Fran Herndon
Voyage in Paint: 1958-63
Curated by Lee Plested

April 27 - May 26, 2012
Opening reception Fri. April 27, 7-10pm

Blanket Contemporary Art is thrilled to present an exhibition of early paintings and lithographs by San Francisco artist Fran Herndon.

Fran Herndon began her voyage in paint over 50 years ago accompanied by the poets and artists of the San Francisco Renaissance; Robin Blaser, Robert Duncan, Jess and Jack Spicer who spurred Fran on to realize and develop her artistic voice. Her early work shows an immediate, remarkable ability for paint handling and print making, mediums which poured out of her during her studies at the California School of Fine Arts (now SFAI) under the eye of Richard Diebenkorn. During this period, 1961-63, she was also under the weekly tutelage of Spicer who schooled Fran in his artistic methods of applying practical magic and using allegory to express the existential conflict and social upheaval that was central to the the artistic ground swell of the Beat movement. This exhibition includes early paintings and etchings from this little known but much admired poet painter.

A special poetry reading has been organized to celebrate the opening of Fran Herndon's exhibition in Vancouver. Joining us to acknowledge Fran's longtime relationship with West Coast poets will be George Stanley, a poet deeply associated with the SF Renaissance, Meredith Quartermain, Garry Morse and David Farwell who will read the late poems of his longtime partner Robin Blaser. The reading will be on Friday, April 27 at 7pm. Exhibition opening to follow, artist will be in attendance.


For more information please contact the gallery.
info@blanketgallery.com
+604 709 6100