111 MINNA GALLERY Presents:
 CIRCUS! | 
May 1-30, 2008

111 Minna Gallery is delighted to present Plock+Tunstall’s CIRCUS, a new body of collaborative works, from May 1-28.

The latest large-scale collaborative exhibition by San Francisco-based artists Ferris Plock and Kelly Tunstall, CIRCUS! is an entirely new body of work that uses circus life to inspect journeys, innocence and artifice.

Their previous, and first, collaborative exhibition at 111 Minna , Saints and Sinners, was well received, as was their Fall 2007 show, Subterranea, at Fuse Gallery in New York. Further integration of the two styles have resulted in an elegant and expanded view on the masculine and feminine dialogue, as well as evolving their concepts and separate artistic processes into a continually evolving combination of drawing and painting methods.

Working in acrylic, collage, spray paint, pencil, pen and ink, gold leaf (and some secret sauce), the experimental, yet classically grounded works live comfortably in a space between graphic expression, stylized representation, surrealism, and sketch. The simplicity of the messages is enhanced by the underlying vitality and complex layering within the work.

In her studied portraits, Tunstall renders stylized, leggy female figures and their pets, prey, powers, dreams and. Their physical forms and accompanying exteriors represent and mirror internal thought processes ad turmoil. For instance, frequent themes such as mermaids, twins, or extra limbs concede a desire, a reliance, an adaptation, or more simply, an aspiration to something greater than being a painting. Tunstall has gone on to exhibit internationally and nationally. This is Tunstall’s fourth major exhibition at 111 Minna.

In contrast, Plock’s work centers on the inner animalistic tendencies and reactions reflected by humans (transfigured into monsters, in some cases) in the context of modern life.  Disgruntled animals trying to capture clowns, animals teaching their young how to escape their predicament and even animals that don’t always socialize coming together to aid each other feature prominently in this new exhibit. Born in New Jersey, Plock has been showing his work for over eight years.

Established in 1993 in downtown San Francisco 111 Minna Gallery is in the business of Art & Leisure. The gallery showcases a unique blend of local and international artists, world class DJ’s, live performance, and film screenings in an elegantly urban and ever-changing 4,000 square foot space. The gallery is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday 12-9 pm and nightly on a rotating schedule for special events. 111 Minna Gallery is located at the corner of Minna and 2nd Street in downtown San Francisco. The Gallery offers a full bar and welcomes ages 21, and over.

Curator Contact: Gabe Scott, 415.974.1719 scott.gabe@gmail.com

For more information go to www.111minnagallery.com