Now Playing through August 9th – Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry at the Embarcadero, Lumiere and Shattuck Cinemas: As one of China’s most famous artists, Ai Weiwei is also one of its most outspoken critics.  Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry is the first feature length film and inside story of how Ai Weiwei has inspired audiences through art, film and social media, while providing a nuanced exploration of contemporary China.  Catch this film now until 8/2 at the Embarcadero Cinemas, then it moves to the Lumiere Theater and across the Bay to the Shattuck Cinemas starting 8/3-8/9.

Ongoing until September 2nd – Phantoms of Asia at the Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin Street:  “Life. Death. The cosmos. What’s it all about? Bold new art—along with objects from the museum’s own renowned collection—explores spirits, spirituality, cosmic order, and the afterlife. This is a provocative interplay of 150 artworks from past and present, including paintings, sculptures, photographs, site-specific creations, and more by artists from all over Asia. Pause and reflect on your own place in the universe while taking in some amazing art.” ~ www.asianart.org

Seated Buddha, Thailand, c 1400-1500; Hiroshi Sugimoto, “five Elements” 2012; Shiva and family, c 1800; Raqib Shaw “Ode to the Lost Moon of the Lesser Himalayas of the Lidder” 2009.   Source www.asianart.org

Ongoing to September 14th – Where Hearts Get Left at Fifty24SF Gallery, 218 Fillmore Street:  Jeremy Fish created a visual love letter to the city of San Francisco in the form of paintings, drawings, sculpture, screen prints as well as a limited edition book.  This exhibition shows the ever-changing social and physical landscape of San Francisco through the city’s characters and folktales.  Fish includes imagery from his favorite legends from Imperial Majesty Emperor Norton I, to how the Native Americans believed that the Earth, and subsequently San Francisco, was created by a silver-fox and coyote as they danced in the Bay Area’s constant dense fog.

Various pieces from “Where Hearts Get Left” by Jeremy Fish. Source www.fecalface.com

On View to October 8th, Stage Presence: Theatricality in Art and Media,  SFMOMA, 151 3rd Street:  The fourth floor media gallery at SFMOMA has been transformed by artist Tucker Nichols into a performance space dedicated to the theatrical in contemporary art. Nichols was commissioned to create oversized printed wall murals, hand-painted signage, and printed programs and posters as components of the work. While most museum performances take place in anonymous lecture halls, Nichols’ installation entitled Stage Production, presents a lively alternative venue within the museum galleries. For each element of the work, Nichols has identified a particular theatrical icon and transformed it in his own way.  Some upcoming performances are:  8/9, 8/11 & 8/12 Cliff Hengst: Maybe and 8/23, 8/25 & 8/26 D-L Alvarez & Kevin Killian: The Visitor Owl.  For a complete list of performances click here.

Tucker Nichols installing his commissioned wallpaper for his installation “Stage Production”. Source www.fecalface.com