Our second in a series of interviews with the namesakes of several local galleries will be up soon. This time we spoke with Jessica Silverman.  Hers is one of the most interesting in the bay area, operating along with a few other spaces on a national and international scale while maintaining an intriguing gallery program here. About her current show, a solo show of Dashiell Manley's work, as Curiously Direct we noted:

...First solo show by this recent UCLA grad at Silverman, comprised of a group of double-sided paintings and a pair of animations. The paintings are in varying scales, on one side odd, muted compositions on canvas with text that hints at a code (tango bravo and the like) without ever allowing for any sort of direct translation of their contents. Their other sides are more colorful abstract paintings on the reverse of plastic. Installed on colored shelves at a slight tilt off the wall – their dual nature is only hinted at – this added dimensionality makes them interestingly sculptural. There is a sense of purposeful obfuscation coupled with a desire to communicate which pushes this well installed exhibition into a memorable show.

And, a small excerpt from the interview

AH: What do you look for in an artist or artist’s practice? How do you go about finding artists? Do you do studio visits?


JS: I do a tremendous amount of studio visits. I go to open studios. I go to grad shows. I have dialogues with people. One artist we now represent I first saw on a blog and quickly flew out to see their work in person.  A collector in New York suggested an artist we offered an exhibition to and now represent. More and more, that’s happening, because you bond with collectors who really love your program and they start to understand what you’re looking for. It can be shocking how on point they can be in what you are interested in. 


AH: What do you feel your responsibility is to the artists you pick up? Versus people you would put in a group show.


JS:  I care so much about the artists and feel hugely responsible for their careers. My main responsibility is to provide a context that they feel excited about, interested in and trust. They have to look at the program as a whole and feel comfortable being a part of it.  I think a lot about that as I build the program and as we grow. I provide international, national and local contexts through art fairs and relationships we build with other dealers. 

The Dashiell Manley show closes tomorrow, with the next show, a solo show from Jason Kraus, opening September 7th.

Wednesday:
+ Performance: Gregg Kowalsky, Illuha, Lawrence English, Paul Clipson "Subliminal Festival with Lawrence English, Illuha, Gregg Kowalsky, Paul Clipson" at Liminal Space

Thursday:
+ Performance: Anne McGuire "SFMOMA's Stage Presence Performance Series: Anne McGuire" at SF MOMA

Friday:
+ Andrea Bacigalupo, Anne McGuire, Bessma Khalaf, Claire Fontaine, David J. Haskins, Desirée Holman, Eamon Ore-Giron, Enrique Chagoya , Euan Macdonald, Jason Jagel , Joshua Churchill, Juan Luna-Avin, Justin Adian, Manuel Ocampo, Nate Boyce, Suzy Po, Wally Hedrick, Yason Banal "I'm So Goth --I'm Dead!" curated by Bob Linder, Julio Cesar Morales at Queens Nails
+ Anne McGuire, Christine Ancalmo, Claire Evans, Dale Hoyt, Dickson Schneider, Evie Leder, Farley Gwazda, Julia Litman-Cleper, Julia Vering, Karla Milosevich, Liz Walsh, Marco Brambil, Michael Deane, Paul Clipson , Ronnie Bass, Sofia Cordova, Torsten Zenas Burns, Will Erokan "Summer of Video Art 2012 - Futuring the Past, Pasting the Future" curated by Jasmine Moorhead at Krowswork
+ Anne McGuire, Christine Ancalmo, Karla Milosevich, Liz Walsh, Torsten Zenas Burns "Summer of Video Art 2012 - Futuring the Past, Pasting the Future" curated by Jasmine Moorhead at Krowswork

+ Elizabeth Moran, Jarrod Beck, Margo Woloweic, Phil LaDeau "Corner of the World" curated by Amanda Roscoe Mayo at MacArthur b arthur

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Saturday:

+ Aaron Finnis, Baylee Hikawa, Calder Yates, Craig Dermody, Cybele Lyle, Dylan Chittenden, Emily Gable, Facundo Arganaraz, Grant Lavaley, Hannah Tarr, Hillary Wiedemann, Ian Dolton-Thornton, Jason Benson, Kate Bonner, Mark Inglis Taylor, Matthew Draving, Pete Nelson, Roxanne Crocker, Sarah Bernat, The Center For Tactical Magic, Zachary Royer Scholz "House Show" curated by Aaron Harbour, Carey Lin, Emma Spertus, Emmy Moore, Jackie Im , Jason Benson, Joel Dean, Jonah Susskind, Sarah Hotchkiss, Steve Shada, Zoe Taleporos at S.H.E.D. Projects

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Tuesday, July 31

Lecture: Oron Catts, Phil Ross "An Evening of BioArt" curated by etc, Meredith Tromble, Piero Scaruffi at USF
Richmond District: 2130 Fulton Street, 0, 7-9pm

Wednesday, August 1

Closing reception: Ralph Vázquez-Concepción "AMALGAMATION: Networks, Systems & Community Site" curated by Marisa Aragona at Red Poppy Art House
Mission District: 2698 Folsum Street, floor 1, Free, 7-9pm

+ Performance: Gregg Kowalsky, Illuha, Lawrence English, Paul Clipson "Subliminal Festival with Lawrence English, Illuha, Gregg Kowalsky, Paul Clipson" at Liminal Space
East Bay: 950 54th Street, Adeline, 5:30-7:30pm

Thursday, August 2

+ Performance: Anne McGuire "SFMOMA's Stage Presence Performance Series: Anne McGuire" at SF MOMA
SOMA: 151 Third Street, Mission Street, Space is limited; advance tickets required. $18 general; $13 seniors; $11 students; free for SFMOMA members. Ticket includes same-day museum admission., 5:30-7:30pm

Workshop: "Craft Bar with Etsy Labs" at Museum of Craft and Folk Art
SOMA: 51 Yerba Buena Lane, $5.00, 6-8pm

Annie Han + Daniel Mihalyo: Lead Pencil Studio "City Surface" at Rena Bransten Gallery
Downtown: 77 Geary Street, floor 2, Free, 5:30-7:30pm

Rob Craigie "The Expanding Color System" at Haines Gallery
Downtown: 49 Geary Street, floor 5, 5:30-7:30pm

Kumie Tsuda "Sketch for Getting Used to New Things" at Rena Bransten Gallery
Downtown: 77 Geary Street, floor 2, Free, 5:30-7:30pm

Friday, August 3

+ Andrea Bacigalupo, Anne McGuire, Bessma Khalaf, Claire Fontaine, David J. Haskins, Desirée Holman, Eamon Ore-Giron, Enrique Chagoya , Euan Macdonald, Jason Jagel , Joshua Churchill, Juan Luna-Avin, Justin Adian, Manuel Ocampo, Nate Boyce, Suzy Po, Wally Hedrick, Yason Banal "I'm So Goth --I'm Dead!" curated by Bob Linder, Julio Cesar Morales at Queens Nails
Bernal Heights: 3191 Mission Street, 7-11pm

Andrea Bacigalupo, Anne McGuire, Bessma Khalaf, Claire Fontaine, David J. Haskins, Desirée Holman, Eamon Ore-Giron, Enrique Chagoya , Euan Macdonald, Jason Jagel , Joshua Churchill, Juan Luna-Avin, Justin Adian, Manuel Ocampo, Nate Boyce, Suzy Po, Wally Hedrick, Yason Banal "I'm So Goth --I'm Dead!" curated by Bob Linder, Julio Cesar Morales at Queens Nails Bernal Heights: 3191 Mission Street, 7-11pm

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+ Anne McGuire, Christine Ancalmo, Claire Evans, Dale Hoyt, Dickson Schneider, Evie Leder, Farley Gwazda, Julia Litman-Cleper, Julia Vering, Karla Milosevich, Liz Walsh, Marco Brambil, Michael Deane, Paul Clipson , Ronnie Bass, Sofia Cordova, Torsten Zenas Burns, Will Erokan "Summer of Video Art 2012 - Futuring the Past, Pasting the Future" curated by Jasmine Moorhead at Krowswork
Oakland: 480 23rd Street, at Telegraph Avenue, Side Entrance, 6-9pm

Danielle Mysliwiec, Leeza Doreian, Lisa Espenmiller, Sandra Ono "Cumulous" at Chandra Cerrito Contemporary
Oakland: 480 23rd Street, floor 1, Free, 6-9pm

+ Anne McGuire, Christine Ancalmo, Karla Milosevich, Liz Walsh, Torsten Zenas Burns "Summer of Video Art 2012 - Futuring the Past, Pasting the Future" curated by Jasmine Moorhead at Krowswork
Oakland: 480 23rd Street, at Telegraph Avenue, Side Entrance, 6-9pm

Artist Talk: Alex Abajian, J. Lin-Hsien Kung "Creatures" curated by Lonnie Lee at Vessel Gallery Oakland: 471 25th Street, floor 1, Free, 6-9pm

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+ Elizabeth Moran, Jarrod Beck, Margo Woloweic, Phil LaDeau "Corner of the World" curated by Amanda Roscoe Mayo at MacArthur b arthur Oakland: 4030 Martain Luther King Jr Way, floor 1, 7-10pm

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Ian Treasure "Red Carded" at Aggregate Space
Oakland: 801 West Grand Street, Free, 6-10pm

Saturday, August 4

Randy Colosky "Infrastructure" curated by Aimee Friberg at K. Imperial Fine Art
Downtown: 49 Geary Street, floor 4, free, 3-5:30 pm

Eli Geiser "Spilt Milk" at Mercury 20 Gallery
Oakland: 475 25th Street, at Telegraph Avenue, floor 1, Free, 4-7pm

Anna Vaughn, Arthur Huang, Catherine Perillo, David Seiler, Laura van Duren, Lisa Rapaport, Patricia Gillespie, Tarra Lyons, Therese Browne "Transits and Returns" curated by Joan Weiss at Mercury 20 Gallery
Oakland: 475 25th Street, at Telegraph Avenue, floor 1, Free, 3-6pm

+ Aaron Finnis, Baylee Hikawa, Calder Yates, Craig Dermody, Cybele Lyle, Dylan Chittenden, Emily Gable, Facundo Arganaraz, Grant Lavaley, Hannah Tarr, Hillary Wiedemann, Ian Dolton-Thornton, Jason Benson, Kate Bonner, Mark Inglis Taylor, Matthew Draving, Pete Nelson, Roxanne Crocker, Sarah Bernat, The Center For Tactical Magic, Zachary Royer Scholz "House Show" curated by Aaron Harbour, Carey Lin, Emma Spertus, Emmy Moore, Jackie Im , Jason Benson, Joel Dean, Jonah Susskind, Sarah Hotchkiss, Steve Shada, Zoe Taleporos at S.H.E.D. Projects Oakland: 1506 Peralta Street, floor 1, 7-11pm

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Sunday, August 5

Artist Talk: Diana Lee "Top Shelf Scratchboard Demonstration" at ArtZone 461 Gallery Mission District: 461 Valencia Street, free, noon-3pm

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Artist Talk: Diana Lee "Top Shelf Scratchboard Demonstration" at ArtZone 461 Gallery
Mission District: 461 Valencia Street, Free, 12-3 pm

Artcards San Francisco is a weekly email publication led by editor Jackie Im and Aaron Harbour. Email event submissions to sfinfo@artcards.cc or use our submission form. New: you can now add an image to your listing by using the submission form.

+ = Editor's pick
? = Opening not confirmed - check site for updates.