A Cure For The Summertime Blues

I assume this dusty, little corner of the internet is usually visited by artists, and/or friends. Some of whom have asked why I stopped writing, and if I'll ever get back to doing that again. I don't really have an answer for that yet. The reasons for my recent silence here are many, and some are complicated. Ask me, next time you see me. Maybe I'll tell you.

In the meantime, as summer 2015 comes to a close, Los Angeles is awash in art events. I feel compelled to tell you about four of them (full disclosure, I'm in 3 of them). All of which are happening this weekend. First up, is "The Late, Late Show" , a special Mike Street solo show at Beyond Baroque, opening tonight at 4pm. This  show will feature a plethora of Felliniesque "Italian film stills" that Mike has created over the course of many years. Mr. Street is a staple of the Los Angeles art scene, and one of the kindest humans you will ever meet.

After "The Late, Late Show", you should head over to Santa Monica to see "Girl Scouts and Adventure Guides" at the Daniel Rolnik Gallery. It will be a celebration of summer, camp, cookies, exploration and general irreverence. The opening is from 7 - 11pm tonight.

Tomorrow is the closing event of "Spectrum Gestalt 2" at bG Gallery Bergamot Station. This is a massive group show where every piece of art  is grouped together in order of color. You might think that would be an assault on your eyeballs, but it ends up being a soothing visual experience that you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere outside of nature. Closing event starts at 2pm on Sunday.

Lastly, is "Faux Show: Social Realism" at Balconi Coffee Purveyors in West Los Angeles. Curated by Kio Griffith, this is part of a series of shows where contemporary artists get a chance to offer their take on the classics. Think of it as "cover songs" in paint. This time around, the show features the two artists I named "Best New Artists" in my 2014, Valerie Pobjoy and Phil Santos. It will also include my homage to Dorothea Lange's iconic "Migrant Mother" photograph. I have a deep, personal connection to that photograph, and I hope that comes through in my piece. The opening for this one is 7pm Sunday.

At any rate, my bias aside, these are four wonderful shows for you to attend this weekend, You're welcome!

Click on the links above for specifics and logistics.

Spanish Girl by Valerie Pobjoy

Monsanto Meets American Gothic by Phil Santos

Dust by KrossD

You Are What You Eat by KrossD

Sneak Peek: Summer Flies at Flower Pepper Gallery

Summer Flies opens tomorrow night at Flower Pepper Gallery.  The show was curated by Walt Hall, and features a stellar line-up that includes Douglas Alvarez, Alex Schaefer, and Mike Street. Below you'll find a little sneak peek of what's in store.

Flower Pepper Gallery
121 East Union Street
Pasadena, CA 91103

Summer Flies opening reception June 28th, 6:30 pm
Runs through August 1st, 2014

Sunny by Douglas Alvarez

Lampyrids Dance by Jaclyn Alderate

At The Lake by Kelly Thompson

Along A Wire by Lacey Bryant

Evening Cooling by Lacey Bryant

A Parade For Summer by Walt Hall

Ice Cream On Sundays by Walt Hall

Summer Flies by Walt Hall

Up High Above The Summer Canyons by Walt Hall

5 Questions with OM BLEICHER

Om Bleicher hails from Australia. He came out to California to visit family about nine years ago, and was taken with what he calls 'the wild west art scene' in Los Angeles. This led him to open bG Gallery in Santa Monica. Om is an interesting cat to say the least. He's a soft spoken gent, but in the short time I've known him, I've overheard him debating the relative merits of self-importance, and seen him strike up a spur of the moment chat about quantum physics.

Om has just opened a second gallery at Bergamot Station. The first show at the new space, Spectrum Gestalt (co-curated with Daniel Rolnik), is a sprawling group show hung salon style and grouped by color. Hanging the work this way ends up having a unifying effect on the art. Nothing is clashing, or at odds with one another. It's fascinating, and strangely soothing.

The second of his 'Spectacle' shows Art of the Spectacular opens this Saturday. I caught up with Om yesterday to throw 5 Questions at him.

1) It’s hard enough to run one gallery successfully. What possessed you to open a second?

Well, I just saw the space and it seemed pretty cool. I don’t know, I just have ideas and I want to make them happen.

2) Is Spectrum Gestalt an exercise in color theory? What prompted the idea?

I’m an artist as well as a gallerist. I have a few installations that use gestalt ideas. It’s a way to bring all the artists that I’ve worked with in the past together and introduce them to a new audience.

3) What kind art are you looking to show here?

I’m not afraid to show art that crosses genres. For instance, I’m not going to NOT show an artwork from the illustration world next a conceptual artwork. I’m looking for art that taps into the human condition, across fields.

4) What do you consider the most nauseating trend in art?

Hmmm, Damien Hirst dots? I think I’m sick of seeing, just people not taking risks, and gallerists second guessing their audience. Trends just come and go, you know?

5) Has a work of art ever made you cry?

Brought tears to my eyes? Yeah. There’s a piece by Courtney Reid, whose one of my artists, about three years ago. It’s called “Bald People” or something like that. Just the way that she paints---like, there’s no eyes in her paintings. So, it allows you to connect with it on a visceral level.

"Art Of The Spectacular" opens March 25 

bG Gallery at Bergamot Station
2525 Michigan Avenue
Space G8A
Santa Monica, CA 90404

Stunning cross-stitch by Ellen Schinderman

Stu Rappeport stacked.

"A Freedom To Be Free" by Daniel Rolnik

"Untitled" by Mary Delioussina

"Blank" by Douglas Alvarez

"Scooter" by Hadia Finley

"Bob Floated To Tiffany's" by Nancy Larrew

All Tomorrow's Parties

So you're stuck in Los Angeles on a Saturday night, and there's absolutely nothing for an intellectual such as yourself to do. Well, that's just horseshit! On the off chance that I haven't promoted Matjames Metson enough, let me remind you that his second solo show at Coagula Curatorial, 'A Better Home For A Quiet Wolf' has it's grand unveiling at 7pm tomorrow.

But before that, you can hear Coagula's diabolical mastermind Mat Gleason exhort upon 'The Future of Art' at a panel discussion alongside Marlene Picard, and Jim Daichendt. The discussion will be moderated by Daniel Rolnik at Flower Pepper Gallery at 1pm. While you're there, check out the 'Season Of Spring' show. It's pretty cool.

Also, if you're ambitious and feel like gallery hopping, 'Face It', a jam packed, all-star group show opens tomorrow night at Gabba Gallery! I could passively/aggressively whine about how I would have been perfect for 'Face It', but since I'm in the above mentioned 'Season of Spring' show, and both my pieces have sold, I'll exercise a modicum of restraint. Hey! Rolnik has work in 'Face It' too, so you have three events tomorrow that are all somewhat connected. I'll give a KrossD print to the first person to tie them all to Kevin Bacon.

Coagula Curatorial
974 Chung King Road
Los Angeles, California 90012


Flower Pepper Gallery
121 East Union Street
Pasadena, CA 91103

The Gabba Gallery
3126 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, Ca. 90057

Art Pick of the Week: "Laid Bare" - JAW Cooper at La Luz De Jesus

I don't really have to hard-sell you on this, right? I mean it's JAW Cooper. I've been pretty vocal about her for the past few years, and I can assure you that "Laid Bare" is her finest showing to date. Still, if you need more convincing, you can read my Cartwheel interview with her here:

Animal Style: A Conversation with Jaw Cooper

and my first mini-interview with her here:

5 Questions with JAW Cooper


"Laid Bare" opens tonight and runs through April 28, 2013

La Luz de Jesus
4633 Hollywood Blvd
323-666-7667
Monday-Wednesday 11am-7pm; Thursday-Saturday 11am-9pm; Sunday noon-6pm

The KrossD List: 5 Best Art Exhibits of 2012

'Tis the time of year when I usually cull together unsolicited lists of my favorite things of said year, music, movies, books and the like. 2012 however, provided such an unexpected bombardment of personal upheaval (the best sort of upheaval, mind you), that I have only been able to focus on the "art" type of art. It's been a great year for that. Therefore I present to you my list of the five best Los Angeles exhibits of the year (and links to my reasons why). Cheers to you all!


5) "Image Not Available" - Rero at Fabien Castanier Gallery






4) "Narcolandia" - Group show at Coagula Curatorial






3) "Zero Gravity" - Nicola Verlato at Merry Karnowsky Gallery

2) "Method Attic" - Matjames Metson at Coagula Curatorial

(drum roll please)

1) "Make It Dark" - Mecedes Helnwein at Merry Karnowsky Gallery

Honorable mentions:
"Art is a MiXTAPE" at Lebasse Projects
"Ice Loves Rococo" - Van Arno at CHG Circa
"Interviews" at Curio by AFN
 KrossD at Gallery 3 (hey, it's my list. I'll do what I want.)

Art Pick of the Week: Leigh Salgado at Coagula Curatorial

Leigh Salgado's "free form cut paper" sculptures (?), paintings (?), assemblage (?), um...let's say indefinable works of art have to be seen to be believed. Even then, you probably won't believe it, but no other artist has ever explored anatomical themes or feminist concepts quite like Salgado. Don't even start with me about Judy Chicago, this is something else entirely. At least I think it is, but I have a "why" chromosome.

At any rate, trust me when I tell you that "New Work" at Coagula Curatorial will surely be the best art bet in Los Angeles tomorrow night. Oh, did I forget to mention Llyn Foulkes, and Vito Lorusso? Yeah, you're gonna want to see this!

This exhibit will run October 27 thru November 24.
The gallery is open Wednesday thru Saturday, Noon - 5 PM

Coagula Curatorial

977 Chung King Road

Los Angeles CA 90012

(424) 2-COAGULA

Photo courtesy of Coagula Curatorial & Leigh Salgado

Art Pick of the Week: Interviews at Curio by AFN

"Interviews" at Curio by AFN is a group show curated by Daniel Rolnik. It is a transmogrifying, weird and wonderful show that is full of surprises and head-spinning turns. You can read my Cartwheel report here...

http://www.cartwheelart.com/events/everywhere-at-once-interviews-at-curio-by-afn

“Interviews” runs through October 26th, 2012

CURIO Studio & Collection
324 Sunset Ave. Venice, California 90291
Phone & Text:  323) 382-6533
open Thursday- Saturday 12-6pm, or by appointment

Luis Arevalo

photos by Keith Ross Dugas