First Thursday

My sister and I visited the galleries at 49 Geary yesterday for their First Thursday open house. Numerous galleries throughout San Francisco participate (all members of the SF Art Dealers Association) but I hadn't been to 49 Geary in at least six months, so I thought it would be fun and a great introduction for my sister. 


Although we went to a number of galleries, my favorite show was at Scott Nicols Gallery. 


Photographs from Philipp Scholz Rittermann's collection, The Emperor's River, which he photographed on a trip along China's Grand Canal in 2009, took up the walls with their impressive size, color and fine detailing, showing the industrial development as well as the natural beauty of the canal and those who live an work there. 


As stated in the press release: 

The Grand Canal, [is] the world's oldest and longest man-made canal. Over 2000 years old, the canal runs more than 1000 miles connecting Beijing in the north and Hangzhou in  the sout...The photographs take you down the canal contrasting the rural terrain and growing urbanization; uninhabited skyscrapers tower over village markets, coal towers dominate relaxing evening views and young men in modern attire pose before ancient statues. These large-scale high resolution panoramic images have been described as visual poetry.

Philipp Scholz Rittermann's exhibition will be up through October 29th. 

High Rise Apartment Blocks Under Construction

Wuxi, Jiangsu Provice, China, 2010

 Stone Bridge and Lumber Barge Seen from Moxie Rd.

Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China, 2009

Moored Barges at Yuejin Port

Grand Canal, Jining, Shandong Province, China, 2010