Gallery Lombardi

Gallery Lombardi will close it’s doors on Jan. 15^th, 2009.
Loved the old place! New place has walls and good lighting, alley entrance, and Rachel Koper… 4.5 stars for Rachel… was there for an opening last night, will check out during normal hours for possible upgrade in rating… generally much above average for Austin galleries…

I attended Scion Art Installment 4, «It’s a Beautiful World», as my virgin visit to Gallery Lombari. Granted this review is based off this event alone, so I’m willing to give this local artspace another shot.
First of all, it was extremely overcrowded. I’m not even sure if it has other rooms, but DJ Mel was spinning there and presumably provided a barrier to other parts of the gallery. The viewing space was contained in one room with 2 structural works, a pseudo-​wall in the center with photographs, and (Thank God) a keg and some wine available at a table in the corner. All of this caused a big ol’ clusterf*** in mobility and ease throughout the place. Of course, most people were standing in front of beer table, and if you tried to bisect the semblance of a line, you better beware of the evil eye when someone thinks you’re cutting in front of them. I wasn’t particularly taken by any of the artwork hanging on the walls; however, I did pick up a free book of postcards with the individual pieces on the front of each, which I thought was a more appropriate display.
All that being said, I will most likely go a second time to check it out when there’s much less of a crowd and better viewing material. I do give it props for the quaintness of the narrow side stairway, which made me feel like I was walking in on something that very few people know about or have experienced in this city.

I have nothing but praise for Gallery Lombardi, even if what Angel said is true about the stinkers. But hey. We can’t all be Picasso. And Gallery Lombardi is not afraid to show a new artist or a strange artist or even what most folks would consider a bad artist, and overall, I really like the taste of this gallery. Rachel Koper has an excellent eye. Just click this link
and look through the upcoming shows or exhibit archives to get an idea of what they’ll show. (Pokey coming up in November is pretty).
The new building is not quite as cool as the old building with the tracks there and the R.I.P.ed Electric Lounge around the corner, but when it’s full up of people getting down on some art with a beer in their hand and a smile on their face — it’s hard to tell the difference. The spirit is still alive and that’s a wonderful thing.

I went to Gallery Lombardi in the days when Salvage Vanguard Theater was playing the Intergalactic Nemesis Redux. It was pretty cool. A small ish gallery with a huge following (yes, some of the patrons came to the show simply because it was happening here, and if its happening here it must be cool.) So this review is only for the space, not for the work. I did hear a rumor that this whole strip was getting torn down to build condos, not sure if its true, or if it is where all these cool establishments will relocate to.

I have mixed feelings for this place.
On one hand, they have decent artworks they show,
on the other, terrible work. It’s hit or miss, but then again so it the
Salvation Army. You gotta love that.