L.A. Skin & Ink
LOS ANGELES More than merely a tribute to outlaw culture and general badassery, “L.A. Skin & Ink” at the Craft and Folk Art Museum tracks the city’s place in tattoo history, from military tradition to the work of Ed Hardy. Observe “flash” tattoos (on paper and board—no flesh sacrifice required) while exploring the evolution of body art through paintings (No Pain, No Gain by Sergio Sanchez, above) and examples of styles that were popularized by LA artists, including prison-style markings in black and gray, Pacific tribal patterns and Japanese techniques; through January 6, 2013, 5814 Wilshire Blvd., LA, cafam.org.
New York Photo League Exhibit
SOMA Born of the labor movements of the Great Depression, New York’s Photo League captured city life—a shoeshine boy, a crowded beach, a bagel deliveryman—in arresting black and white. “The Radical Camera: New York’s Photo League, 1936–1951” at the Contemporary Jewish Museum celebrates the artists as social activists whose images, such as Butterfly Boy (below), provided a controversial commentary of the times; through Jan. 21, 2013, 736 Mission St., SF, thecjm.org.
Studio Art Glass Movement
OAKLAND Marking the 50th anniversary of the American studio art-glass movement, the Oakland Museum of California presents “Playing with Fire: Artists of the California Studio Glass Movement.” The show features works by pioneering sculptors, such as Marvin Lipofsky, founder of the glass program at UC Berkeley, as well as contemporary local artists including Danny Perkins, whose Green with Orange Sculpture (right) is a colorful example; through March 24, 2013, 1000 Oak St., Oakland, museumca.org.
John Jasper Exhibit
SOMA Featuring works from several local and private collections, SFMOMA presents an exhaustive overview of Jasper Johns’ 60-year career. Among the 90 sculptures, drawings, prints and paintings in “Jasper Johns: Seeing with the Mind’s Eye” are Figure 0 (pictured) and a new work, lent by the artist himself and making its public debut; Nov. 3–Feb. 3, 2013, 151 Third St., SF, sfmoma.org.
Artisano Grand Tasting and Benefit Auction
SANTA ROSA Artisano is a celebration of local, handcrafted, small production and exquisite wine, food and art, featuring a Grand Tasting on Saturday afternoon and a Harvest Dinner on Saturday evening. The Grand Tasting is an opportunity to sample and discover local artisan ultra-premium wines rarely available to the general public and enjoy small plates from renowned restaurants featuring locally raised meat and produce. You can browse and purchase original works of art from several of the region’s premier artists and enjoy chef demonstrations with local celebrity chefs. A silent and raffle will also benefit the Ceres Community Project; Grand Tasting- Saturday, November 17 from 12 until 4:00 pm, Harvest Dinner at 5 p.m., The Event Center at Vintners Inn. www.artisano.org