Opening - "Other People's Paintings" @ Torrance Shipman Gallery

What
Artist-run space Torrance Shipman Gallery is asking a slew of their resident artists to curate group shows. Last night was the opening of group show "Other People's Paintings", curated by painter Matthew Fischer.

Who
The show included works by Fishcher's "friends, near friends and almost strangers", and ranged from paintings to charcoal to ink caulking on canvas, with the token group show "sculpture" done by Nora Griffin (linen, wood, nails.)

Thoughts

If there's one thing I notice most about group shows put together by friends that you see in the likes of community/artist "galleries", is the lack of depth in most (not all) pieces. The above piece by MacGregor Harp is listed as "oil and acrylic on canvas", and I can't help but suggest listing it as some oil and acrylic with canvas. Feel free to call it a personal pet-peeve and disregard it, but it just feels/looks like Harp didn't want to take the time and wait for paint to dry to give his piece emotional layers.

Or the pieces below, also by MacGregor Harp, continue the theme of a nice idea, but executed with apparent lack of richness and depth. There is more to a painting than good design and color balance, and it's that extra thoughtfulness that makes a piece worth _________. Put in the hours, days, months to create pieces that make schlepping to Sunset Park in the freezing weather worth me getting a fucking cold the next day.

To Fischer's credit, there were pieces to enjoy, or at least think about...(below)

The above piece by Nikki Maloof (oil on canvas).

This was my favorite piece in the show.  Shara Hughes' "Sneak Peek" takes an unconventional subject and color combination to create something that offers a playground of exploration and depth.

Finally, some detail and beautiful, thoughtful shading.

Then, I left.

And took these on the subway with my iPhone. Inverted and color adjusted in Photoshop Express app.