February 2012
10 posts
2 tags
Art Hound crushin' on Jillian Ludwig this week
After mentioning Katy Horan’s featured work at Buy Some Damn Art earlier today, I noticed that Swarm’s Jillian Ludwig was mentioned earlier this week over at Art Hound, BSDA’s sister site. Head over there to scope Jillian’s work and to see a nicely curated selection of other great artists from all over!
3 tags
Swarm featured in the EBX Insider's Guide!
Swarm is featured in the East Bay Express Insider’s Guide in this week’s issue! Pick up a guide for yourself and see where else you can experience the many great things happening this side of the bay.
Swarm studio artist Masako Miyazaki!
2 tags
New Katy Horan works @ Buy Some Damn Art!
Photo courtesy of Buy Some Damn Art
Swarm’s Katy Horan is the featured artist this week over at Buy Some Damn Art, a site dedicated to affordable art run by Art Hound’s Kate Singleton. New works by Katy, priced between $400-$500 each, will be up for the next six weeks on the site. Also check out BSDA’s interview with Katy over at at their blog!
4 tags
Of Course Not write up in East Bay Express!
Paul Morgan, I’m Lichen This! (2011), Screenprint, 20 x 26 inches
Head on over to the East Bay Express to check out Dewitt Cheng’s coverage our current show, Of Course Not. And make a point to stop by the gallery if you need another look (or a first look) at this show before the show ends Sunday February 26th!
1 tag
Mayumi Hamanaka @ Middlesex County College Studio...
Swarm’s Mayumi Hamanaka is in a group show that opened up February 2nd at Middlesex County College Studio Theatre Gallery in Edison, New Jersey. The show, entitled Self: Scape is an exhibition that “conceptually questions the metaphoric redefinition of the environment through the artist’s perspective,” according to curator and Drexel University professor Jen Blazina. “Whether it is a...
2 tags
John Casey @ Galerie Polaris (Paris) 2/11 through...
To our French followers (or those lucky ones adventuring in Paris this month), Swarm’s John Casey has a solo show opening in the main gallery of Galerie Polaris today (or, yesterday, Paris time), Saturday February 11 from 2-9pm! The show, Big Idea, also features a group exhibition in the second gallery featuring the work of Claude Briand-Picard, Marine Joatton, Maëlle Labussière,...
2 tags
Live KALX broadcast of Swarm Intelligence on 2/25...
We’re excited to announce a show—that will be broadcast live on KALX!—coming up later this month on Saturday 2/25 at the gallery! Swarm Intelligence, a new band featuring a few folks who have played here before (Grex + Jordan Glenn, Phillip Greenlief, Dan Seamans, Cory Wright), will be performing along with the Ross Hammond Quartet (w/Vinny Golia, Steuart Liebig, Alex Cline),...
Interview in SFAQ Magazine!
Photography by Bonnie Chan
Gregory Ito interviewed Swarm Gallery director, Svea Lin Soll, in the latest issue of the San Francisco Arts Quarterly (FEB/MAR/APR 2012). Click the link to download and read.
1 tag
Jeff Eisenberg current and upcoming
Swarm’s Jeff Eisenberg is part of the Kala Artists’ Annual group show that’s currently up and running through this Saturday, February 4th. Go check out Jeff’s stunning new graphite drawings and other works from over 90 members of Kala’s artist community of Fellows, Artists-in-Residence, workshop instructors, and staff.
Next up for Jeff is his residency at the...
2 tags
Jessalyn Aaland + Paul Morgan featured in Oakland...
Wondering how current Swarm exhibiting artists Jessalyn Aaland and Paul Morgan make such crazy cool art? Oakland Art Beat recently spoke with the artists about their collaborative tendencies, the reason they love working in Oakland, and their current show at Swarm. Check it out to learn more of the interesting ways in which they work together.
January 2012
6 posts
3 tags
Music friends in the news! As seen @ Swarm
Excited to see some great musician friends of the gallery get some coverage in this week’s East Bay Express!
Members of the featured band, Kapowski, are past (and future) performers at the gallery in our slowly-growing and ever-evolving series featuring talented people performing all kinds of sounds.
And on that note, a huge thanks to Lawson for a great performance last Friday. Those...
2 tags
Jeff Eisenberg @ POVevolving Gallery till next...
Swarm’s Jeff Eisenberg is in a solo exhibition that opened in December at POVevolving Gallery in LA. The show, Convergent De-evolution, features new graphite drawings that “suggest multiple readings of a single image; friend or foe; decay or past.” Check it out before it comes down next weekend! Click through for images from the show.
Images courtesy of POVevolving...
4 tags
Lawson Release Party TONIGHT @ Swarm!
TONIGHT at 8pm we will be hosting the release party for Oakland-based Lawson’s debut, Tales from the Land of Lawson!
Lawson is a project of local saxaphonist Jacob Zimmerman and an ensemble comprised of Theo Padouvas (trumpet), Cory Wright (tenor sax), Rob Ewing (trombone), Michael Coleman (keyboard), Dan VanHassel (keyboard), Dan Good (electronics, trumpet). The evening will open with a...
2 tags
Call & Response now available online!
In case you missed out on this book during John Casey’s Tall Tales show here back in the fall, you have another chance to score a copy of Call & Response at our shop!
Call & Response matches Mary’s writing with John’s drawing and vice versa. In some cases John goes first, drawing a character engaged in an activity. Mary responds to the drawing with a short story,...
2 tags
OF COURSE NOT opens this weekend + upcoming...
We’re really thrilled to present Of Course Not, a two person show by Oakland locals Jessalyn Aaland and Paul Morgan, opening this Saturday January 14th from 6-8! Jessalyn and Paul will be DJing some tunes of the dancehall/international/jazz variety. We will also have kettlecorn treats and handcrafted cocktails on hand!
Upcoming next week:
Release party for Oakland-based Lawson’s...
4 tags
The new year's new show: Jessalyn Aaland + Paul...
Happy new year, everyone! It certainly feels new with a brand-new show opening here next week. We are very excited to welcome Oakland artists Jessalyn Aaland and Paul Morgan for their first two-person show, opening next Saturday January 14th, 2012.
Screenprint by Paul Morgan (2011), 26 x 20 inches
Rumor has it there just might be some early 70’s dancehall even perhaps some kettle corn...
December 2011
6 posts
2 tags
Holiday Hours + Current/Upcoming
Laura Ball, Charge (2011), Watercolor on paper, 22 x 30 inches
If you are looking for a place to bring your out-of-town visitors in the next few days, come check out the current show, Mystical Menagerie, before the gallery closes for the holidays from December 24th to January 3rd.
Jessalyn Aaland, Trying To Reach the Point of Largest Growth (2010), Collage on paper, 15 x 20.5 inches
...
1 tag
Make your holidays happier: Give an original piece...
Casey Jex Smith, Untitled (Colorful Pencil) (2008), Collage on paper, 7.5 x 5.5 inches. $150.
Do you want to give something meaningful to the folks on your list this year? Here are our picks for an affordable, memorable gift this holiday season…
Give a truly unique gift to a special person in your life and support a great artist by purchasing an original piece of artwork from Swarm!...
2 tags
Grand opening for popuphood this Friday!
Photo courtesy of Oakland North Oaklanders are hungry. For food, and drinks and what not, but also for just…more good stuff in to happen in the town. Well, something really innovative is upon us this Friday, December 9, with popuphood, a new urban initiative in Old Oakland offering six new retail shops in five previously vacant store fronts with six months free rent.
Local entrepreneurs...
2 tags
College Track Oakland presents: Winter Showcase...
Come down to the gallery next Thursday, December 15 from 5-8pm to support the local students of College Track Oakland at their annual Winter Showcase 2011! The event will feature student performances, music, dancing, and speakers to promote College Track Oakland and to raise funds for student leadership programming and donations for the Toys for Tots foundation. There will be raffles, local ...
1 tag
Yelp Elite Event @ Swarm gallery!
The cool folks over at Yelp hosted a very successful Yelp Elite Event here at the gallery last week. Their fun and creative project included creating name tags from Shrinky Dinks. Check out the review for more photos and info about the event straight from the Yelpers who attended!
Also, in case you haven’t heard, we rent out our great space for all kinds of events. Want to get married in...
1 tag
Ethan Worden in 2 shows opening this week
The space above the Golden Gate Bridge, postcard by Ethan Worden
Ethan Worden is having quite a busy month around these parts. Perhaps he should consider hibernating for the winter after his three current shows wrap up?
Ethan has a few pieces in a show opening tomorrow, 12/8, at the Bedford Gallery for an exhibition of photography called SNAP: A National Juried Photography Exhibition. The...
1 tag
Friday Happenings in and around Swarm
Are you not sure what to do with yourself this Friday? How about a little pre-art murmur art viewing? Come down to Swarm and see the really great work in our current exhibition, Mystical Menagerie. We’ll open an hour later, till 6:30 that night!
Image courtesy of KBLX
Afterward, head on over to Jack London Square to witness the lighting of the humongous holiday tree at 7pm. You might want...
November 2011
6 posts
Happy Harvest, Everybody!
Swarm Gallery will be closed Thursday and Friday, November 24 + 25. Gallery hours will resume for the weekend! Saturday and Sunday, November 27 + 28, 12-5:30. Current exhibition is “MYSTICAL MENAGERIE”, stellar new works by Laura Ball + Jillian Ludwig, with an installation “RADICAL GEOGRAPHER” by Michele Pred in the project space.
Happy Harvest, Everybody!
2 tags
Behind the Barn Door
People. Did you know we used to primarily answer to the name Swarm Studios? Have you checked out our studios lately? Because they are a really special component of the gallery that we’d love to share with the world.
Photo courtesy of Jen Giese
If you haven’t been beyond the gallery barn door (or even beyond the gallery front door), you need to take a field trip down here. We...
2 tags
Ethan Worden in SOEX's "Working Conditions,"...
Ethan Worden, T(HERE) (2010), Neon, 7 x 29 x 2.5 inches
Southern Exposure has a great show opening Friday, November 11, featuring Swarm’s Ethan Worden. The group exhibition, Working Conditions, features Ethan and 8 other artists working on process-based installations for the duration of the exhibit (through January 6th). More from SOEX about the show: Working Conditions is a process-based...
2 tags
Day of the Draw! Tomorrow from 6-9pm
Please join us tomorrow, November 3rd, for Day of the Draw! An evening of live drawing and beer hosted by John Casey at Swarm. 20+ local artists who have collaborated in his Hands & Pants project currently on display at the gallery will be drawing live. Art made that night will be available for sale, so bring cash because you can buy drawings directly from the artists. This is a perfect...
2 tags
Tia Factor solo show opens in Portland Friday!
Hey Portlanders! Tia Factor’s solo show, In Want of the World, opens at Half/Dozen Gallery (722 E Burnside & SE 8th Ave) this Friday evening from 6-9. From the gallery press release:
Through interviews and translations, Tia Factor has created a series of intimate paintings that singularly capture adventure and memory from a host of different perspectives, both familiar and...
October 2011
7 posts
2 tags
We support Occupy Oakland!
Michael McDermott, We’ll Rescue you (Salvation) (2007)
Upon opening our doors this morning at the gallery and hearing the ominous swarm of helicopters still hovering nearby, we felt compelled to express our support of those Oaklanders who have been occupying downtown for the last few weeks. Hearing of the extreme police response has been disheartening—especially considering how much...
2 tags
Pedalfest happening in Jack London Square this...
We love our bikes here, so of course we are quite excited about Pedalfest (happening right around the corner from the gallery) this weekend! Pedalfest is a free celebration of all things bike on Saturday, October 22, 2011 from 10 am – 5 pm at Jack London Square. Some going on throughout the day include:
Handmade show featuring bikes and gear by Soulcraft, Inglis, Retrotec, Black Cat,...
1 tag
1 tag
Grex // Weiner Kids // Alee Karim & the Science...
In just a few weeks we’ll be playing host once again to some great musical happenings (in keeping with the tradition, we suppose) at Swarm!
Saturday October 22, 9pm @ Swarm: Grex “Second Marriage” album release extravaganza with Weiner Kids and Alee Karim & the Science Fiction. $5 suggested donation, all ages, all fun times, and most certainly some refreshments. Do your...
2 tags
"Tall Tales" featured today on Hi-Fructose!
We can’t say we’re too suprised John Casey’s ambitious show, Tall Tales, was picked up this week by Hi-Fructose Magazine! The large-scale collaboration involving artists from all over the place (yeah, snail mail!) has garnered a lot of well-deserved attention only a week in to the show. If you haven’t already, come down soon and see the 70+ works for yourself (and check...
3 tags
Tall Tales opening madness
Classic: John Casey and Obi Kaufmann
We had a great turnout last night for the opening of John Casey’s Tall Tales and Jake Watling’s 4 Directions: International Blvd in the project space. Thanks to all 65 participating artists, the Trappist for pouring up good beer all night, and everyone who made their way down to the gallery to celebrate this huge show! More photos from the...
1 tag
Swarm takes over neighborhood newsletter
It seems only natural that ex-officio marketing person for the neighborhood, Svea (Swarm’s director), would take on the neighborhood newsletter, The Call!! Published by the Jack London District Association, the newsletter comes out every two months and features columns highlighting restaurants, events, news and the fine folks who live, work and play in the JLD!
Special thanks to Neven...
September 2011
4 posts
1 tag
Artist T-shirt Sale!
ARTIST T-SHIRT SALE starting October 1st at Swarm. 15% off our four Oaklandish edition artist t-shirts featuring the work of John Casey, Jake Watling, Sarah Smith, and Terry Furry. Just in time for the opening of Tall Tales, featuring work by John Casey (and 40+ collaborators) and a multimedia installation by Jake Watling!
2 tags
Vote for Katy Horan! ART TAKES MIAMI PEOPLE'S...
Katy needs YOUR vote to win the ART TAKES MIAMI PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD. Just follow the link below to her entry and click “VOTE FOR ME” at the top of the page … Deadline is tomorrow! (Wednesday 9/28/11) http://kkhoran.see.me/atm2011
2 tags
TILT Wedding Fair 9/25 @ Swarm!
We are proud to announce a unique wedding event coming up at Swarm! TILT is a new contemporary wedding fair catering to the creative, alternative-thinking bride or groom. TILT will offer exposure to boutique vendors that pride themselves on one-of-a-kind creativity. Visitors will enjoy a convergence of the area’s design, sustainability, craft, and service—and a party at the same...
1 tag
Vintage sequin necklaces for your clavicles
Jen Giese, talented photographer and generally awesome lady, created some wonderful necklaces (made of vintage Parisian sequins!) just for the Quick Stop Art Shop. The sequins on these delicately-hand-strung pieces resemble teeny pieces of abalone you might find on a Mendo sea floor.
You can’t find these brilliant little things anywhere else—check em out right now over at the shop!
August 2011
4 posts
1 tag
Invasive Horizons invading the gallery
Some of you might know about the wildness currently taking over the gallery, but for those who don’t, well…these photos barely do it justice:
The gallery portion of Invasive Horizon is chock-full of references toward our species’ historical meddling with nature. We have certainly come full-circle with Colin Christy’s installation of an American River Valley ecosystem...
2 tags
New Taro Hattori work-in-progress
Swarm’s Taro Hattori just wrapped up a full-fellowship residency at the Vermont Studio Center. Here is a peek into his newest project, “The Inescapable Lightness of Penetration,” which he undertook on his round-trip cross-country road trip between California and Vermont.
For this ongoing work-in-progress, Taro assembled a 23’ long by 4’ wide cardboard sculpture at...
1 tag
WatchSweet video of Piki perfoming “Orgiaque” at Swarm on July 22nd. Thanks to Piki (Sam Ospovat, Andrew Conklin, Nate Brenner, and Jordan Glenn), projectionist Miriam Lakes, sound man Kevin Crawford, and—the man behind the camera—Bram Draper.
2 tags
New stuff @ Quick Stop Art Shop!
The Quick Stop Art Shop was asleep for a minute, but it recently rumbled awake with a bunch of new artwork and a hot new background to boot!
Laura Ball, Path (2008)
Works now available by John Casey, Laura Ball, Joseph Smolinski, Doug Garth Williams, Alexis Mackenzie, Casey Jex Smith, and Alfred Steiner.
1 tag
43rd Street Mural
There’s a mezmerizing new mural taking shape on 43rd street near Telegraph in Temescal. Go check out the beautiful work of Swarm artist Jake Watling and Swarm affiliate Derek Weisberg!
43rd Street Mural in progress
Work by Jake Watling and Derek Weisberg
Jake Watling mid-mural
Work by Derek Weisberg, Faring Purth, and Jake Watling
All photos by Derek Weisberg
July 2011
8 posts
1 tag
RIBS Release Party & Zine Signing--Sunday 7/31!
Cown down to the gallery Sunday, July 31st from 1-4pm for the release of RIBS, a new zine by John Casey and Derek Weisberg. If it’s not obvious from the cover photo, this is a zine about BBQ! Mainly, BBQ’d meats. And the many lovely places (35 joints, from the best to the worst) in the Bay where these treats can be sampled. Also on hand will be Phat Matt’s, serving up actual...
1 tag
Colin Christy's Kickstarter Campaign + August...
Former Swarm intern Colin Christy needs your help raising funds for his installation here in August as part of his two-person show with Joseph Smolinski. For his installation, he will recreate a river-side ecosystem sampled from the American River. “I will be transplanting a group of native and invasive plants into the ecosystem, and pitting them against eachother in a sort of Darwinian...
1 tag
Thanks for the love!
You may have heard our quick mention of this last week, but Swarm was voted best art gallery in this year’s East Bay Express reader’s poll!
Thanks to everyone who voted for us! We have lots of great things coming your way this year, so stay tuned…
1 tag
ANDREW CONKLIN + NAYTRONIX + PIKI thanks/photos!
Andrew Conklin, Naytronix and Piki put on an amazing show at Swarm Friday. A huge thanks to all the musicians, our talented projectionist Miriam Lakes, sound man Kevin Crawford, camera guy Bram Draper, bar man Michael Coleman, helper-man Matt Dostal, and everyone who came out to see the show! Stay tuned for future events here involving these folks…
Photos courtesy of Bram Draper. More...
1 tag
Andrew Conklin + Naytronix + Piki TONIGHT at...
Come down to the gallery for a great show tonight!
MOONLIGHTING @ SWARM nighttime fun in the Town + live music + Jon’s Street Eats food cart! + refreshing refreshments + art all over the place + amazing visuals by resident projectionist Miriam Lakes! with performances by: + Andrew Conklin (Quinn, Laurie Lewis and the Right Hands, Timosaurus) and his guitar make experimental...
2 tags
Laura Ball solo show opens tonight @ Morgan Lehman...
Laura Ball’s solo show, Animus, opens tonight from 6-8 at Morgan Lehman Gallery in New York (sad for all us left coast folk). This new work is going in a slightly more dreamy direction—perfect for the entrancing summer ahead (at least, heat waves can make the summer feel we’re all under a spell).
All you lucky New Yorkers (and summer travelers) have till August 22nd to see the...