ART L.A. MODE

CHANGES: new site - same habits

2012-01-21T00:54:00.000-08:00

Richard Serra: process

My absent nature for the past year was due to completely loosing full access to a functioning computer. A whole year of slowly loosing the friction you experience while typing on a keyboard. Though, it was nice to pick up a pen more often and become infatuated with the quality of the notebooks I will write in.. No, I never stopped looking at art nor did I stop the critical process which comes naturally when swimming in such waters. However, in the last year, I've grown to fully appreciate Los Angeles architecture and history (with a broader spectrum, instead of becoming trapped in one origin). As, it's easy to forget when you're a native to this city, you forget the escaping adventures of not the tourist, but a beginner in our town. The exploration of many histories, architectures, cultures; all seemingly claiming myths!-- but rather, all read differently, according to it's landscape and well, if you live in Los Angeles, you know the landscape was not made for the tourist, but the beginner who is willing to delve.

NEW OUTLET: lahinge.wordpress.com

ABOUT THE THE CHANGE OF TITLE: Inspired by Richard Serra's "black drawings" series. Specifically, from "L.A Hinge", a work which used to be housed in the first floor of LACMA's BCAM building; tucked in the center of the back gallery. Literally serving as a hinge to both of his architectural/sculptural work ( Band,2006). The change of title comes with my recent inclination to Los Angeles architecture but overall, Los Angeles sprawling history as a calling to the land of many labyrinths.

Not So Quiet In The Western Front: Art Los Angeles Contemporary 2011

2011-08-11T18:46:00.000-07:00

Fair Grounds

Art fairs are synonymous for they mark any given city’s relationship with a local art community and the international art world market. Los Angeles is fairly new and in the rocky path towards the art fair staple. Lately, the landscape is shifting for better or worse. A city widely known in the art world for the freedom it offers to artists which often turns into a mystical freeway bound metropolis. Surprisingly luring (young) talented artists, but i should not use such a term as "surprisingly" for Los Angeles it's no surprise, as cynical as I may sound... In LA, it seems that the notion of endless sun, the beach, it's palm trees, the dessert, after all it's many landscapes and moods offer such freedoms for those that choose to live here.

As artist Dawn Kasper expressed the initial muses that brought her to our city, during a panel, you got the feeling that Art Los Angeles Contemporary might be the last piece to the puzzle, but as the latter confirmed, it’s merely the beginning.

Thursday’s opening was accompanied by a cacophonous harmony of voices linking all in unison. At first sight I greeted Kathryn Brennan, former Chinatown gallerist who was in town from New York. Pace-fully, I traverse my way through the still rather small in scale labyrinth that is Art Los Angeles Contemporary. The roster of galleries grew, as over 70 galleries were scheduled in the roster, with both returning and new contenders in a rather new art fair scene. I was particularly drawn to Liz Craft at Patrick Painter’s booth, but as soon as movement climbed the hierarchy over visualization, Liz Glynn’s Amphitheater / performance piece rose my enthusiasm.

Aaron Wrinkle and Dan Graham

As expected, Saturday attracted quite a crowd, but the environment couldn't compare to Thursday night. The highlight of the day, and one I was looking forward to a month prior, involved artists Aaron Wrinkle and Dan Graham in conversation. The impulsive conversation made a memorable one, but specifically Graham’s recollection of artist, girlfriend Lee Lozano. Sharing that Lozano never showed him her work. It was only after her death that he discovered she was a great artist. He went on to acknowledge the problem of women artists and their unrecognized histories as artists. After the talk, my guest and I stuck around, seemingly with a lost look in our eyes. Luckily, we had the chance to ask Aaron Wrinkle of a large Ziploc bag full of metaphorical connectivity in the form of coins, all from the same year -- 1966 as I can recall (?). We also spoke to Graham of New York City, and as quickly as his mind made a connection, he shared a recent conversation he had with friends at The New School. Graham is silently impulsive and that might just be one of the main reasons I have always silently admired his work and persona.

Human Resources Gallery

Dan Graham Gallery

Attraction to these events (art fairs) comes from the variety of scheduled panels and not so much the logistics of art being sold... However, visualization can’t be ignored... And some of my local favorite spaces were showcasing their work. Human Resources displayed work of artist Gustavo Herrera along with two mounted televisions on top of each other with projected videos of documented performances at their space in Chinatown, and what seemed like a music video. Newspapers advertising The Collective Show, Chinatown 2011 and another explaining their mission laid in the floor. Dan Graham’s booth was a graceful communion of artists as their booth constantly changed; the adding of a newspaper or the floor plan of Dan Graham gallery, a space which was run by artist Aaron Wrinkle. Night Gallery shared a booth with Eight Veil showcasing the sultry darkness of Paul Heyer's work.

I found Richard Jackson's paintings to be more rich than his sculptural work displayed in David Kordansky's booth, though if compared next to each other, the paintings are deaf and the sculptures well, they're loud.

Standard Oslo Gallery

I noticed that Standard Oslo displayed the same particular work from last year, but as I remember they were quite popular for their minimalism and repetition. The dry wit of Standard, Oslo Gallery attracted Jeffrey Deitch, a certain piece with and air of American artists Justin Lowe and Jonah Freeman, but I did not catch the artist's name ( a photograph of the work is shown above!.)

Luke Butler’s contemplation of Star Trek characters at Silvermann gallery from San Francisco were one of my favorite works in the fair, with a contemplation that troubled me at either spectacle or dry humor. At Jancar gallery I was pleasantly surprised to encounter two works of artist Dawn Kasper.

“Everybody knows her as the girl that hurts herself, but she's also a photographer”, Tom Jancar expressed. Touching on Kasper’s history/practice with performance art in Los Angeles.

Dawn Kasper photographs/documentation at Jancar Gallery

When Sunday rolled around the Californian sun and airport stage worked well, but the scene was rather different. Once again, as mere spectator, one can only look and at a day’s end I gravitated towards John Espinosa at Annie Wharton’s booth. The dark architectural Espinosa was the last glimpse, one that quite nicely connected with the skeletal framework of the fair. As crates moved in to do their jobs, to decentralized the structure of the art fair, a yet unfamiliar air to the landscape of Los Angeles, but one that is slowly becoming more familiar.

John Espinosa sculpture at Annie Wharton Gallery

A New Endeavour: art a L.A. mode at LAist!

2011-01-31T11:17:00.000-08:00

A new endeavor arouse when Happy House founder and overall art supporter, Karyn Kohl brought to my attention the possibility of writing for LAist. The popular Los Angeles blog was looking to further expand their art coverage and so I jumped aboard.

The monster we call time has already eaten up three months since I first started writing a quick column, "The Weekly Art Round Up: Art in LA" for LAist, if you did not already know, please, keep your eyes open for the next one.

I know, my blog has been neglected for quite a while now... with my nose deep in books and knees deep in art, I find myself coming back ...

My pre- Art Los Angeles Contemporary write up followed by a post fair review in the coming days.

see you in ondas!

Haaaappy X Mas

2010-12-25T18:09:00.000-08:00

Martin Kersels at The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, 2010

Art InThe Post Digial Age: BYOB LA at USC Roski School of Fine Arts

2010-12-19T22:01:00.000-08:00

The current shifts of Art History are visible yet untraceable in a sense. Technology's importance in the context of art is not new, but the impact of the inter-web, internet, social network, and every other name communication traveling at the speed of light goes by these days... is one that has been given attention, but it's complex system

Yes, artists use the internet as a medium. Take for instance the fact of artists using Twitter as a medium of ranging a wider audience, but most significantly as a new source open for dialogue.

However, Bring Your Own Beamer promotes artists through beamers (projectors!) for one night only. The on going series has taken place in Portland, New York, Berlin, as well as other locations and going strong.

The work presented in a series as BYOB deserves further discussion, but as stated, the connection of artist--> social media ---> interaction ---> physicality ---> public/spectator realm is hard to trace.

For now, one night shows of random spontaneity and artistic communion sounds about right...

It was hard to try and identify each individual artist, as projections took hostage of The Roski School gallery walls and ceilings. However, I did recognize some works. If you find your work below, please send me a quick email so, I can add your name.

Frenando Sanchez

Eugene Klotyarenko

Pascual Sisto (?)

Pascual Sisto

In The Hall of Pure Intimacy: Charles Long and Justin Beal at Night Gallery

2010-11-08T14:38:00.000-08:00

The use of space is an interesting topic in Los Angeles. Many artists hone the city's vast free space with their ability to get lost and go unnoticed. Others question the use of space for better relationships with nature and the environment of a car driven city. I'm most interested in the use of space and these seemingly characters it creates-- galleries in unusual spaces.

I talk about space because I find it fascinating that in Los Angeles certain galleries have found creative use of space, not to mention location. Night gallery is one of those spaces that has found that wave of in depth creativity, by opening a gallery in a Lincoln Heights strip mall. What used to be a party supply store now caters to artists and serves as an art gallery. However, Night Gallery is not the only space to follow these steps but neighboring Workspace Gallery, run by artists Paul Pescador and Daniel Ingroff, was the first to create this use of space in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood.-- (form follows function).

Night Gallery was a name I heard quite often, a visit had long been over due. To spark my curiosity artist Alex Staiger invited me to tag along one Tuesday night. It was a school night, past ten pm, I had homework to be completed, and had to wake up early the next morning, but this was my opportunity, to finally fully embrace Night Gallery.

Literally, in simplest form Night gallery is only open at night, with black colored walls that shake off the florescent lighting coming from a small room in the further back right corner of the space.

On this particular night artists Charles Long and Justin Beal took Night Gallery hostage for the opening of, In The Hall of Pure Intimacy. A crowd swarmed the parking lot, while inside, one was forced to make eye contact with one another in hopes to avoid heads to bump.

Charles Long

Charles Long, a current professor at The University of Riverside and represented by Shoshana Wayne Gallery in Santa Monica displayed the painting above. After moving from New York City, Long was quickly intrigued by the running industrial river we call, the Los Angeles river or the LA River for short. A river that plays a huge roll in our city, from humorous banter in it's usage of location to a landscape far too unfamiliar to those who were not raised in this city. Long's recent works, as already noted, retain inspiration from the Los Angeles River, through the collection of the river's debris-- Later, to be transformed into works.

An uncanny, nostalgic, relationship of the physical and the metaphysical resonates in Long's work. A reality or mirage we can all relate to.

Justin Beal

Justin Beal's sculpture in the other hand, blows an air of a dark Warhol. We can simplify Beal's work, or rather categorize it within the conceptualist bubble. One with consumerism (?), one that gets old, but retains it's shine. Don't get me wrong!, I'm a fan of Beal's work, as I find the boundaries he pushes rather humorous-- when installed for a public/spectator.

Several individuals are doing an amazing job and I often find those individuals are small galleries. Perhaps it's the hype of the new kid on the block, but I venture that's not the case. Innovative ideas at small scale entities have a stronger backbone of self creativity than those working towards commercialist driven goals. I found that strong backbone at Night Gallery, I've found that in Chinatown and I yet have to explore other corners of Los Angels to better understand the comical ways of a freeway bound city.

That being covered, Tuesday nights are usually for new openings. As I hear, every other day, a crowd may show up and it's a party, or no one will show up, but it's still where you want to be in Los Angeles!.

Night Gallery
Tuesday- Thursday: 10pm - 2am
204 south, Avenue 19
646 717 4925

Mieke Marple and Peter Harkawik at Night Gallery

2010-11-08T12:45:00.000-08:00

Mieke Marple's Musee Los Angeles

This past summer I dragged a friend of mine to Musee Los Angeles. An exhibition inspired by Marcel Duchamp and a pop up gallery organized by Mieke Marple. The show impressed me as well as it's hidden location. I'm the biggest fan of her website(s) that serve as works. Now, I'm curious about her talk at Night Gallery, will the labyrinth of Marple subdue me once again?!

Here is the first part of her talk this Tuesday.

After Marple, Peter Harkawik will screen Harun Farocki's film, Ein Bild.

when: Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Starts at 10pm - 2am

Night Gallery
Tuesday- Thursday: 10pm - 2am
204 south, Avenue 19
646 717 4925

Marnie Weber awakes the spirits for Eternity Forever

2010-11-06T23:00:00.000-07:00

The Procession of The (death) Monsters!

West of Rome brought us Michael Smith as Baby Ikki earlier this year... Where it hosted a party only those invited could attend. Now, all the fun goes where?! Apparently it's all at West of Rome.

Marnie Weber presents a new exhibition, Eternity Forever and a celebration of where the public is invited, even the (death) monsters. Yes, tickets are required for the event, but at the donation of $12, I couldn't refuse.

Guests will be greeted by a procession of monsters and spirits for a walk-through of the historic Mountain View Cemetery and Mausoleum. Marnie Weber and The Spirit Girls will then perform a live score to the premiere of Weber's new film The Eternal Heart inside of the spectacular 100 year old mausoleum followed by a set of haunting Spirit Girls songs. The evening will be filled with surprises and a special viewing of Weber's new collages in the gallery of the mausoleum.

when: Thursday, November 11, 2010
where: Mountain View Cemetery & Mausoleum
2300 N. Marengo Ave., Altadena, CA, 91001

time: 6:30pm - 10pm
cost: tickets are $12 PURCHASE TICKETS

For more information or reservations
please call (626) 793-1504

See you there!

Thursday October 28, 2010

2010-10-28T11:45:00.000-07:00

From Guerilla Girls performance at Loyola Marymount University

Tonight: "Crying Over Spilled Milk": a performance art night at Human Resources, organized by Paul Pescador 7pm - 9pm

and Fallen Fruit panel at Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions 7pm - 9:30pm

Human Resources
510 Bernard St in Chinatown Los Angeles, CA 90012

Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions

6522 Hollywood Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA

The Bellarmine Forum: Women's Art And Activism

2010-10-25T00:40:00.000-07:00

Surprisingly, this years Bellarmine Forum would be the first to focus on women. Specifically women in the arts, those with a focus on activism.

I have never attended any of the prior forums in the past, but this year it caught my attention. And no one could fit the bill better than The Guerrilla Girls, with the way they approach the art world.

The forum will host other great women during it's one week duration of programming. Including a lecture on women artists of Ciudad Juarez. So, I encourage you to check out their schedule.

Now, I leave you with the first poster that brought me to the attention of The Guerrilla Girls.

In search of engaging the community, The Bellarmine Forum is open to the public. See you there!.

Loyola Marymount University
7.30-9.00 pm | Ahmanson 1000

To find out more contact Gail Wronsky
310-338-7668
gail.wronsky@lmu.edu.

Conversations With The Wind

2010-10-24T22:42:00.000-07:00

Who was at Workspace last night for Samara Golden?!

Give me the recap, please. I was sick at home... never ever eat packaged food, ever. Even if that packaged food is tofu spring rolls!!!!!.

Once again.. a new, fresh, and exciting week. Other cities have greater activity than ours on a weekly basis, but hey, I'm slowly learning to ignore that which is out of reach. Perhaps, endless reading and tiring of the eyes ends in the road of wasteful time... perhaps.

While Orange County is graced with The California Biennial, we are honored, out of control excited that The Guerilla Girls will be in Los Angeles this week at LMU. They arise nostalgia embedded deep down the hippocampus. That kind of nostalgia that reminds us of how we took pride in teen angst, but all along we were as pure as pure can be.. we dyed our hair, refused to be part of any higher form of hierarchy that would enlist us as "uncool". We puzzled the minds of annoying teenage boy antics, and no matter on how many requests we got we never said yes!..

... when in Conversations With The Wind.

Happenings: From Motel Rooms to Symposiums

2010-10-21T15:10:00.000-07:00

It's evident that the happenings in my city keep me going through the week. Full of exciment I jot down events I oddly happen to know about or emails I receive. Did I ever tell you that Mondays have become my favorite day of the week?!... With full anticipation for that new press release, announcement, curiosity.. all labyrinths connecting and filling me with unsparable joy. Pardon the long explanation, I'm just really excited for Iannis Xenakis later on in November, an Art History symposium at The Hammer this Friday, SASSAS at Human Resources this weekend, and a mysterious performance at The Royal Pagoda Motel tonight in Chinatown!.

Last night you missed a great performance at Human Resources-- though as the story goes, it's either that Angelenos or those claiming this city, find the place as a recluse hideaway, or they simply just don't know... I'll go with the later, as I find it humorous that even those living in close proximity of great venues have no close relationship with that deadbeat strip mall or forgotten plaza, if only they knew that there's activity in these venues, an energy that hopefully seeks their contribution.

Human Resources:

Thursday October 21, 2010
8pm- until you're tired and ready to head home.

Ocean of Noise
Aaron Drake, David P. Earle, Elana Mann with Juliana Snapper

Human Resources hosts a night of performance art, music, and films.

"Ranging from answering machine messages to muffled lectures to reconstructed opera, each work in the event speaks to something that can get lost, orally and aurally, during human communication."

Friday October 22, 2010
8:30pm -

AD HOC #1
I have been attending events at Human Resources since it's first oepning back in May and ever since I have grown a following towards the space, but once again it proves to be a hybrid venue for musicians, artists, scholars, and the like. This Friday don't miss the first event of an ongoing series, AD HOC, in collaboration with SASSAS. For it's inaugurual series, Human Resources will host to two experimental musicians from both Norway and Australia.

Tickets: $8.00
Visit http://www.sassas.org/ or phone 323/960-5723.

Human Resources
510 Bernard St. in Chinatown, 90012

Charlie James Gallery, Dan Graham, and The Royal Pagoda Motel: The Trifcta of of Michelle duBois

Thursday October 21, 2010
6pm-10pm

The Unveiling of Michelle duBois, is an interactive, mysterious exhibition curated by Emma Gray, in the unveiling of mystery woman Michelle duBois; a flight attendant, actress, stunt woman?!

"Charlie James Gallery, Dan Graham, and Emma Gray are pleased to present ZOE CROSHER’s For Ur Eyes Only: The Unveiling of Michelle duBois. The show will be housed in Charlie James Gallery in Chinatown, and will be supported by two other events in the neighborhood: an installation of work at Dan Graham at 506 Bernard, and a performance featuring actress Liane Balaban, working from a script by writer/curator Lara Taubman at the Royal Pagoda Motel at 995 Broadway, room #7 from 8:30 to 9:30pm. In this new iteration, comprised of images and ephemera bequeathed to the artist by confidante Michelle duBois, Crosher explores ongoing themes such as identity, travel, transience and obsolescence. She has extensively re-photographed, scanned and re-ordered duBois’ slippery self-portraits into a re-contextualized archive, thriving in the soft spaces between fantasy and fiction, documentation and theatricality, and individuation and anonymity"

Artist Reception 6-10 at Charlie James Gallery, 975 Chung King Road

Dan Graham, 506 Bernard St 7-10p

Performance Featuring actress Liane Balaban, reading a fictional piece based on the archive written by Lara Taubman from 8:30-9:30 at the Royal Pagoda Motel, 995 N Broadway, Room #7

Back To The Future and Doug Harvey at Tom Jancar

Back To The Future at The Hammer Museum

October 22, 2010

10am-6pm

I'm most anticipating Friday's Graduate Student Symposium at The Hammer Museum, Back To The Future, which will feauture several speakers regarding the imapact as well as the future/past of art, art theory, in the context of time--

"Back to the Future, the UCLA Art History Graduate Student Association’s (AHGSA) 2010 symposium, examines temporality, chronology, and constructed histories/futures in art, asking how art, art history, and exhibitions constitute forms of time travel. Keynote speaker Professor Pamela M. Lee of Stanford University will offer her insights on how art contends with time. The symposium will include presentations by nine graduate students from UCLA and other distinguished universities."

JANCAR GALLERY

October 22, 2010
6pm-9pm

Jancar has slowly grown quite a reputation in Chinatown's art scene for showing mostly 70's conceptual art. That which largely ranged in photography. Not to mention Jancar's recent appearance in New York City's art scene... Long story short, I admire Tom Jancar for his passion, he truly was born to run a gallery.

JANCAR GALLERY is pleased to announce 3 concurrent solo exhibitions

DOUG HARVEY - "Unsustainable"
NANCY BAKER - "Please Stand By"
CYRIL KUHN - "Butter Boot"

J A N C A R G A L L E R Y
961 CHUNG KING ROAD LOS ANGELES, CA 90012
TEL 213 625-2522
Hours: Wed – Sat: 12 – 5 PM (and by appointment)

More to come tomorrow morning.. I have to run to my next class!.

September's at an End...

2010-09-30T23:19:00.001-07:00

background work:Charles Long: observing art(ists)

September is officially over!. Don't worry, I have seen great shows including Carlee Fernandez at ACME, Micol Hebron at Jancar, Eamon Ore Giron at Steve Turner Contemporary, and Paul McCarthy at L&M Arts. In top of that I have also attended lectures that have left me in a non stop erratic train of thought. From the state of the Iranian Art market to museum deals with turned corporate gallerists-- I meant to say, those who got lucky!?

How can I forget Night Gallery?!...

I attended my first opening at Night Gallery this past Tuesday and in all sincerity, I was extremely impressed with the programming, the vibe, the artists, and the amazing Davida Nemeroo, responsible for opening Night Gallery.

Well, I'll glue myself later, after Big City Forum, Raid Projects, and a Writing Symposium at MoCA-- all in one day!.

You Tube Selections: Paul McCarthy

2010-09-16T00:39:00.001-07:00

What exactly is performance art?!

The question always lingers in my head as I'm often asked to give my opinion on the subject. In my own words performance art is an artist's way of exploring bodily, geographic, and historical contexts. Once looked at more deeply they create meaning, that only through performance art is it visible.

Here is a great video of Paul McCarthy regarding his work, with some background meaning. However, I venture that alike the randomness that keeps our existence alive, Performance Art's main purpose is just that-- lurking different points of view to an argument.

"Ketchup having this association with commodity and America" - PAUL McCARTHY

After a decade of absence in the Los Angeles art scene Paul McCarthy will open the first season at the highly anticipated L & M Arts Venice this Fall . More details to come, because I wouldn't want you to miss this show!!.

I should start a short UBUWEB Selections. I give my heart to U B U W E B !!!

For now, sleep is my sailor, for tomorrow I have school.

Instant L.A Summer Closing Reception

2010-09-08T19:25:00.000-07:00

September is infamous for the awakening of the art world; the new art season has begun, but we are also waving goodbye to Summer. Oh summer, when group shows reign and final plans for fall are underway!.

...but before summer is over, INSTANT LA SUMMER waves it's last goodbye with special musical guests. The night promises to be full of surprises and knowing the curator, Esteban Schimpf, surprises should be the highlight.

HIGHONS is the secret musical project of 3 leading Los Angeles musicians who have cultivated a vast international following over the last 15 years through their beautiful avant-garde music. They will literarily blow your mind.

GRIFFIN ALAN RODRIGUEZ is a recent Chicago expatriate who now calls the Hollywood hills home. GAR made his name known in the independent music world through his important record label Obey Your Brain and his collaborations with bands such as Icy Demons and Need New Body.

Some Things Last a Long Time: Pacific Standard Time & Public Art Festival: Call for Submissions!

2010-09-01T22:55:00.000-07:00

Kent Twitchell's Ruscha: Haunting

Murals are the earliest works of Public Art that I can remember embracing. Growing up with murals from Eloy Torres to Kent Twitchell's infamous Ed Ruscha. Due to the consequence of time Twitchell's Ruscha no longer exists, but the tall figure of this mysterious man has haunt me since I first saw it as a child.

We can't deny that recent projects incline towards a stronger Public Art scene in Los Angeles. Earlier in the year, The MAK Center curated an intriguing show within the concept of public art, in the form of billboards. Where artists were selected to create a billboard that would be installed in different points across the city. Where West of Rome brought us billboards of Cindy Sherman, alike other great women artists in the likes of Jenny Holzer, Barbara Kruger, and a recent installment of artist Jennifer Bolande, currently on view. There's others we can't forget: Fallen Fruit for their creative programming, Outpost for Contemporary Art for their amazing artists in residency, the Watts Towers for it's continuing legacy. LAXART for Piero Golia's lighted wit in the Hollwood skyline. There's just so much to cover, and ironically not enough...

With all the open space, billboards, and deadly combustion... the city deserves more public art.

There's been rumors of a "HUGE" public art installment in the works from a well known artist in one of the most unique locations in Los Angeles, but I can't unfold those sheets at the moment. We will just have to wait!.

Chris Burden, Trans-Fixed (1974), Venice, CA

However, the festival will embrace, or in other words, celebrate the history of Los Angeles art, from the years of 1945-1980. Through the re creation of new works inspired or literally reenacted from it's original state, for an ephemeral set of happenings around the nexus of the city.

If all my talk on public art does not convince you on my true philosophy for the lack of public art in Los Angeles, then you really don't want me to get into performance art. There's a huge performance art scene in Los Angeles that quite often surprises even those living in L.A.. It's the lack of being informed that suffers in my city. Moving forward, I want to be the first to know if anyone would re-enact Chris Burden's Trans-fixed (1974). I'll leave the rest to you!...

Now here is your chance to take part into the city's current initiative. Yes, less than a week, but I just got this on my mailbox. However, I'm sure many of you were already aware of this great opportunity.

It's such an amazing time for the Los Angeles art community .... There has been great activity in recent months: A new art fair was introduced to our city and we were the spotlight of this year's ARCO-MADRID. Everyone seems to be riding the same wave of excitement for Los Angeles... Curiosity has been planted, and we should deliver!.

Artist: Yvone Rainer, Photographer: Gerard Smulevich. Taken from: MAK Center for Art and Architecture

CALL FOR PROPOSALS!

Pacific Standard Time Performance and Public Art Festival
Call for Proposals: Due September 15, 2010

The Pacific Standard Time Performance and Public Art Festival will be a presentation of large-scale performance artworks and temporary public art installations that will coalesce around a 10-day festival planned for January 20 through January 29, 2012. Presented in conjunction with the citywide initiative Pacific Standard Time: Art in L.A. 1945-1980, the festival will explore the legacy of performance and public art in Los Angeles through presenting contemporary reinventions of historically significant ephemeral artworks dating from 1945-1980. The festival aims to present a range of approaches to reinvention, including faithful reconstructions of original projects, artist-supervised reenactments using trained performers, re-imaginings of past works for a contemporary context, and the creation of totally new artworks by artists who take historical work as a point of inspiration.

A limited number of grants are available to non-profit organizations in Southern California to support the development of projects for the festival.

Proposals are due September 15, 2010, and should be addressed to:

LAXART
2640 S. La Cienega Bl
Los Angeles, CA 90034
C/O Pacific Standard Time Grant

Grant proposals should include the following:
• Name of Organization
• Title of proposed project (list artist(s), title, date)
• Curator of proposed project
• Associated Pacific Standard Time exhibition, if any
• Additional collaborators on proposed project, if any
• Potential site for project and how location will be secured (process of permissions relevant to public domain activities)

Please attach a narrative describing the project you propose for the Pacific Standard Time performance and public art festival. Be sure to describe the historical artwork or precedent upon which your project is based. If you are proposing a reconstruction or reinvention of a historical work, please note any major departures or modifications your project would make from its historical precedent (to the degree that they are currently known).

Please describe any major logistical challenges for this project, such as access to restricted or third-party sites, or access to specialized equipment, materials, or services. If you forsee logistical challenges related to your project how would you resolve them?

Please note whether the artists involved in your proposal (including the original artist(s) of any reinvented work) have been contacted, and whether their permission to produce this project is contingent upon conditions or restrictions.

If possible, please attach up to 5 images related to your proposal and/or its historical precedent.

Please attach an itemized detailed budget for the project including materials and production, artists fees, curatorial fees, consulting fees, travel, shipping, insurance, location fees, marketing. This budget should not include operational expenses related to programming. This budget should clearly delineate for each line item what portion you are requesting in grant funds and what the total cost for each line item will be.

Please include project production timeline and project implementation dates.

Describe any funds or support your institution has already committed to this project. Please delineate these funds as confirmed, pending or received. Are there other funding sources (grants, matching funds) that you plan to approach? Projects that have already received partial funding from the Getty Foundation may not be eligible.

Amount requested from the Festival Getty Grant will vary between $5,000-$35,000.

Please include one letter in support of the project from the director of your organization and a participating artist or public art partner.

Please include qualifications of core applicants by enclosing narrative biographies on each key participant (artists and curators).

Funding for the Festival is provided by a generous grant from the Getty Foundation

Art Autre at Actual Size Gallery: Katie Herzog

2010-08-26T01:08:00.001-07:00

Abstract painting and art history go way back....

The fruition of a concept has many branches and we see visible signs of those branches in abstract art-- Abstract Expressionism was one of the more popular forms of the movement, and not to mention one of the first actual embraced schools in American art.

However... a rendition of that was the french art Autre, or Informel. Autre literally meaning other, as many tried to differentiate a new style of painting that was unknown at the time, but would become incredibly popular to the post war era.

Katie Herzog's current show at Actual Size Gallery takes shape around the ideas of the french abstract school -- Informel. Herzog presents five works mainly in the painterly style. I can't begin to describe how happy it makes me to come across painted canvas.

Herzog tints my memory with pattern shifts of Rauschenberg , Pollock, and even a tint of Louise Bourgeois' drawings.

Informel View!

We can't ignore Herzog's linkage to the process of processing information--

"Herzog employed a premeditated structure to create the highly improvisatory and gestural painting, "Braille Institute: Sight Center". For this painting Herzog visited the Braille Institute on Vermont and Melrose for an hour every day for five weeks. After studying the facade of the building from across the street she traveled directly to her studio, closed her eyes, and painted her memory of the building using her hands." - Actual Size Gallery

This Saturday Join Katie Herzog and the Actual Size family for the uniquely opportunity to submerge, dwell, and explore the subject of animal assisted literary programs at Une Alphabétisation Autre. Which pokes at the origins of the coined art term-- Informel, with it's origin of art Autre. In this case the informel (informal) use of language and it's different mediums.

"Katie Herzog and Actual Size Los Angeles are pleased to announce Une Alphabétisation Autre, a special day event organized in conjunction with the closing of Katie Herzog’s exhibition, Informel. Animal assisted literacy programs have become increasingly popular in libraries and learning centers throughout the country. These innovative programs provide canine mentorship to foster improvement in confidence and literary skills of school aged children. On Saturday, August 28th, children and adults are invited inside the gallery to read to Eli and Ivy, two trained therapy dogs. Light snacks will be provided." - Actual Size Gallery

INFORMEL

New work by Katie Herzog
August 7 - August 28, 2010

741 NEW HIGH STREET
LOS ANGELES CA 90012
WWW.ACTUALSIZELA.COM

Hours: Sat- Sun 12:00- 5:00 pm
Mon-Fri by appointment.

twitter.com/ActualSizeLA
facebook.com/ActualSize

Mexico's Elite Brigade The Art World : Yyvone Venegas at Shoshana Wayne Gallery

2010-08-21T19:10:00.000-07:00

We tend to stay away from that which we fear, or is unknown to us. That was the case with Bergamot Station... My relationship with Bergamot was, and still isn’t quite on level. Probably, I always visit when the season is bad?! Probably…

However, I can’t darkened all of my thoughts of Bergamot-- The Santa Monica Museum of Art deserves some credit. I will admit that I have found myself two times at Bergamot this Summer. On my first visit, I attended Irvin Blum’s story telling whims, and the second time, I was there with a plan: to find that which moved me. In the mix of the usual eager dealer, and amidst the Dennis Hopper trend -- It can make my life sour. I found a gem, not a unique find, but quite interesting.

Yyvone Venegas born in Long Beach, California in 1970, and raised in Tijuana, Mexico. Apparently twin sister of the famous music artist Julieta Venegas. After my understanding of her twin sister, I will admit my liking of her died a bit, but I contemplated in the exploration of her more, and more, until it finally felt right…

At First Sight: Yyvone Venegas at Shoshana Wayne Gallery

Mainly falling under the category of documentatary photography, Venegas explores Mexico’s social status through the then former mayor of Tijuana, Jorge Hank Rohn, with permission of his wife, Maria Elvia del Hank.

Venegas has the eye to produce such photographs in the verge of the bizarre, and the melancholy. Her approach to minimalist titles help her complete a real effect-- the bizarre notion of social status in Mexico.

In “Velas”, 2008 (Candles, 2008), Venegas shows us her side of the absurd, but witty commentary-- a sort of humorous shot at the high society of Mexico.

The documentation of adult figures in Venegas' photographs give name to vanity, but what really caught my eye was the photographs of the children, with an environment ever so fast paced to meet the needs of the other family in the hierarchy of social status...

Jorgito, 2008: Serving right...

Nirvana, 2006: Finally reached

Bolsa (Bag), 2009: In the air

"Maria Elvia does not believe that a picture of her would give me access to the art market, who would be interested in having a picture of her hanging on their wall?!" - Yyvone Venegas

I say she fits right in...

Yyvone Venegas
MARIA ELVIA DE HANK SERIES
June 5 - August 28, 2010

Shoshana Wayne Gallery
2525 Michigan Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90404-4031
(310) 453-7535 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (310) 453-7535 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Tue-Fri 10am-6pm
Sat 11am-5:30pm

Performance Art in Chinatown: Perform Now Festival- July 21 - August 1, 2010

2010-08-10T00:28:00.000-07:00

Perform! Now!

Los Angeles plays as background to countless summer festivals, from music to the ever so popular food festivals, but art related events are also spur to this mix of summer festivities-- Chinatown's art district did not fall behind. Perform! Now! in it's second year promised a longer and steadier duration of last years show, for better or worse.

Crowds came and went, many hung around to follow the crowd from one performance to the other. Detailed schedules were printed and distributed, but many preferred the road of instinct.

Highland Park based non profit Outpost for Contemporary Art offered one of the most intriguing performances of the festival with the contribution of artist Vlatka Horvat who performed her eight hour performance titled, This Here and That There. Horvat was set to perform earlier this year, but was moved due to water levels of the LA river, as I recall. Yes, the Los Angeles River, or flow of water was the main setting of Horvat's performance. Commentary to time, space, and movement, in connection to Los Angeles and it's inhabitants was the artists main exploration.

For Pictures of Vlatka Horvat's Performance: Click Here

Micol Hebron performed several pieces at JANCAR Gallery as she ends her trails in the city of Los Angeles. Hanna Wilke's S.O.S. was one of the highlights, but her performance Essence stimulated an endless conversation on feminism, gay liberation, and overall pussy power.

I really enjoyed Emily Mast's performance as she soaked all of my energy. I guess that goes to the power of connection, or sharing a smile with another, or the beginning of establishing a relationship.

Eric Wesley knows good jokes, as he did an impromptu set right before Gustavo Herrera took over to close Saturday night's performances.

Oh, and how can I forget Nancy Pop, where she literally interconnects Chinatown structures, uniting all in the harmony of a really, really, long strand of bright colored string. I was in Chinatown this past weekend, like any other weekend, and Pop's brightly colored unison is still going strong. Wish I had pictures...

There's a connection with all of the performances, but admitting to feeling a sense of stress may perhaps give some liberation. What I'm trying to say is that, I missed a lot of performances, and dwelled on why Skip Arnold made a fuss and decided to screen his videos rather than to perform-- I was really looking forward to his performance. So, I have strayed and have debated if I should even post pictures since my responsibility of seeing all of the performances was not met.. Therefore, I feel short to a greater view that I do not have. I attended Saturday and Sunday, but even then missed many performances. Nonetheless, my fingers are too itchy, and I feel the need to share some photos with you.

Enjoy!

Micol Hebron- Intellectual Labor at JANCAR Gallery

Micol Hebron - Essence at JANCAR Gallery

Emily Mast at Human Resources Gallery

Dorit Cypis at Dan Graham Gallery

Megan Daalder - The Closet at the Trifecta

Morrisa Maltz

Morrisa Maltz

Steve Roden performs a set of experimental sound

Skip Arnold: on video, and on the phone!

Mariel Carranza

Jason Wallace Triefenbach at Human Resources

Jason Wallace Triefenbach at Human Resources

Eric Wesley- " three vampires walk into a bar... "

Gustavo Herrera - The Birth of Satan pt. 1 at Human Resources Gallery

La Fundacion Wanna Winni

La Fundacion Wanna Winni

See You Next Year!

Performance Art in Chinatown: Perform!Now! Festival- July 29 - August 1, 2010

2010-07-29T22:49:00.001-07:00

Perform! Now!: Image Credit: Sandy de Lissovoy and David Kelley

Perform! Now! Festival in it's second year promises to be better. With a fundraiser that took place tonight at Human Resources in collaboration with Francois Ghebaly gallery. Ghebaly being a key component to the festival since he collaborated in the birth of Perfrom! Now!.

I did not make it to the fundraiser, but I hope sure you did!!!

I can't think of a more perfect setting than Chinatown-- with all it's charm, it plays great as the background for the so many performance artists who will play, indulge, and subdue it's audience this weekend.

Oh, and don't fear, the event is FREE!!!. Thanks to all the volunteers and organizers for all your hard work, and passion to the arts. I'm quite interested to witness how the local neighborhood, or the tired tourist who will randomly come across the Perform! Now! programming react. I venture, that good times are ahead for those of us who are anticipating the festival, but even greater for those will randomly come across it... That's just my personality, I like random play-- SURPRISES!

I know I'm not missing Skip Arnold's performance on Saturday, or Megan May Daalder's performance: The Closet at Human Resources. And Paul Pescador will also perform, with Chinatown as his background palette. Pescador is one of my favorite artists, but then again the list is never ending. However, there's more... Actual Size Gallery will play host to Haircuts and Popsicles this Saturday: free haircuts and three dollar pops because it's summertime, and who doesn't enjoy popsicles?!

Aaron Wrinkle is Chinatown's Dan Graham, by showing artists in the form of the once John Daniel's gallery. And this Saturday at Dan Graham gallery artist Dorit Cypis will perform: Inside/Outside/In (performer/audience/mirror/dan graham/1975), 2010. Dorit Cypis performance will not be a re-interpretation of Graham's performer/audience/mirror/(1975), but rather a dialogue/exploration of how audience, space, and artist work together to create a performance platform.

On Sunday La Fundacion Wanna Wini will debut as I believe, it's first Los Angeles performance, with a live Skype broadcasting from Mexicali, Mexico. I first heard about these guys when they participated in the MexiCali Biennial 09-10, and I'm happy to hear more, once again.

Now, for a more detailed schedule!. See You There!!!

SCHEDULE FROM PERFORM!NOW! WEBSITE

PERFORM! NOW! 2010
Detailed Schedule (Subject to Change)

Thursday ($20 suggested donation):
7:00 PM - 11:00 PM / Benefit Performances by Julie Tolentino and Stosh Fila / Marcus
Civin / Warren Neidich / Emily Lacy / Human Resources and François Ghebaly

Friday (Free all day and all night):
5:00 PM - Ongoing / Morrisa Maltz / Human Resources Hallway
5:00 PM – Ongoing / Douglas Green / Bernard Street Cul-de-sac
5:00 PM – Ongoing / Paul Pescador / Traversing Chinatown
6:00 PM – Ongoing / Alexis Disselkoen with John Burtle, Jessica Smith, Laura Hoang,
Kuan Hwa, Amber Williams, Katy Wang, Tom Cantwel, Tessa Kurszewski / Traversing Chinatown
6:00 PM - Ongoing / Elena Bajo / Cul-de-sac
7:00 PM - Ongoing / Megan Daalder / The Closet (adjacent to Human Resources)
7:00 PM - 7:30 PM / Emily Mast and Jerome Bel / Human Resources
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM / Alex Staiger and Superman / Cul-de-sac
7:30 PM - 8:00 PM / Corey Fogel and Liz Glynn / Chung King Rd.
8:00 PM - 8:30 PM / Math Bass / Human Resources
8:00 PM – 9:00 PM / Marcus Civin / Francois Ghebaly Gallery
8:00 PM - 9:00 PM /Flora Wiegmann, Amy Granat and Jmy Leary/ Pepin Moore Gallery
8:00 PM - 9:00 PM / Samuel Vasquez / The Company
9:00 PM - 9:15 PM / Sister Mantos / The Company
8:30 PM - 9:00 PM / Matt Greene / Cul-de-sac
9:00 PM - 10:30 PM / Warren Neidich / Human Resources
9:30 PM - Ongoing / ing / Cul de sac
9:30 PM / Mark Verabioff / Kunsthalle LA
9:30 PM – 10:30 PM / Tiffany Trenda / 997 N. Hill Street
10:30 PM - 11:00 PM / Team Zatara / Human Resources

Saturday (Free all day and all night):
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM / Vlatka Horvat / The Los Angeles River under the Fletcher Bridge, near the intersection of the 5 and 2 Freeways Treiops Treyfid / Roving Chinatown

12:00 PM - Ongoing / Douglas Green / Bernard Street Cul-de-sac
1:00 PM - 4:30 PM / Megan Daalder / Human Resources
1:00 PM – 6:00 PM / Haircuts and Popsicles / Actual Size Los Angeles
2:00 PM / Nancy Popp / Bamboo Plaza Rooftop Parking Lot
2:00 PM - Ongoing / Charles Irvin / Cul-de-sac and roving
3:00 PM / Nancy Popp / Chung King Rd, Near the Box Gallery
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM / Marcus Civin / Francois Ghebaly Gallery
3:00 PM – 7:00 PM / Dorian Wood and Joseph Tepperman / Kunsthalle LA
4:00 PM / Nancy Popp / Chung King Road, South Rooftop
4:00 PM - Ongoing / Morrisa Maltz / Human Resources Hallway
4:00 PM – 7:00 PM / Dorit Cypis / Dan Graham
4:00 PM - 7:00 PM - Marc Horowitz “Talk Show” / The Company
4:30 PM - Ongoing / Megan Daalder / The Closet (adjacent to Human Resources)
5:00 PM – Ongoing / Paul Pescador / Traversing Chinatown
5:00 PM / Nancy Popp / Moytel Rooftop, Near the Company
5:00 PM - 5:30 PM / Elena Bajo / Human Resources
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM / Material Presents The Oratorium: Farrah Karapetian, Jason Underhill, Susan Silton, Ellen Birrell, Ginny Cook, Dee Williams, Dan Hockenson, Daniel Lucas, Kim Schoen, Olivia Booth, Wendy Mason / Mandarin Plaza
5:00 PM – 12:00 AM / Micol Hebron / Jancar Gallery
6:00 PM - 6:30 PM / Math Bass / Human Resources
6:00 PM – Ongoing / Alexis Disselkoen with John Burtle, Jessica Smith, Laura Hoang, Kuan Hwa, Amber Williams, Katy Wang, Tom Cantwel, Tessa Kurszewski / Traversing Chinatown
6:00 PM / Nancy Popp / Francois Ghebaly Rooftop
7:00 PM / Skip Arnold / 997 N. Hill St.
7:00 PM - 7:30 PM / Emily Mast and Jerome Bel / Human Resources
7:00 PM / Nancy Popp / Mandarian Plaza Rooftop
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM / Jill Fogel / Cul-de-sac
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM / Brian Getnick and Kristian van der Hayden / Dumpster alley off of Chung King Road
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM / Monica Duncan / Traversing Chinatown
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM / Volume Presents Steve Roden / 993 N. Hill St.
7:00 PM – 11:00 PM / Mariel Carranza / Chung King Road
7:30 PM - 11:30 PM / Margie Schnibbe / Cul-de-sac
8:00 PM / Nancy Popp / Bamboo Plaza Rooftop Parking Lot
8:00 PM - 8:30 PM / Andrew Printer / Kunsthalle LA
8:00 PM - 8:30 PM / Team Zatara / Human Resources
8:00 PM – 9:00 PM / Material Presents The Oratorium / Mandarin Plaza
8:30 PM - 9:00 PM / Matt Greene / Cul-de-sac
9:00 PM – 9:30 PM / Yong Soon Min with Ofunne Obiamiwe, Tommy Gear, Gina Osterloh, Matias Viegener, Ian Song, Linda Kunik, Raksha Parekh, Paolo Villanueva, Stephen van Dyck, and Mike Davis/ Cul-de-sac
9:00 PM – 10:00 PM / Lucas Murgida / Charlie James Gallery
9:00 PM - 10:30 PM / Warren Neidich / Human Resources
10:30 PM - 11:00 PM / Aaron Wrinkle / Dan Graham
10:30 PM - 11:00 PM / Zackary Drucker / Human Resources Patio
11:00 PM - 12:00 AM / Jason Wallace Triefenbach / Human Resources
11:00 PM / Brendan Fowler / 2nd Cannons
12:00 AM - 1:00 AM / Gustavo Herrera / Human Resources

Sunday (Free all day and all night):
2:00 PM - 7:00 PM / Samuel Vasquez / 993 N. Hill Street
2:45 PM - 7:00 PM / Julie Tolentino, Stosh Fila and Mark So / 993 N. Hill Street
4:30 PM - 5:00 PM / Elle Mehrmand & Micha Cárdenas / 997 N. Hill Street and simultaneously live in Second Life
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM Brian Getnick and Kristian van der Hayden / Dumpster alley off of Chung King Road
6:00 PM - 6:30 PM / Fundación Wanna Winni / 997 N. Hill Street
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM / Alex Staiger and Superman / Chung King Road
2:00 - 8:00 PM / VOLUME presents short, intimate personal listening sets by: Julia Holter, Mark Trayle, Sander Roscoe Wolff, Jen Boyd, Mark So, Sublamp, Marc Manning, Justin Varis, Adam Overton, Shuttle358, Akira Rabelais and Kadet Kuhne / 993 N. Hill Street: 2:00 Julia Holter, 2:30 Mark Trayle, 3:00 Sander Roscoe Wolff, 3:30 Jen Boyd, 4:00 Mark So, 4:30 Sublamp, 5:00 Marc Manning, 5:30 Justin
Varis, 6:00 Adam Overton, 6:30 Shuttle358, 7:00 Akira Rabelais, 7:30 Kadet Kuhne

2010-07-25T01:17:00.000-07:00

“You are so young… so much before all the beginning, and I would like to beg you, as well as I can, to have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don't search for the answers, which could not be given to you now,because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer" -Rainer Maria Rilke

Walter Hopps: Genius!

Roberta Smith: Genius!

Jeni Spota- Mistakes: Genius!

Leigh Ledare- Mom in New Home: Genius!

I don't even know anymore... Probably I'll never attain the answers, but I will remain in the boat until it sinks.

A Conceptual Trifecta: Rena Small, Claire Nereim, and Kathrin Bumester at Jancar

2010-07-21T00:28:00.000-07:00

JANCAR Gallery: At First Glance

Photography may be a trend you often meet at many art shows, given the accessible tools of the trade or the joys of the sweet battle for that perfect photograph, but currently at JANCAR Gallery in Chinatown artist Rena Small gives photography a good name.

The show consists of Polaroid’s taken between the years of 1975-1982, both in the format of the most common Polaroid SX-70 and the 20x24 prints that are traced back to the early 1980's. Polaroid was known for reaching out to teachers, and many in the line of photography, but most notably Polaroid made tools accessible to artists, and often collecting several pieces for their collection.

Rena Small, Los Angeles born and based graduates from Cal Arts with an MFA in 1977. Just after graduating Small moved to New York City in 1978, and stays in the east coast for eight years, returning to Los Angeles in 1985.

A conceptual artist most known for her early Polaroid work, works within photography and painting. Small’s other work explores the mysterious language of a persons hands including artists in the likes of Ed Ruscha, John Baldessari, and Andy Warhol. Or her conceptual paintings that spark a game with life...

I have looked closely at the mysterious presence of human emotions veiled in the hands, the essential tools of all artists.- Rena Small

Rena Small- Red Chair,1978, Polaroid SX 70

In Red Chair (1978) Small plays with the spectator, creating semi visual illusions by her selection of Polaroid’s. A flying foot, a seated bosom… A puzzle of the artist bare naked body.

Small does not only play with visual puzzles, but with language, as is the case in Four Shots (1979)

Rena Small- Four Shots, 1979, Polaroid SX-70

There’s more than meets the eye!!!.....

Claire Nereim conceptual pieces in the second room of the gallery... Nereim’s pieces create a glorious stillness just after playing spectator to Rena Small’s often playful and politically inclined body of work. However, I had a difficult time understanding Nereim's work. Traces of Eva Hesse came to mind, and the study of memory. Though, I venture Nereim explores memory, since it ever so often inspires human emotion.

Claire Nereim: Gallery View

The Underground

The conceptual trifecta wouldn't be complete without Kathrin Burmester.

Burmester an Otis alumni and current professor works with film, photography, and video. Her work mainly consists of studies of human behavior in our technology bound culture, but most significantly the role of spectator in an ever so fast driven environment.

In Tour, a fifty three minute video of a tourist boat along the river Spree in Berlin, Germany documents the ephemeral significance of mass tourism to a city like Berlin along with cultural commentary to sites along the tour, which are often witty.

Burmester reaches nostalgia, and leaves the viewer in trance. Repeated sets of words, or more like repeated social commentary glue the viewer with witty comments as : " There's no one in this part of town, if you see someone, I encourage you to take out your cameras" .. or in the likes of that.

We found ourselves watching most of the fifty three minutes, in a sort of dream like state.

Kathrin Burmester: Tour, 2008/2010, One-channel video, color, sound, 53 min.

The tryptich of Small, Nereim, and Burmester incorporates the essentials of conceptual art, marrying each other quite nicely.

So if you haven’t seen the show yet, get down to Chinatown!. On your way, why not explore what this neighborhood offers?! .. Trust me, there’s more than meets the eye!.

July 10 - July 31, 2010
Rena Small: Early Polaroid Work 1975-1982
Claire Nereim
Kathrin Burmester

JANCAR Gallery
961 Chung King Road
Los Angeles, CA, 90012
213 625 2522

Human Resources: The Mystics Circle

2010-07-13T22:01:00.000-07:00

I can't begin to tell you the excitement that takes over me when I find out of a worthy event. An event worthy of my excitement, of course.

That was the case with Human Resources. A romanticized feeling arises once in a while, and out of those moments of spark, I can't help but think of the marks, and traces we are creating for future generations to look upon... To romanticize about.. All of this sweetness is mixed with history in the making.

Should I recall my friends words: " so today is a big day for you " when I explained to her the performances that were on the bill the night of Human Resources grand opening.

Dawn Kasper is already an L.A. hero, but My Barbarian Collective is the epitome of Los Angeles. I for one can tell you that they truly love what they do; passion at it's best labor. I'm living truth of their passion since, I was happy enough to participate in a workshop Jade Gordon hosted along Alexandro Segade one Sunday afternoon at Human Resources, and what a time I had.

Human Resources has quickly gathered a following, but that was apparent since their opening back in May during their May Day celebration. If you're in Los Angeles you know that an event at Human Resources is not to be missed. Perhaps, the only gallery in the area that stays up late, and closes till the public quits and heads home.

Dawn Kasper works closely with the space along with other artists, volunteers. The lovely Carol Cheh of Another Righteous Transfer blog, one of Los Angeles very own performance art blogs interviewed the backbone of Human Resources.

Human Resources: May Day Performances and Grand Opening... What a turnout!

Human Resources success has finally become official with their current exhibition of video art, titled The Mystics Circle. At first thought, The Mystics Circle was the circular display of the artists work, and the mystic was a contribution of each artists own darkness, whims, and tendencies. However, a more straight forward explanation can be found on their site.

The Mystics Circle
Coinciding with the summer solstice the show’s titled alludes to the summer slaying of a UCLA student in 1991. The killing happened in the mouth of The Manson tunnel, a railroad outpost frequented by cults in Chatsworth, on the brightest night of the year. The work presented in the show investigates the dual themes of comedy and tragedy through the identity of Los Angeles as a saturated paradise that pumps crude oil into broad daylight.

The Mystics Circle: Gallery View

The participating artists have contributed to Los Angeles video art history, with names in the likes of Skip Arnold, Margie Schnibbe, Hilja Keading, and Mike Kelly and a more contemporary Brian Bress, Candice Lin, William E. Jones, and my first ever introduction to Davida Nemeroff. Each individual artist contributing a side of the grotesque, the ephemeral, performance, and uncanny tendencies.

The contribution these artists have given Los Angeles in the shaping of video art history is marked as the second chapter, or what is likely known as the 1980's period. That period which marks the next generation of Los Angeles contemporary art history.

I quote Skip Arnold: " It was the eighties in L.A., the artists were scattered and the punk scene was moving"... Yes, I literally wanted to fall off my chair when he spoke those words, over at the panel I attended at Human Resources in conjunction with the exhibition. Skip Arnold remembers the 80's punk scene in Los Angeles as much as he remembers the sprawling of artist melting in the sun, and hiding behind the many palm trees. Can you tell a higher appreciation for Skip Arnold has just grown ?! but it only makes perfect sense...

A second panel will take place on July 25 at Human Resources, starting at 6 pm. Don't miss out on a great exhibition of Los Angeles video art. I feel like the exhibition should have been titled: The Second Chapter.

Don't Miss!!!

The Mystics Circle
June 19 - July 29

HUMAN RESOURCES
510 Bernard St, Chinatown, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Thursday through Saturday: 12- 6 pm

Cal Arts: BOX SCHEME

2010-07-09T23:45:00.000-07:00

Twenty nine recent MFA Cal Arts graduates had the opportunity to show their works in different participating galleries in Chinatown’s Arts District. The sprawl of art brought Calartians and spectators together on July 2, 2010 for the opening of BOX SCHEME. Under the curatorial work of Ana Vejzovic Sharp, the former director of China Art Objects.

Out of twenty nine artists only one painting was displayed. Nicolas Greiner visions a communal unison of all social levels. The work is strong in content. A form of satire towards social political theories of American living.

Nicolas Greiner: Integrated Community, oil on canvas, 86 x 122 inches

Installation/sculpture was a repetitive trend, but not necessarily a bad one.

Ari Kletzky - A Constant Questioning : Don't rest, it's art!

Ari Kletzy's A Constant Questioning was one of my favorites, due it's background content.

And then there's Margeret Haines. An artist, I'll definitely keep an eye on.

Margaret Haines different C Prints : A Friend Once Told Me The Best Way To Say Fuck You In Los Angeles Is Trust Me

Video couldn't be absent, taking into consideration Los Angeles long history with video art. From Skip Arnold to Michelle O' Marah...

At Actual Size Gallery, the dark genius of Zach Kleyn kept on giving.

Zack Kleyn-The Rapture Remembered,The Gingerbread Lesson: Keeps on giving

The dark conversation of the video and action of baking ginger bread cookies deliver the attraction. While Kleyn dubbed the female voices with his voice and his twin brother as I'm told by Esteban Schimpf of Actual Size. Traces of the obscure and the playful sum up the video, with steps to an unknown future.

The future may be unknown, but the mystery intrigues... Though, on July 15 REDCAT hosts a video showcase of the recent MFA Cal Arts graduates. Now, that's a future I'm intrigued with...

DON'T MISS!!!

LACMA: TRANSFORMATION at The Resnick Pavillion

2010-07-07T12:39:00.000-07:00

Wilshire Boulevard is as historic to Los Angeles as Route 66 is to the entire country. The fame and grace of Wilshire Boulevard still ceases to exist with new neighborhoods and traces of it’s glamorous past. Down the road that leads one to the famous beaches of the west coast we find museums and a line of art galleries. Wilshire art district is home to many art galleries that host their own seasonal art walk. On the array of Wilshire’s art spaces stands the art fortress surrounded by tall fences, a decorative light sculpture and it’s so many buildings that make up the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Infamous in it’s name LACMA was officially established as an art museum in 1961. We have to remember the great hype that was shaping the Los Angeles art scene at the time-- all and mostly coming from the artists affiliated with FERUS Gallery. This very period marks Los Angeles on the map along with the east coast art hub of New York City. It seems like it’s just the perfect time for LACMA to take that jump and become a museum.

Since early 2007 LACMA undertook it’s greatest project since opening in 1961. The project by the name of TRANSFORMATION promises to literally transform LACMA’s campus. This metamorphosis gave birth with the highly anticipated BCAM building, back in 2008. However, BCAM was not the only addition to the museum, but the now iconic Chris Burden-Urban Light sculpture. Also on the list,the now anticipated Resnick Pavillion.

Do you recall Eli Broad’s roller coaster set of news?! …

The news travels up and down the L. A. Times consecutively some weeks. Surely nothing new if we look at the Hollywood phenomena. Just how a movement proceeds the inspiration towards the next big thing, Eli Broad has helped shaped Los Angeles art centers like no other Los Angeles resident ever has. Maybe J. Paul Getty is up on that list since his estate continues to aide, but this is Eli Broad’s period.

In latest news the Broad Art Foundation plans to expand Grand Avenue in Downtown Los Angeles by building a new art museum for the city which is still in the works.

If you don’t wish to ride on Broad’s roller coaster, I have good news for you. Hidden in that list of donors to TRANSFORMATION are Lynda and Steward Resnick donating $25 million dollars to what is now the anticipated Resnick Pavillion.

The Resnick Pavillion: Walter De Maria - the 2000 Sculpture

Currently Walter De Maria’s piece The 2000 Sculpture, takes hostage of the spacious pavilion. Only a “test” work to calculate the capacity of the space as stated by the LACMA director Michael Govan: “The sculpture provides an ideal way to test the Resnick Pavilion’s capacity to deal with large-scale work in the context of its architecture."

The Resnick Pavillion: Walter De Maria - the 2000 Sculpture

De Maria is the perfect artist for the vast space considering that it's cousins are next door at BCAM-- Richard Serra's Band and Sequence, artworks deserve a greater space alike Resnick. It's crucial for the museum to value it's artworks and shift the way it's public views their works. Richard Serra and Walter De Maria are artists that deserve great detail in the installation process.

You can only imagine how I felt when a guard explained to me that -- The 2000 Sculpture was only a test , and walls would soon be added to the pavilion in order to separate certain galleries. The natural lighting of the space helps De Maria, and it helps the public. I will admit that I' am architecturally proud of a space that serves it's purpose. One can only wait until the final opening this Fall.

I don't know about you, but LACMA will always humorously remind me of Ed Rusha's infamous piece: LACMA On Fire

UPDATE:

In LACMA's "TRANSFORMATION" release it stated that $25 million dollars were given to LACMA from the Resnick's, but the Los Angeles Times later confirmed that $50 million were granted.

In money business we can't quite understand, one things is clear: deals are sure to be hidden from the public, but what really matters is the accessibility of the artwork?!

"LACMA announced on September 29, 2008 that it had received a gift of $55 million from Los Angeles-based philanthropists Lynda and Stewart Resnick, including $45 million toward LACMA’s ongoing Transformation, a campaign to unify the museum’s campus and refurbish and expand its gallery spaces. Additionally, the Resnicks have promised LACMA gifts of art valued at $10 million. In honor of their generosity, LACMA will name a new Renzo Piano-designed building, slated to open in 2010, the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Exhibition Pavilion"