Christina Empedocles
Quick nod to Design*Sponge for alerting me to the work of Bay Area artist Christina Empedocles. The great thing about living in the Bay is that there is an inexhaustible supply of new art for me to discover. Oh, how magical. Aside from having a sweet-ass last name, Empedocles also manages to tackle an artistic style that is notoriously difficult: photorealism. The problem is not generally one of talent, (it certainly isn’t in Christina’s case), but more of making something so realistic interesting beyond the merits of just being a really well crafted painting. Empedocles’ work reminds me of Audrey Flack’s paintings, in that they both use the composition to interest the viewer. But where Flack crowded her canvases with airbrushed knick-knacks, Empedocles keeps her focus on a few objects, combining color, pattern and depth. The task in being part of an existing style is to create a new idea, something that hasn’t been done before, and Empedocles has certainly done that. Once again the Bay Area doesn’t disappoint me. Now if only I could get decent BBQ here I’d be set.
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July 11th, 2008 at 11:16 am
Fro good BBQ in Bay Area (I am originally from Kansas City and have a pretty high bar for BBQ), I have been happiest with Doug’s in Oakland. I haven’t been to Bo’s in Lafayett yet, which is supposed to be good, but I can’t recommned it without a try.
November 29th, 2008 at 4:21 am
Try Flynt’s BBQ, also in Oakland. It’s got succulent meat with hot sauce to go, cooked in a smoky hole in the wall with side orders of potato salad and served on white bread. http://www.yelp.com/biz/flints-bbq-oakland
Also, Christina Empedocles has it down. Check out Josh Keyes, too.