A new gallery, B. Sakata Garo (garo is Japanese for gallery) has opened in the midtown area, at 923 20th St. With high ceilings, hardwood floors, distressed brick walls and a spiral staircase in the center of the room, it is arguably the most beautiful gallery space in Sacramento.
The first show, "Generations," gives us a look at several well-known area artists and work by their children or grandchildren. Among those included are Wayne Thiebaud and stepson Matt Bult, Sandra Shannonhouse and daughter Tenaya Arneson, Jimi Suzuki and children Jimbei Suzuki and Mitsue Makitani, Bob Brady and daughter Morgan, and Clayton Bailey and grandchildren Bailey and Sydney.
Among the outstanding pieces are painterly landscapes by Thiebaud and Bult; a whimsical construction relating to Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky by Suzuki and a hilarious gloss on hysteria with photos of 19th century and modern women by Makitani; Shannonhouse's buoyant bronze sculpture of a woman bearing vessels in her hands, and an evocative small sculpture of a mother and child by Brady. It's a fine debut for what looks to be a promising new gallery.
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Art Pick of the Week
By Kimi Julian, Sacramento News & Review
Midtown Sacramento has always been noted for its fine art galleries. But in recent years, a number of them have either closed or relocated to Del Paso Boulevard, the so-called "new Soho" of Sacramento. Going against this trend, Barry Sakata has recently opened on exquisite space at the new b. sakata garo on 20th Street between I and J Streets.
Sakata's grand opening came complete with a classical quartet, a blessing by Rev. Yukawa of the Sacramento Buddhist Church and a guest list that read like the who who's of the Valley art scene. In the crowd were Jim Albertson, one of the original members of the "Bad" painting group, artist Julia Stagg, painter Irving Marcus, artist and art historian Seymour Howard, two of the original funk artists--Clayton Bailey and Roy DeForest--painter Wayne Thiebaud and his son, artist, Matt Bult, just to name a few attendants.
In the gallery's first show, Generations, artists showed together with younger family members. DeForest's two drawings, both "Untitled", include the typical imagery he is known for. One drawing presents the shadowed outline of an indistinct animal: a nebulous creature with a decorative spine drawn on its back, fish scales and its arms over its head like a celebrant or puppy begging to be picked up. The second, a drawing of a dog, looks as if a very talented child did it. Son Pascal DeForest's acryllic painting, "Untitled," shows a jester, a horned red-eyed devil and a faceless hooded figure playing cards. It is complex, filled with esoteric symbolism and innuend.
Jim Albertson lives up to his "Bad" reputation with the hilarious "Early Work." The oil painting mixes crude and refined brushwork with bright, almost garish colors, but the ffect is beautiful.
The show is up through Saturday, at 923 20th St. Call 447-GARO for details.
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