Visual Art

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Well, it's the beginning of the month, and as always, a load of great new shows have opened in the Bay Area. Chris Duncan — the 30-year-old cofounder of the local Keepsake Society art collective and copublisher of the zine Hot and Cold — is moving up into the downtown scene with his participation in "Variegated Radiant Dream Plot," which opened last Thursday at the Gregory Lind Gallery and includes works by David Dupuis and Jovi Schnell. This "first Thursdays" opening seemed the most crowded of all the gallery events at 49 Geary. Oakland also held its second "first Fridays" art walk, titled "Art Murmur," which gives the SF art fan a reason to cross the Bay at least once a month. Eight galleries within walking distance throw openings and stay open late offering nice samplings of work, like that of Jake Watling at the Mama Buzz gallery (2318 Telegraph, 510-465-4073) and John Casey at 33 Grand (www.33grand.com). Consider starting your weekend there next month. Good people, some good art, and good times. (John Trippe)

San Francisco Art Institute and California College of the Arts Instructor Jovi Schnell's work had its showing at Gregory Lind Gallery's "Variegated Radiant Dream Plot".

Oakland artist Chris Duncan hung out in front of one of the pieces at Gregory Lind.

Skulls by Nate Moore loomed large at Rock Paper Scissors in Oakland as part of the "Art Murmur" gallery crawl.

John Casey's arachnid stood out at 33 Grand.

Photographer Richard Hart and the Needles and Pens crew walked the line between "Art Murmur" shows in O-town.

Photos by John Trippe

VARIEGATED RADIANT DREAM PLOT

Through Feb. 25

Gregory Lind Gallery

49 Geary, SF

(415) 296-9661

www.gregorylindgallery.com

ART MURMUR

First Friday of the month, 7–10 p.m.

Various Oakland galleries

www.oaklandartmurmur.com