I knew David Ireland's handiwork before I even knew who he was, thanks to the projects he undertook out at Headlands to rehabilitate parts of Building 944. For instance, those original tin ceilings you admire as you climb the stairs to the second floor? They were buried under layers of paint before Ireland and his team of hard-working artists uncovered them. Ireland was never easy to classify as an artist, moving as fluidly as he did in the realms of conceptual and installation art, but when he died in May of 2009 he had left an indelible imprint on the Bay Area and the artists who live and work here. Chandra Cerrito invited ten artists influenced by Ireland's work for the current group show at her Oakland gallery, some who knew him personally and others who didn't, and the resulting show is a tantalizing mix of history and cutting-edge art. Randy Colosky's background in construction leads him to use the materials of his trade in a playful manner that echoes Ireland's own sense of humor. Stephen Whisler includes some of his own Ireland-inspired art as well as artifacts from the in/famous show at Claremont from which the exhibition gets its title. Ray Beldner, however, made Ireland's impression quite literal (and physical) in his piece: he jackhammered out a slab of concrete from in front of the gallery, poured in fresh concrete, and stamped it with Ireland's initials above his date of birth and death. There it will remain until the sidewalks of Oakland crumble.
See also: