselves. And they invite us to join their exploration.

The death this past August of Polish conceptual great Roman Opalka sparked recognition of a kindred artistic spirit, Chicago artist Tricia Rumbolz. Like Opalka, Rumbolz seeks an experience of time as a point of transformation for her art; the results visually rhythmic, organic and often mesmerizing.

Opalka died at age 77, after spending the greater part of 46 years painting the succession of numbers on canvas. This effort to document one to infinity in order to express and define the meaning/passage of time became his life’s work. Rumbolz shares Opalka’s obsession with time, albeit reflected with more variety of process. Rumbolz (who exhibits at Las Manos Gallery in Andersonville, and the now closed David Weinberg Gallery) is a conceptual artist worthy of note; her work continually underscoring and exemplifying her chosen themes.

Opalka’s main body of work, 233 canvases of the same dimension, were paint-brushed numbers. Started in 1965, all of these works are titled the same, “Opalka 1965-Infinity,” (infinity represented by a sideways 8). His goal was to visualize the irreversible passage of time. Year after year the disciplined aesthetic stood at the canvas painting numerals in succession, in later years, photographing himself next the to canvas or “detail” at the end of each session (passing 1,000,000 in the early 1970’s). He would recite each number aloud as he painted it. The only variance in Opalka’s process was to lighten his background from black to gray, adding 1% more white to it every year. Ultimately, because his acrylic numbers were painted in white, the background and the subject meshed almost indistinguishably into approaching invisibility.

Opalka did not stray from his concept since its inception, pursuing a singular vision with awe-inspiring discipline. “A single thing, a single life,” he said. Rumbolz prefers differing her approaches to illustrate time, place, energy and physicality. In “187 Vertical Lines,” (acrylic paint, paint pen on wooden panel) Rumbolz describes the physicality and immediacy of her process: “My hand performs like a sensor, a point of convergence between time, space, energy and my body; the drawings are visual imprints/recordings of the activity itself.” She works with intense precision. “I do this to infuse the work with authenticity: This is what my individual body/mind is capable of producing at this given moment,” says Rumbolz. The line drawings are sequential, “the preceding line always and only informs the following line, therefore the drawing reveals itself slowly and methodically,” Rumbolz explains. A sensual scrim of undulating lines is the end result of her initial conceptual question: What is the simplest mark a hand can make?

"4,221 Lines"

"10 Color 60 Second Marker Bleed" - Marker ink on typing paper

Most of her works take hundreds upon hundreds of hours to complete, certainly less obsessionistic (and some would say less masochistic) than Opalka’s quest. And no less dramatic are Rumbolz’s work chronicling just seconds in time. In “1/4 Teaspoon of Powder, Blown with One Breath,” for example, particulate white powder’s time/space journey is captured starkly on black paper exactly where it lands: the powder’s movement documenting the energy and the time it takes to blow one breath. “10-Second Marker Bleed,” is just as scientific in execution and titled just as obviously. The process is fundamentally part of the art, the literal title also a form of purity of intention.

"1/4 Teaspoon of Powder, Blown with One Breath" - Flour on velvet Paper

(detail of piece at right)

Rumbolz, 42, grew up in the steel-mill town of Sterling, Illinois, with very limited exposure to contemporary art. She credits the BFA program at UIC for instilling in her a strong conceptual foundation. “The faculty really pushed us to take accountability for every choice we made,” she says. She shares the ideology of other great conceptual artists such as On Kawara, Hanne Darboven and Lee Ufon in their quests to find the meaning in simply “being.”

Lee Ufon sought interrelationships between material space and viewer, acutely aware of the immediacy of the body’s role in the act of creation, which is central to how Rumbolz physically approaches her work. Darboven used texts from authors exploring “being.” Rumbolz also utilizes words and their symbolism in her art. Kawara’s work indicates specificity of time and place, though with more graphic toughness than Rumbolz. Central to all of these artists is their search for the deeper meaning of consciousness through creative process.

The intensity and purity of process also unites these artists in their quest. “Before I begin the physical work, I distill a mental concept down to its basic aesthetic components,” Rumbolz explains. “My style is straightforward and systematic so the steps involved in making the work are apparent to the viewer. I reveal the structure of the act which shows how beauty can be achieved through the simplest of means.”

Like the aforementioned artists, Rumbolz is a minimalist with her self-expression and has no desire to create “agreeable” art. These artists rebel against society’s endless manufacturing, production and consumption. “I do feel tribe-less at times,” Rumbolz says. “The hours and intensity involved in my art can definitely be isolating and I have to make an effort to compensate for that. We live in such fast-paced society that craves consumerism and instant gratification. My work is antithetical to that.” In a case of life imitating art, Rumbolz is simplifying her life now as well, downsizing her space and possessions considerably. Her next path of artistic exploration will incorporate data and technology into her process.

Opalka almost lost consciousness when he embarked on his journey, painting the number 1, then uttering it verbally. The enormity of the task he set before himself, like infinity, too great to comprehend. The final digit he painted on his canvas before he died was eight: Ironically, it is the symbol for infinity when turned on its side. His work of time and timelessness shared experientially on canvas is finished. As he said, “It is creation that inhabits the space between experience and understanding.” Now reminding us to continue such inner journeys is Tricia Rumbolz. Her work makes us pause deeply with thought and wonder, an offering of time accepted by contemplating the focus and energy of her work.

--Susan Thomas is a freelance writer .

"Excerpts from 'Clay, the History and Evolution of Humankind's Relationships with Earth's Most Primal Element' " -Ink on painted wooden panel (details at right)

Featured Artist Wendy Kawabata

2011-09-30T14:03:00.000-07:00

Las Manos Gallery Presents Wendy Kawabata

Wendy Kawabata is an Associate Professor of Art at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Her work engages in acts of the hand, using repetitive acts such as stacking, folding, hooking and wrapping. Her end result serves as a metaphor for the endless line of small but productive tasks that become the framework of communities in the face of larger, more powerful undoings.

For more images and information please check out

Wendy's website HERE.

The Paper Exhibition: Coffee with the Artists

2011-09-28T07:37:00.000-07:00

Las Manos Gallery hosted "Coffee with the Artists" as part of October's Paper Exhibition.

This month's show features artists Benjamin Bauman, Doug Stapleton, Eric Garcia, Wendy Kawabata, John Mosher, C. Ben Rosecrans, Jonas Criscoe, Lindsey Clark-Ryan, Mark Pease, Matthew Best, John McCaughey, Michael McGuire, Nathan Torrence, Robert Burnier, Tricia Rumbolz.

Show runs September 17 - October 9th, 2011

"When the Coyotes Come Home" by Jonas Criscoe

The "Constellating" Series by Wendy Kawabata.

A close-up of one of Wendy Kawabata's Constellating pieces.

Pencil on paper.

Benjamin Bauman's Untitled series.

Graphite on paper by Bauman.

Michael McGuire stands with his "Untitled" piece of india ink on cardboard.

Doug Stapleton with a few of his collages at the Paper Exhibition.

Tricia Rumbolz holds Pablo the gallery pooch while standing in front of her piece titled "Primary and Secondary Colored Lines on 364 colors"

Robert Burnier sits with his piece titled "Fractorial 3" on yupo paper and conservation tape. The piece is bellow the pencil on paper drawings by Wendy Kawabata.

Nathan Torrence stands with his Untitled series of pen on tracing paper.

Torrence's piece of pen on tracing paper.

John McCaughey's "Translation" consisting of latex paint, acrylic, newspaper & silkscreen on paper.

C. Ben Rosecrans's "Untitled SL 1.50-SL 4.50," mixed media on paper.

Eric Garcia's "Tamale Man #4," a silk screen.

The Paper Exhibition at Las Manos Gallery

2011-09-11T10:52:00.000-07:00

Las Manos Gallery Presents

The Paper Exhibition!

Join us for Coffee with the Artists

Saturday, September 17th 1-3pm!

Artists:

Wendy Kawabata, Jonas Criscoe, Doug Stapleton,

Benjamin Bauman, John McCaughey, Matthew Best,

Tricia Rumbolz, Michael McGuire, John Mosher,

Robert Burnier, Nathan Torrence, Eric Garcia,

Lindsey Clark-Ryan and Mark Pease.

Tall Triangles at Las Manos Gallery!

2011-09-02T14:59:00.000-07:00

Michelle Peterson-Albandoz finally has a fancy enough saw to create perfect 30 degree cuts for a mountain of triangles. Her first attempt was by no means small- a 6' x 8' foot reclaimed wood panel piece that keeps the eye busy with its patterns and colors!

Crystal B. presents her new work at Las Manos Gallery!

2011-08-26T12:45:00.000-07:00

Fashion Designer Crystal B. presented a special preview of her

Spring/Summer 2012 Collection at Las Manos Gallery on Thursday!

Models doubled as store front mannequins in

the windows of Las Manos Gallery

A new piece by Crystal specifically inspired by Michelle Peterson-Albandoz

and Phil Wright's "The Migration of x, y, z."

Crystal B. Design's concentrate on fusing architectural form with the female

silhouette to positively enhance the features of the female figure.

For more on Crystal B check out her website HERE.

Congrats Feline Inc and Leaving Tracks!

2011-08-21T14:59:00.001-07:00

Feline Inc. and Leaving Tracks held its Wine Sampling Party at Las Manos Gallery on Saturday.

Between the auction and donations the organization raised a good amount of money! Congratulations on being able to support more animals in need...

For more information on Leaving Tracks click HERE.

For more information on Felines Inc., click HERE.

Join our Mailing list!

2011-08-19T12:58:00.000-07:00

Stay up-to-date on all our receptions and events!

Review of Environ!

2011-08-17T13:08:00.000-07:00

Las Manos “Environ,” August 5 through September, 2011

A Call to Action: “Environ” at Las Manos Gallery

By Susan Thomas

Michelle Peterson-Albandoz is a curator who likes to make you think…on many levels. Las Manos Gallery’s latest group show “Environ” is no exception: Fourteen artists contribute their vision of man’s damage to land in the pursuit progress and consumption, now through September at this Andersonville space.

The environmental activist theme is a constant with Peterson-Albandoz, also an artist known for her reclaimed/recycled wood compositions. “There’s so much consumption and waste out there—it just makes sense as an artist to recycle materials into something responsible and beautiful,” says Albandoz.

Peterson-Albandoz & Wright's "The Migration of X, Y, Z"

Her own contribution to this show is a departure from her previous, more urban/rustic assemblages of reclaimed and repurposed material. “The Migration of X, Y, Z,” a collaboration with master craftsman Phil Wright, evokes a flock of white birds: cubist and three-dimensional. Larger in scale than her previous installations, the work’s stark geometric form and lack of color make an arresting statement that also soothes via repetition and shadow play.

Patrick Manning's "Delta"

Patrick Manning’s “Delta” series, five large-scale photographs of southern bayous and waterways also works heavily with white. Open white skies serve as contrastual backdrops to fecund green outcroppings of land, marshes and swamp. “I’m using white to communicate erasure. Seventy five percent of the deltas have disappeared in the last forty years. Some towns are completely underwater. You don’t notice the damage over time,” says Manning.

Linda Adele Goodine's "Cane, from the Beeline Highway Series, Florida"

Overall highlights of this show are in its particular moments of irony: humorous and sad, captured by many of the contributing artists. Technicolor abundance and enticing detail practically yell to the viewer in Linda Adele Goodine’s giant still life photographs. Upon closer inspection they become deliberately grotesque and distinctly unappetizing as a whole: smoke stacks belching behind the banquet in “Cane, From the Beeline Highway Series.” Even her use of heavy traditional wood and bronze frames recall Dutch Masters’ still lives with a wink. In another work “Tenderfoot, From the Beeline Highway Series,” she poses a uniformed boy scout stiffly in front of a dead tree; boomerang in one hand, tame cardinal perched on the other; a joke on man’s foolish attempt to control the forces of Mother Earth?

Derek Ottens " Jewel- June 14-1"

And if you find the life-size hog head in “Cane” tickling your sense of macabre, brace yourself for Derek Otten’s “Chicken Blood on Panels.” From afar, they could pass for small-scale overhead views of a keyboard. Look again: they’re bar codes from the super market packaging of chicken, replicated exactly with chicken’s blood. Otten asked a hallal butcher to provide him with the blood. “I’m a vegetarian,” he explained. “How we manufacture food in this country is appalling and I wanted to reflect the commerciality of that process.”

Michael McGuire's "Flag Dumpster"

Photographer Michael McGuire, a perennial exhibitor with Las Manos, has branched out into painting and drawing as of late, but he returns to his horizontal photograph format for this show with three decidedly different contributions. One an inviting water scene that makes you want to take a dip, another a high-contrast black and white depiction of wild flowers and the third, “Flag Dumpster,” encapsulates the message of this show with a photograph; the American flag painted on a dumpster. Doubtful the flag’s painter knew the visual pun he was providing…and portending. Well… there goes our bond rating. McGuire at his intelligent, witty best.

Olivia Petrides, (from left to right), Scott Johnson and Eric Bos

The painters in this show, Olivia Petrides, Eric Bos and Scott Johnson balance the whole nicely. Johnson’s road work scenes are interesting twists: he makes colorful cement mixers look like toy trucks as they circle in “State Fair,” and a group of clone-like construction workers, stick figures massed together on a job site, become human anemones in “Urban Development.”

Tate Foley's "Stag Flation"

More graphic in design are Tate Foley’s screen print series of generic large cans (oil cans, judging by the Shell logo on one). Each is advertorially adorned with a slogan of Americana, and finally one bold can simply stating “Hell.” John McCaughey’s collages of found papers could be showcased with less obvious framing, but this young artist has a clear grasp of the conceptual.

Krista Charles' "Kappy's Restaurant"

What is disposable and what we discard, large and small, is captured in Krista Charles’ tiny detailed drawings on matchbook covers. They depict the establishments and structures that used to occupy where the match book actually came from. More than one viewer noted the sharpness of her eyes and pencil to capture such detail so minutely. The haunting captions reveal the current status of these places: “Now boarded up for sale,” “Now vacant building,” and amusingly, “Still Kappy’s Restaurant.” If the medium is the message, all structures are easily erased or wasted, temporary man-made follies.

The opening night of "Environ"

“Environ” is a collective visual call to action for the planet. “Politics in art is a tough problem,” explains photographer Manning. “How to reconcile the beauty of a piece with a political statement doesn’t always work.” “Environ” accomplishes both. It is a thoughtful and thought-provoking show that does not sacrifice visual pleasure; a balance Las Manos excels at.

Susan Thomas is a freelance writer from Wilmette.

Michelle Peterson-Albandoz Time-Lapse!

2011-08-14T10:35:00.000-07:00

Michelle Peterson-Albandoz, Artist and owner of

Las Manos Gallery, spent a day being photographed

for this time-lapse video. Nine hundred images were

taken of her putting together two of her 4' x 4'

reclaimed wood panel constructions. Her dog

Pablo gets to sleep and wander around the piece

during the many hours it took to construct!

Field Trip to Las Manos Gallery!

2011-08-12T11:46:00.000-07:00

Kids with FutureWorld Learning Center spent a little time

at Las Manos Gallery observing art work talking to artists.

Students take a good look at Krista Charles' matchbook drawings.

Hugs all around...

FutureWorld Centers features after-school programs that offer a state-of-the-art computer learning environment.

Wine Sampling for a Good Cause!

2011-08-10T15:25:00.000-07:00

Las Manos Gallery is proud to support the community and Felines Inc for
a fundraiser to help build a shelter. Please join us for a wine sampling party on
Saturday, August 20th from 5-8pm.

Build it and they will come!
Help Felines Inc. reach it's goal of raising $450,000 to rebuild the shelter.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW!

The Environ Opening!

2011-08-08T15:11:00.001-07:00

Derek Ottens took barcodes from the back of meat packages and recreated them in chicken blood. The result is a study in the lack of knowledge of our food source.

Photographers Patrick Manning and Linda Adele Goodine pose for a picture during the opening of "Environ" at Las Manos Gallery.

Steve Becker stands with a few of his landscape photographs.

Artist John McCaughey with his work created by papers, posters and other items collected on the streets of cities he wanders.

Michelle Peterson-Albandoz and Phil Wright's "The Migration of x,y,z" on the wall of the gallery.

Oil barrels reach towards the ceiling of the gallery. Information about how many barrels America consumes and what percentage of oil we take up in the world is part of this installation.

A collage by John McCaughey

Linda Adele Goodine's work

Steve Becker's photographs

August Exhibition: Environ

2011-07-24T15:21:00.001-07:00

Opening Friday August 5th, 7-10pm

Las Manos Gallery presents “Environ,” an exhibition exploring the subtle but damaging changes in the environment through the influence of man..

Artists partaking in “Environ” all hit upon the same nerve in regards to their observation of the fragile environment around them. The underlying damage done to the land in the name of progress and consumption makes its way to the surface in these works including photography, painting, sculpture and collage.

Artist Krista Charles shows the direct consequences of development over time. Her collection of old matchbooks turned into a study of changing landscapes. Minutely rendered drawings of the exact modern locations listed on the matchbooks show the extreme changes in the land over the decades.

Artists Michelle Peterson-Albandoz and Phil Wright collaborated in the creation of a ten-foot sculptural piece titled “The Migration of X,Y,Z.” This geometric piece brings to mind patterns of migrating birds, an occurrence that might very well not happen in the future due to changing climate.

This group show will open on August 5th, and run through September, 2011. A reception for the artists and the public will be held Friday, August 5^th from 7 pm – 10pm at the gallery

Artists featured:

Linda Adele Goodine

Olivia Petrides

Scott Johnson

Michelle Peterson-Albandoz

Michael McGuire

Eric Bos

Phil Wright

Krista Charles

Tate Foley

Patrick Manning

John McCaughey

Steve Becker

Derek Ottens

Monika Wulfers

The Migration...

2011-07-24T15:01:00.000-07:00

The making of " The Migration of x, y, z"

Artists Michelle Peterson-Albandoz and Phil Wright

are collaborating to create a 10' x 9' piece made of MDF.

More than 400 mitered cuts make up the work.

The geometric piece is a study of light and shadow and

the flight patterns of migrating birds.

The work will be on display during the gallery's August

show titled "Environ".

The Artists of the Environ Show

2011-07-24T10:56:00.000-07:00

John McCaughey's

"The Sleep of Existing Conditions Produces Monsters"

Tate Foley's

"Hell"

Patrick Manning's

"NoLa"

Linda Adele Goodine's

"Sugarcane"

Michael McGuire's

"Flag Dumpster"

Olivia Petrides'

"Studies of Greenland Glaciers"

Krista Charles'

"Chris' Curve Inn No.2"

Scott Johnson's

"Pop Rocks"

Eric Bos'

"Two Boxes, Two Squares"

Sidewalk Sale!

2011-07-24T10:55:00.000-07:00

Andersonville is having its annual sidewalk sale Friday July 29-Sunday July 31st!

Local businesses, restaurants and Las Manos will showcase a great variety of items for sale both inside and outside. Catch a frosty drink and stroll through the many beautiful objects for sale...

Las Manos Gallery will feature work by its resident artists. The work will be affordable and insightful!

Environ!

2011-07-24T10:45:00.001-07:00

Time-Laspse Video in the Making!

2011-07-10T13:11:00.000-07:00

Mieke Zuiderweg photographs Michelle Peterson-Albandoz

in the process of building a 4' x 8' wood panel construction.

900 time-lapse photographs will be converted into a short

film showing the process of the build. Stay tuned-

we'll post it here!

Jay Fernandez at the Center on Halsted

2011-07-10T12:19:00.000-07:00

Las Manos Gallery Intern Jay Fernandez has his body of

work titled "The Other Side" at the Center on Halsted in

Boystown through August.

"The Other Side" features two styles of work. First is

Fernandez's colored magazine pages ripped from their

bindings and worked into with paint marker. The faces

of models and scenes are blacked out to evoke the feeling

that the subjects are silent and menacing.

His work on canvas and panel is inspired by "black reflections,"

which oscillate between shiny reflective materials in the work

and matt areas that lack light. These pieces are meant to get a

viewer to reflect on themselves, seeing not a real reflection but

what they really are.

The show is on the third floor of the Center.

Fernandez at the opening

"Black Halo"

"Long Drive"

"Dior"

Doug Britt Reyes

2011-07-01T13:48:00.000-07:00

Stormy Skies over Andersonville...

2011-07-01T13:47:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday Michelle!

2011-06-19T12:53:00.000-07:00

Gallery owner Michelle Peterson-Albandoz celebrates her birthday with friends and staff on Friday night.

Nicole Hollander, left, and Salome Chasnoff stuck around for hugs & drinks. Happy Birthday Girl!

New Works Opening!

2011-06-19T11:11:00.000-07:00

Michelle Peterson's reclaimed paint panel piece is the perfect backdrop for a conversation with artist Michael McGuire (center). Check out Michael's blog - mrmagooart.blogspot.com

Michael McGuire, Michelle Peterson-Albandoz and Doug Britt Reyes are featured in this month's show. Tricia Rumbolz, Paul Clark, Monika Wulfers, Mark Pease, Brittany Jordan Reyna and Mieke Zuiderweg have work in the back salon area.

Photographer Paul Clark, left, and Artist Steve Green cheers to all future art sales!

Doug Britt Reyes' double-form vessels stretch down the gallery. Each piece is hand-thrown in a continuous manner- leaving the viewer wondering how it was done by hand in the first place...

Michelle Peterson-Albandoz, left, and Steve Green talk about her new series of reclaimed paint panels. She used paints destined for disposal and created thick layers of texture and repetition with them.

Folks talk during the opening on Friday night.

Artist Tricia Rumbolz stands with a few of her pieces on display at the gallery on Friday.

Kris, left, and Chris take a better look at the details in one of Tricia Rumbolz's works.

Artist Mieke Zuiderweg is the Atlas to her own photographs.

Las Manos Gallery Opening Tonight!

2011-06-17T11:49:00.000-07:00

New Works

Opening Friday, June 17th

7-10pm

Michelle Peterson-Albandoz - Michael McGuire -

Doug Britt Reyes - Tricia Rumbolz -

Brittany Jordan Reyna

46th Annual Midsommarfest!

2011-06-15T09:21:00.000-07:00

Gallery Artist Chuck Meyers gets creative with chalk outside the Las Manos Gallery Booth

Amos Kennedy's letter press posters were a success at this year's Fest

Artists Michael McGuire, right, and Doug Britt Reyes watch the crowd on Saturday
Andersonville's 46th Annual Midsommarfest had
huge crowds this year. People enjoyed food, music
and good weather all weekend.

Midsommarfest in Andersonville!

2011-06-05T11:51:00.000-07:00

Midsommarfest!

Andersonville's 46th Annual Midsommarfest is taking

place on Saturday and Sunday, June 11-12th on Clark

Street. The Fest opens from 11am-10pm and features

food, music and artwork. Las Manos will feature

its gallery artists in a booth in front of the Gallery.

Please join us!

Original oil paintings by Chuck Meyers

Photographs by Mieke Zuiderweg

Artists included in this year's booth:

Chuck Meyers *Mieke Zuiderweg * Amos Kennedy * Paul Clark* Steve Green * Eric Garcia * Antonio Martinez * Lindsey Clark-Ryan * Matthew Best * John Mosher * E.C. Rolwing

June Show

2011-06-02T09:33:00.000-07:00

New Works
Opening Reception Friday, June 17th
Show runs June 10 - July, 2011

Micheal McGuire

Doug Britt Reyes

Michelle Peterson-Albandoz

Artist Michelle Peterson-Albandoz

2011-06-02T09:31:00.001-07:00

Artist Michelle Peterson-Albandoz was recently inspired by West African Artist El Anatsuitsui. His maxim that “ art grows out of each particular situation, and I believe that the artists are better off working with whatever their environment throws up” inspired Michelle to work with materials within her reach. Her concrete panels are a paradigm of the cement and adobe materials readily available in Florida. The repetitive lines and forms are a reflection of the older architecture.

Artist Michael McGuire

2011-06-02T09:29:00.000-07:00

Artist Michael McGuire has drawn inspiration from plants for years, but something he saw this past winter changed his approach in rendering them. He observed that the reductive quality of winter storms simplified the contours of leafless plant life while emphasizing the chaotic and complex systems of nature. He photographed vegetation and trees after snowstorms and used them as a starting point for a series of works consisting of tight crosshatching on paper.

Artist Doug Britt Reyes

2011-06-02T09:26:00.000-07:00

Doug Britt Reyes’ work consists of a study in opposites and the balance between them. His ceramic vessels test gravity with their upward and outward lifts, creating an elegance that is seeped in tension. These double forms make the viewer question what is “inside” and what is “outside.” The vessels are also purposely androgynous, with vague masculine references and feminine curves. Each piece is left void of any signature or human touch so the viewer’s emotional reaction is unobstructed.

Summer Gallery Hours are Back!

2011-05-24T11:10:00.000-07:00

Las Manos is celebrating the warmer weather by extending its hours! Please stop in during our extra week day hours to view work by Michelle Peterson-Albandoz, Michael McGuire, Chuck Meyers, Matthew Best, Mark Pease, Paul Clark, Monika Wulfers and many more!

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday- 12:30 - 5:30pm

Saturday & Sunday- 11:00am - 5:00pm

Monika Wulfers at Las Manos Gallery!

2011-05-08T09:37:00.000-07:00

Las Manos Gallery is proud to feature work by Monika Wulfers, an accomplished artist originally from Germany. Wulfers has had work exhibited at the Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art, Northwestern University, Wilhelm-Hack-Museum, Ludwigshafen, Germany and the Museum Moderner Kunst in Vienna, Austria.

Wulfers' work runs a wide gamut of medias including photography, painting, film, books and drawings. Her inspiration lies in lines- which are units of visual reality not found in nature. The pieces reflect the randomness of these horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines.

Featured Artist Chuck Meyers

2011-05-01T10:35:00.000-07:00

The Painting Show's Featured Artist Chuck Meyers is

fascinated by side streets and alley views of Chicago.

The structures interact with intense light sources like

the setting sun or fluorescent light, which he captures

with loose buttery strokes.

"Big Bryn Mawr"

Oil on Canvas

30" x 40"

Details of "Big Bryn Mawr"

"Fresh Coat"

Oil on Canvas

30" x 40"

Details of "Fresh Coat"

The Painting Show Opening

2011-04-24T12:14:00.000-07:00

Las Manos Gallery's "The Painting Show" runs through June 5, 2011.

Artist Monika Wulfers stands with her light installation "Four Sides, Not a Square," and painting "Random 4788 4888"

Artist Chuck Meyers with a new series of painting inspired by unusual Chicago scenes.

E.C. Rolwing stand with his new paintings "Untitled" at left, and "Self-Portrait II" at right.

Painter Jeffrey Sanderson and his work.

Work by artist Andrea Jensen on billboard material.

Colossal Stops By!

2011-04-24T11:49:00.000-07:00

Our favorite blog at the gallery (other than ours!) is

"this is colossal," by Christopher Jobson. Thanks for

attending the opening Chris- hope to see you at many

more!

http://thisiscolossal.com/

Monika Wulfers

2011-04-21T13:42:00.000-07:00

"Four Sides, Not a Square"

The Painters in this month's show!

2011-04-21T12:08:00.000-07:00

Chuck Meyers

E.C. Rolwing

Monika Wulfers

Andrea Jensen

Matthew Best

Jeffrey Sanderson

Brad Nelson

Painting Show Opening Friday!

2011-04-21T12:07:00.000-07:00

The Painting Show is right around the corner!

2011-04-12T10:55:00.000-07:00

Michelle Peterson-Albandoz's "Revive" Opening

2011-04-10T13:10:00.000-07:00

Michelle's "Revive" Show in

Washington D.C.

The artist statement. Click for

a larger view!

Drew Porterfield helps install the 12' reclaimed

wood panel in preparation of the opening on

March 31st.

The show all prepped and ready to go.

Michelle's 12' totem-like pole

made of old window frame

pieces.

The opening was well attended!

Michelle and Cindy chat in front of one of

her 4' x 5' pieces...

Amazing Fundraiser at Las Manos Gallery!

2011-04-10T12:24:00.000-07:00

Michelle Peterson-Albandoz in Washington Post!

2011-03-29T15:32:00.000-07:00

Reap Life, DIG event!

2011-03-24T16:09:00.000-07:00

Photos by Dean McGormley

Development In Gardening (DIG) strives to alleviate the pressing need for improved nutrition in the developing world. DIG works primarily with those affected by HIV/AIDS throughout Africa and parts of Latin America, DIG's response is not only appropriate but Necessary.

The event at Las Manos Gallery on Friday night is to fund the Development in Gardening's efforts to plant seeds, transform communities and improve health around the world.

For more information on this incredible organization go to:

www.reaplifeDIG.org

Michelle Peterson-Albandoz's Show in Washington D.C.!

2011-03-20T12:29:00.000-07:00

Revive

Long View Gallery
Washington D.C.

Opening:
Thursday, March 31st, 2011
6:30-8:30pm

The work of Michelle Peterson-Albandoz, Artist and Owner of Las Manos Gallery in Andersonville, will be shown at Long View Gallery in Washington D.C. this April!

Many of you have followed Michelle's artistic career over the past seventeen years, spanning from painting, mixed-media work to her reclaimed wood from Chicago porches and fences. Each panel piece features hundreds of cuts of wood in a large spectrum of colors. Now her newest body of work will be the featured artwork at the esteemed Long View Gallery in Washington D.C. Twenty-four large scale works are currently making their way to the East Coast. If you are in the D.C. area through the month of April, please take the opportunity to stop by and view this wonderful collection of work.

Show runs March 31st - May 1st, 2011

For more information:
long view gallery
1234 ninth st nw
washington, dc
20001

202-232-4788
longviewgallery.com

The New Works on Paper Show in B&W...

2011-03-13T13:04:00.000-07:00

New Works on Paper Opening!

2011-03-06T13:08:00.000-08:00

New Works on Paper 2011

An installation designed into the Las Manos Gallery window by Artist Ben Rosecrans

Artist Ben Rosecrans

Work by Matthew Best

A detail of John Mosher's new work

The always suave John Mosher

A detail of Artist Michael McGuire's ink-on-paper work

Artist Michael McGuire

A piece by Blinn Jacobs from her "Trading Fours" Drawing series

Artist Eric Garcia

A detail of one of Steven Green's works

Artist Steven Green

Artist Christine Wuenschel

Detail of Artist Mark Pease's work

Artist Mark Pease

Visitors at the opening take a look at Pilsen Artist Eric Garcia's work

New work by Ginny Sykes

Artists Steven Green, left and Eric Garcia go through some of Green's works on paper

Don't forget about the New Works on Paper Exhibition!

2011-03-03T20:42:00.000-08:00

Works on Paper Exhibition

2011-03-02T19:23:00.001-08:00

Works on Paper Exhibition

Opening Reception On Friday March 4th from 7-10pm

Las Manos Gallery presents an exhibition of eleven artists exploring drawing, painting, printmaking and installation works on paper.

John Mosher uses drawings and collage elements to transcribe visual texts messages sent to him by friends. The end result is a humorous and often quirky narrative.

Lindsey Clark- Ryan’s pieces work on a similar quirky visual plane. Clark-Ryan uses her memories of growing up in close proximity to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. She creates outer space tales filled with an absurdist sensibility.

Michael McGuire taps into his architectural training and plays expertly with perspective. The results yield beautiful drawings of grids and cage-like structures. These works are both elegant and sophisticated.

These are just a few of the many artists featured in the exhibition. Here is a list of the artists participating in “Works on Paper” this month at Las Manos Gallery. John Mosher, Matthew Best, Ginny Sykes, Lindsey Clark-Ryan, Ben Rosenburg, Michael McGuire, Eric Garcia, Mark Pease, Christine Wuenschel, and Blinn Jacobs.

This group show runs March 4^th – April 1^st, 2011.

Photo Show in Chicago Reader!

2011-02-13T11:27:00.000-08:00

Variations: A Photography Exhibition Reviewed in the Chicago Reader.

Article by P. Raleigh.

For three weeks, Las Manos Gallery is exhibiting a group of photographers from Chi-town and abroad. Patrick Manning of New Mexico is exhibiting a selection of serene sky photos with jet trails entailed "Automatic Writings". Any photos of cloud formations, directly or indirectly, will reference Alfred Stieglitz's mid-1920-1930's series called "Equivalents" which was celebrated during its time for it's liberation from a literal translation of its subject. The beauty of Manning's photos is the interpretation his audience can attach to them. There's something serene, yet haunting about his skyscapes when one reflects about how looking up must have been a daily religious experience for our god-fearing ancestors and their deities siting atop clouds. In today's time, there are no visible gods or thrones of clouds in the blue sky, but only the jet exhaust of men disrupting them.

Eric Robinson and Antonio Martinez are two additional Chi-town outsiders exhibiting exciting and fresh work at Las Manos, too. Both young men base their operations in Saluki territory of Carbondale, IL and prove to be equally as talented and creative as Chicago-resident artists. Eric uses an antique photographic process called ambrotypes, which are one-of-a-kind images exposed onto 4x5 glass plates. The installation of his series called Leathermen show environmental portraits and close-ups of tools of sexual play that define his San Fransico subjects of interest. The aesthetic offered by the ambrotype process provides a new interpretation to the daring and shocking nature of leathermen and their sexual-deviant activities. More ever, Eric is able to present a quality of tenderness and everyday specialness not commonly attributed to such sexual "deviancy" by the mainstream audience. Eric will be a photographer to watch out for in the future in Chicago, for he plans to direct his camera away from San Francisco and towards Chi-town.

Lastly, Antonio Martinez returns to Las Manos Gallery with three new and budding bodies of work about amateur-level sports of which he writes, "when compared to the glitz and glamour of professional athletes, an amateur athlete exchanges big bruises for small praises". These images move beyond the typical sports photography, instead they involve a remorseful quality that calls into attention the violence, valor, and pursuit of feeling powerful for male athletes performing feats of madness as either a cagefighter, bodybuilder, or rodeo rider. His first body of work called "How to Hug and Other Sublimations of Men" is a study of southern Illinois Cagefighters competing for honor and regaining feelings of powerfulness and self-worth in today's changing 21st century. The painterly use of color and abrasive surface treatment of his images moves away from the strict tradition of straight color photography, instead he is able to evoke a high degree of expressionism. His images of exquisite violence calls attention to the admirable and deplorable sport of cagefighting as a modern ritual and site where two men, through violence, compassion and respect, experience feelings of sublimation.

"Bending Cages" is his sequel to the "Near the Egress" project. If you missed Near the Egress, then you should visit vimeo.com and search for it. Although the stop-motion tintype video of "Bending Cages" is still in production, Antonio continues to combine digital and alternative photographic processes to create slick, glossy images of muscle men on aluminum. These men of muscle appear strong but Antonio is able to express another interpretation such as the haunting feeling of loss and entropy. Accompanying his larger float-mounted aluminum prints are smaller modern tintypes of muscle men which were used to construct the larger version, and, ultimately, will be used in his next stop-motion video.

Antonio's Faith Into Madness is a short experimental stop-motion video, completed entirely with Polaroid emulsion lifts which shows a bronco and cowboy romping into a loop of madness. The sound design is exquisite and complements the erratic movements of the subject and the fluttering film emulsion. This month, Faith into Madness is being featured on Portland-based Blue Mitchell's popular blog platestopixles.com.

Overall, "Variations-a Photography Exhibition" at Las Manos Gallery is a pleasant surprise, with enough scope and range in style and subject matter for everyone to enjoy. I encourage everyone to check out this exhibit before it snows another 20 inches.

Click HERE for article.

Las Manos at Equality Illinois Justice for All Ball!

2011-02-13T11:17:00.000-08:00

Ten artists with Las Manos Gallery donated work for the silent auction to raise money for Equality Illinois. The bidding was fierce in the last hour of the event!

Equality Illinois had more than 1,000 guests attend its annual Justice for All Benefit Gala, continuing its more than decade-long tradition as the largest LGBT black-tie gala in the Midwest – and a fun and exciting event for everyone. The 2011 Gala will be held Saturday, February 12, 2011 and will celebrate 20 years of Equality Illinois’ accomplishments. As in past years, the 2011 Gala will generate substantial media attention in the gay as well as mainstream Illinois media.

Equality Illinois (EQIL) was founded in 1991 to secure, protect and defend equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people throughout Illinois. In 2000, the Equality Illinois Education Project, our 501(c)(3) arm, was created to focus on the educational and charitable aspects of the mission. EQIL’s initiatives extend throughout every sector of Illinois life, reaching individuals and organizations both in the LGBT community and the mainstream, across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors.

Variations Opening Reception

2011-02-13T09:38:00.000-08:00

Variations: A Photography Exhibition drew in a great crowd on Friday evening.

A gallery-goer takes a closer look at some Polaroid emulsion lifts.

Photographer Paul Clark's 90 images of variations in brick walls in Chicago.

Photographer Antonio Martinez with one of his three photographic series.

"How to hug and other sublimations of men" by Martinez.

From "Bending Cages" images of body builders on tin type.

"Faith into Madness" Polaroid emulsion lifts.

Tommy Reyes with his images that reach well above five feet in height.

Gallery artist Michael McGuire stands with a few of his images that find an unusual rhythm in groups of people photographed in the city.

Eric Robinson and "leathermen" series on ambrotype, a glass negative that is one-of-a-kind.

A detail from "leathermen."

Mieke Zuiderweg and two images from her Holga #2 series of reflections in store fronts.

Gallery artist Chuck Meyers in front of Sarah Midkiff's work.

Midkiff photographed every bed she slept in for a year.

Antonio Martinez's images on aluminum.

Patrick Manning's images of contrails.

"Faith into Madness" was translated into a short film.

Opening Tonight!

2011-02-11T14:22:00.000-08:00

Variations
A Photography Exhibition

Opening Reception:

Tonight! 7-10pm

Join us tonight for the opening of Variations: A Photography Exhibition at Las Manos Gallery!

Each photographer has a unique series of images that they've spent years collecting through their lens. A few artists that stand out for their originality are Eric Robinson, Sarah Midkiff and Antonio Martinez.

Robinson's "Leathermen" are intensely dark but moving images of a subculture not usually open to being photographed. Robinson's pictures are one-of-a-kind ambrotypes- images on delicate glass plates.

Sarah Midkiff photographed each bed she slept in for a year, leaving us with a very personal and vulnerable view of twisted and wrinkled sheets. The soft black-and-white images leave the viewer with much to imagine!

Antonio Martinez, who is also one of Las Manos gallery's artists, brings us not one but three separate series. Small modern tin types featuring weight lifters preening for camera, large, shocking images of cage fighters twisted together in sweat and violence and finally Polaroid emulsion "lifts" of cowboys on horseback. Each of his series captures men in brutal but beautiful moments.

Please stop by the gallery tonight, and and on weekends through February 27th to see this incredible show!

Las Manos Gallery
5220 N. Clark St
Chicago, IL
60640

www.lasmanosgallery.com

Photos are up!

2011-02-10T17:07:00.000-08:00

Photographer Eric Robinson, left, helped hang the photo show in time for the opening happening this Friday from 7-10pm. Robinson's photographs are stark images of leather men
on ambrotype - which makes them one-of-kind. Stop by tomorrow for the opening and
catch Robinson along with other artists Sarah Midkiff, Zach Sabin, Patrick Manning, Antonio Martinez, Michael McGuire, Mieke Zuiderweg, Tommy Reyes, Paul Clark and Samantha VanDeman.

Last Day of StatiCCreep!

2011-02-05T16:55:00.000-08:00

Sunday is the last day to see the comic book-
inspired show at Las Manos Gallery!

Take a look at this video to see what you'll
be missing if you don't stop by!!!