LA Art Show is Two Weeks Away

Highlights
FEATURED EXHIBITION
The M.C. Escher Experience
Featuring the world's largest collection of M.C. Escher's work. 
Presented by Walker Fine Art
For over 40 years, Walker Fine Art has assembled the largest collection of Escher works in the world, and will showcase the “rarest of the rare” at the 25th Annual LA Art Show. The M.C. Escher Experience runs the span of the artist's entire career, and will include rarely seen lithographs, wood cuts, engravings, and mezzotints, as well as the artist’s iconic custom furniture. Many of these will be shown in California for the first time ever. In addition to seeing the artist’s work up close, LA Art Show attendees will have the opportunity to become Escher. A special photo-booth will recreate his iconic sphere self portrait with you in the reflection.
DIVERSEartLA 
TRANSCENDIENTS: Heroes at Borders 
Created by artist Taiji Terasaki, in collaboration with Japanese American National Museum (JANM)
TRANSCENDIENTS is a unique collaboration between artist Taiji Terasaki and JANM that honors the “heroes at borders,” individuals that advocate and fight for those who face discrimination, prejudice and inequity at borders both physical and conceptual.
This participatory exhibition spotlights important figures working to overcome and transcend borders that reinforce discrimination, inequity, and intolerance. Whether it be those fighting to rectify human rights injustices and to counter anti-immigrant sentiments and actions, members of the LGBTQ+ community seeking equal rights, women pressing for equal pay, or religious adherents who want to worship in safety, these heroes use their personal experiences to build bridges of understanding that connect us at the core of our collective humanity.
NEW PROGRAMMING
The European Pavilion 
The European Pavilion is a brand new programming section comprised of contemporary European galleries, with an emphasis on exhibitors and artists from Spain, Italy, and the UK. The pavilion will be a celebration of the profound influence that European art has had on the world, with participating galleries curating exhibits that highlight the various movements and stylistic developments that have defined much of Western art. Within this new section will be a special exhibit showcasing Catalan artists from 1900 to present, offering a glimpse into the modern art history of the region. This first year will shine a spotlight on the Catalan Modernism Movement, which was an avenue for Catalonia to set itself apart from the rest of Spain and establish a form of independence. The Movement is stylistically characterized by motifs, shapes, colors and concepts inspired by nature, with the artists adapting physical shapes from nature and using natural light, colors and symbolism throughout their work.
FEATURED EXHIBITION
ICONOCLASTS
New Photo-Realistic Portrait Sculptures by Kazu Hiro
At art fairs across the world, you've seen the eerily realistic sculptures of the heads of Abraham Lincoln, Frida Kahlo, Andy Warhol and other pop-culture luminaires created by Oscar-award winning makeup artist and sculptor Kazu Hiro. Now, for the 25th annual LA Art Show, Kazu will present a retrospective of his work, and unveil several new pieces that have never been seen before. The artist will be in attendance at select times throughout the fair.
DIVERSEartLA
MOLAA Pride
By artists Leo Chiachio and Daniel Giannone
Presented by Museum of Latin American Art
In order to commemorate local and international LGBTQ+ communities around the world, The Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) is presenting an installation about diversity and pride in collaboration with world-known Argentinian artists Leo Chiachio and Daniel Giannone. The 112 ft. long textile installation was created by the artists in collaboration with more than 3,000 members of the Long Beach and Los Angeles communities during the artists’ MOLAA residency between March and May of 2019. Visitors and community members were invited to contribute  their own messages about the meaning of diversity and acceptance to the banner, before it was carried by over 100 volunteers at the Long Beach Pride Parade in July 2019. The Museum highlights underrepresented voices in Latin America, the US and around the world. This installation represents the commitment of MOLAA towards the values of diversity and inclusion for all.
FEATURED EXHIBITION
THE SUE WONG SIGNATURE
A Showcase by Iconic Chinese & Hollywood Fashion Designer Sue Wong
This year, legendary Chinese fashion designer Sue Wong will be honored in the new FASHION programming section of the fair, displaying nearly one dozen of her iconic gowns. Wong's dresses are astonishing, employing the revered age-old couture techniques implemented by the finest fashion houses in Europe, and evoking the allure and glamour of various eras such as Weimar Berlin, 1930s Shanghai, Precode Hollywood and Manhattan’s gilded Jazz Age. Her gowns have been worn to Hollywood awards ceremonies by stars such as Anne Hathaway, Kim Kardashian, Jessica Biel, Minnie Driver, Reba McEntire, Tyra Banks and more. Serendipitously, this year, the LA Art Show will be taking place the same weekend as the Oscars.
DIVERSEartLA
Performance
Diversity Walks And Talks
By artist Miss Artworld
Attendees are invited to strut their stuff down a runway and showcase what makes them unique. A variety of participants will be pre-selected and interviewed about what diversity means to them, and the interviews will play at the runway. At select times throughout the fair, spectators will also be recruited live to walk the runway. A photographer will document all individuals and their photos will be instantly displayed on a nearby wall. Like LA’s fashion and celebrity culture, this performance is all about high energy, fast pace and confidence!

The 25th annual LA Art Show will feature over 100 galleries from more than 18 countries. The confirmed exhibitors include:

CORE

Artlink International

Building Bridges Art Exchange

CM2 Space

Cospace

East Art Center

Fabrik Projects

In The Gallery

Jane Kahan Gallery

K Contemporary

Kylin Gallery

Mizuma Art Gallery

Patrick Painter Gallery

Salt Fine Art

SM Fine Art Gallery

Tanya Baxter Contemporary

Thomas French Fine Art

Timothy Yarger Fine Art

Walker Fine Art

YOD Gallery

Zeal House


EUROPEAN PAVILION

3 Punts Galeria

Anquins Galeria

Arionte Arte Contemporanea

Art Mozaika

Arte Globale

Dk Arte Galleries

Fine Art Consultancy

Galería de Arte María Aguilar

Galerie Wolfsen

Galleria Bea Villamarin

Galleria Stefano Forni

ImageNation Paris

L' Arcada Galeria d'Art

Neue Kunst Gallery

Pigment Gallery


MODERN + CONTEMPORARY

5Art Gallery

Abend Gallery

Acacia Gallery

Arcadia Contemporary

Art All Ways

Art Gangnam Gallery & Company

Art Unified

Artifact

Artspace Warehouse

Arushi Arts

BG Gallery

BIAA (Beloved in Art Association)

Blinkgroup Gallery

Bruce Lurie Gallery

Caelis Galeria

Carla Elena Art Collection S.A. de CV

Century Guild Museum of Art

Chic Evolution in Art

Coagula Curatorial

Conde Contemporary

Connect Contemporary

Copro Gallery

Cross Mackenzie Gallery

Daphne Alazraki Fine Art

Elaine Kim Gallery

Emma Hack Gallery

Gallery 1261

Gallery Artwall

Gallery Harang

Gallery Karo

Gallery Kitai

General Investment Group

Himmeljord Art

House of Fine Art HOFA Gallery

J & J Art

Jaymay Gallery

John Natsoulas Gallery

K + Y Gallery

Kahn gallery

KR Martindale Gallery

Lustre Contemporary

Mandarin Fine Art Gallery

Mark Blackburn

Melissa Morgan Fine Art

MRG Fine Art

Panter & Hall, London

Rebecca Hossack Gallery

Rebecca Molayem Gallery

Rehs Contemporary

Rele Gallery

S. E. A.

Seaside Gallery

Simard Bilodeau Contemporary

The Gallery Steiner

Tian Qing Gallery

Trading Boundaries Fine Art

Trinity House paintings

Ukiyo-e Project

Untitled Editions

Wallspace LA

Walter Wickiser Gallery

Watanuki Ltd / Toki-no-Wasuremono

Wyoming Working Group

Young Art Gallery


ROOTS

Galerie Fledermaus

Hayden & Fandetta Rare Books

Linwoods Art

M. S. Rau Antiques

NB Gallery

Rehs Galleries

The Artworks Gallery


WORKS ON PAPERDTR Studio

Gallery 1202

The Verne Collection


PROJECT SPACE

Aspen Art Gallery

Bancs Gallery

Bert Green Fine Art

Bev's Fine Art

East-West Culture & Arts Foundation

Fabrik Projects

Galerie Bruno Massa


DESIGN LA ART

Charon Kransen Arts

Gallery All

Provident Jewelry

Things to Do This Coming Weekend

BEYOND EMBODIMENT
January 25-March 20, 2020Opening Reception:
Saturday, January 25, 2020 / 6–9 pm

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Brand Library & Art Center
1601 W. Mountain St. Glendale, CA 91201

Interactive Performance: “Proximity Cinéma” by Tiffany Trenda
Saturday, January 25, 2020 / 7:30pm
“Proximity Cinéma” by Tiffany Trenda Artists: Kelly Akashi, Symrin Chawla, Gisela Colon, Gilda Davidian, Sandra de la Loza, M Eifler, Maru García, Dahn Gim, Sanglim Han, Claudia Hart, Xandra Ibarra, Huntrezz Janos, Yuehao Jiang, Anna Kostanian, Qingyi Li, Jacki Morie, Kelly Nipper, Cindy Rehm, Silvia Rigon, Martine Syms, Hiromi Takizawa, Tiffany Trenda, VJ Um Amel, Lisa Diane Wedgeworth, Amia Yokoyama 

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Beyond Embodiment features 25 pioneering female, non-binary, and trans artists whose work probes the boundaries of body and being. Physicality, identity, and presence are explored in actual as well as virtual space; biological systems, from the primordial to the post-human, are examined and transfigured by technology. The exhibition presents an expansive array of media, including sculpture, photography, video, animation, painting, collage, ceramics, neon, bio-art, scent technology, interactive media, augmented reality, and performance. Situating the body as form and function, material and process, site and portal, these artists investigate the potentialities of the human condition. 

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Curated by Laura Darlington and Selwa Sweidan Image credit: “Venus Iteration” by Sanglim Han

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“Perceive Me” by Kristine Schomaker

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Cynda Valle
Odalisque Mashup
40x60 inches
medium; spray enamel, leaves and oil on linen

Ronald H Silverman Fine Arts Gallery, Cal State University LA
5151 State University Drive
Los Angeles CA 90032
Dr. Mika Cho, Director, Fine Arts Gallery

 

Plus-Size artist Kristine Schomaker challenges societal norms of beauty and ‘Fat Phobia’ by presenting her body through the eyes of 60 artists.  

Opening Reception: Saturday January 25, 5-8pm

On view January 21 to February 24

Artist Talk with Alexandra Grant Sun February 2, 2-4pm
Artist Talk with Leslie Labowitz-Starus Sun February 16, 2-4pm
Artist Panel and Closing Reception Sat February 22, 2-4pm

https://www.kristineschomaker.net/
Instagram: @kristineschomaker

In “Perceive Me,” plus-size artist Kristine Schomaker challenges society, the art world and herself to become more accepting of our differences, especially differences in size. She issued the challenge here in Los Angeles - a city known for its unrealistic images of the female body - by asking 60 artists to do nude portraits of her larger-than-average form. Rather than shaming Schomaker for her size, the artists celebrate it with paintings, drawings, photographs, sculptures, video and a 3D print. 

Los Angeles artist Sheli Silverio responded with a 57-inch-tall watercolor painting. “Kristine invited me to be part of her "Perceive Me" project in which I got to use my lens to interpret her; Her body, her authenticity, her power, her femininity, her bravery, HER. In the process of doing so, I took the opportunity to explore myself. It's been good for my heart. I think part of understanding ourselves, happens in relation to the world around us. But we also know that the social standards need critique more often than not. The way "Perceive Me" reflects and shifts the idea of perception of self allows for this criticism. It opens space for everyone involved, artists and viewers, to reflect upon how they see themselves, how they look at others and what weight and significance we place on all of that.”

Schomaker’s work has often touched upon perceptions of the female body, an issue that has been a challenge for her since her youth. She hated having her photo taken because she didn’t want her body and face, which she saw as less-than-ideal, being memorialized in photos. She developed an eating disorder, but she never lost sight of the need to express herself in her art.

And with “Perceive Me,” the artist, curator, and instigator found a way to celebrate herself in addition to educating the larger world about acceptance.

“Posing and modeling for these 60 artists, I felt like a supermodel. I felt thin, bold, beautiful, classy, elegant, sexy,” she said. “The artwork that was created is amazing. Then I looked in the mirror… I was the same. But I knew I was saying something that needed to be said.”

"Perceive Me" opens with an exhibition at California State University, Los Angeles Jan. 25, 2020. The opening reception is Jan. 25, 2020 6-9pm. The show runs through Feb. 22, 2020.

Over the next couple of years, “Perceive Me” will travel to Coastline Community College Art Gallery, McNish Gallery at Oxnard College, Mesa Community College Art Gallery, College of the Sequoias in Visalia and the Museum of Art and History in Lancaster.

“‘Perceive Me’ is not just an exhibition or a catalog or Instagram posts. It is a platform for empowerment, for owning who we are, for being unique and authentic, for taking back our bodies in the #metoo movement, for being true, powerful and strong no matter what body shape, size, color, gender we are. ‘Perceive Me’ is for everyone,” Kristine Schomaker

Artists who collaborated in the project include Amanda Mears, Anna Kostanian, Anna Stump, Ashley Bravin, Austin Young, Baha Danesh, Betzi Stein, Bibi Davidson, Bradford J Salamon, Caron G Rand, Carson Grubaugh, Catherine Ruane, Chris Blevins-Morrison, Christina Ramos, Cynda Valle, Daena Title, Daggi Wallace, Dani Dodge, Debbie Korbel, Debby and Larry Kline, Debe Arlook, Diane Cockerill, Donna Bates, Elizabeth Tobias, Ellen Friedlander, Emily Wiseman, Geneva Costa, Holly Boruck, J Michael Walker, Jane Szabo, Janet Milhomme, Jeffrey Sklan, Jesse Standlea, John Waiblinger, Jorin Bossen, K Ryan Henisey, Karen Hochman Brown, Kate Hoffman, Kate Kelton, Kate Savage, Katherine Rohrbacher, Kerri Sabine-Wolf, Kim Kimbro, L Aviva Diamond, Leslie Lanxinger, Mara Zaslove, Marjorie Salvaterra, Martin Cox, Monica Sandoval, Nancy Kay Turner, Nurit Avesar, Phung Huynh, Rakeem Cunningham, Serena Potter, Sheli Silverio, Susan Amorde, Susan T. Kurland, Sydney Walters, Tanya Ragir, Tony Pinto, Vicki Walsh

 

About Kristine Schomaker:

Kristine Schomaker is a Los Angeles based multidisciplinary artist, art historian and curator. She received her BA in Art History and an MA in Studio Art from California State University Northridge. Schomaker has been exhibiting her work since the late 1990s. She has had solo exhibitions throughout Los Angeles including “Plus” at Ark Gallery in Altadena, “Mirror, Mirror!” at Gallery H Phantom Galleries LA, Hawthorne, California, “And One Man in His Time Plays Many Parts” at the Los Angeles Art Association, “Plus” at Moorpark College Art Gallery,  “A Comfortable Skin,” at Kerckhoff Hall Art Gallery UCLA, Los Angeles, California and “Ce n’est pas une Peinture,” at TRACTIONARTS, Los Angeles, California. Schomaker has also been featured in numerous group exhibitions.

 

In addition to working as a practicing artist, Schomaker is an independent curator, the founder of Shoebox PR and publisher of the online contemporary art magazine Art and Cake.

One More Thing - Poet's Place

Hello LAARTNEWS readers! Linda Kaye here. Starting today LAARTNEWS launches the ‘POETS PLACE’  which will feature local LA based poets for your daily reading pleasure. Follow us @laartnews/poetsplace and submit your poems, thoughts, suggestions and encouragements for our inspirational 2020 kick off! Let your creative juices soar and rock our socks off with your brilliant prose. We look forward to a stellar year of creativity! We start off today featuring a poem from my new chapbook “What’s Your Hubbub” of poetry styling’s.

This Weekend!

Do you have plans for this weekend? There are so many choices of fun things to do in Los Angeles every weekend, so here are some suggestions.

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For all those musicians out there.

For all those musicians out there.

Things You Should Know About

As I figure out my groove here, I plan on posting things that I fell like you should all know about. Things like calls for artists and other opportunities that are out there. So today I’ll start with some auditions for performers and poets. All the information you need is in the flyer below.

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Ted Meyer has a new interview in his series, Art and Med for OurHeartSpeaks.org. This is the first for 2020, with nine more coming this year.

And…RIP Mr. Baldessari. Thank you for your art and work.

Happy New Year! Welcome the new LA Art News!

You will see art here and could be directed around the webs to see what others are writing about and sharing. Like the art that is shown below. Keep scrolling. Each post will contain multiple things to read and ponder. Learn more below.

Artwork by Antonio Pelayo

Artwork by Antonio Pelayo

LA Art News is changing. When we started in 2013 we were NELAart News, but as we evolved it became evident that we needed to represent all of Los Angeles, so we became LA Art News. 2019 forced the hand of change and we are now a digital only publication. Does that mean we’ll never print again? As the publisher I have thoughts on that. I’d like to print again, but the costs are crazy. This is why my printer of over 6 years went out of business. There, I said it.

The best part of being digital is that we can include much more information than we could in the paper. I will still compile a publication every other month to put up on issuu.com, where the paper has been hosted for at least 5 years. I’m also always looking for content. I’ll post stories and poetry and art and photography and videos and links to other sites that have cool information we think you should know about. You’ll continue to hear about shows and exhibits and happenings around the LA area. And since it’s going to be a very active political year, you’ll read about it here. We’ll continue to have our regular contributors, and I’m grateful for all of them. I’ll have a contributors page up here soon. The site will grow and evolve as we all do.

And of course, if you’d like to advertise here, send me a note @ cathi@laartnews.com.

Thanks to all that have enjoyed LA Art News, and all that will continue to.

Artwork by Madam X

Artwork by Madam X

Don’t Mess Around, Buy Art! By Tomas J. Benitez

I am a blessed man. There is nothing I want for Christmas or anything I need to make my holiday cheer better. I also suspect my favorite Christmas gift will come by way of the House Judiciary Committee in time for Christmas. But I love this time of the year for a variety of reasons, the most important is being able to check in with family and friends. Just sending a card or a text to tell someone they matter to you. It is as ever, more a reward to yourself than to them, it makes the other person feel good and it is a good thing to do.

I no longer stress too much about getting the right person the right gift, now I just buy them what I want and rely on the old adage, it’s the thought that counts. Much of my contented state has been reached due to limited resources the past few years, my situation fosters humility and frugality, but also offers the chance to make peace with myself. Can’t spend it if I ain’t got it, deal. Here, here’s what you get. Deal. (AND, inspired by all the art and art craft I see, I often makes something and give it away, knowing that no matter how bad it is, and I make really bad art, the recipient has to accept it and not be able to return it in for store credit. Deal.) I have been known to do my Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve at the local 7-11, but these days, I select gifts that are meaningful, unique and fun. I buy art and art craft.

Okay, so nobody is getting the Degas this holiday season, I am only a few million short, but there is still a realm of possibilities available. Most of the artists I know are very pragmatic, offering high end and low end goodies, all of which have value because an artist made them. None of these items come with a 2 for 1 door buster coupon at a mega store, no. And sure, if the kid wants an action toy, get them an action toy, understood. But there is great value in buying art. First, you support an artist. Second, you are investing in something that will increase in value rather than get worn out or discarded. And third, you are buying art. That makes you smart, sophisticated and totally cool, although there are some folks at the family gathering that may look at you as the odd duck relative.

I work at a handicap, for jewelry in all forms seems to be the best buy during the holidays. But I do not know jewelry at all. Several ex-wives and several girlfriends have all made faces at gifts of jewelry I have made in the past. I simply have no knack for it. I think the glow in the dark Frida Kahlo earrings looks cool, then, no, my friend makes a face like an ex-wife, not good. So I forego jewelry. But I admire the jewelry makers and those who support them.

I love kitsch, especially Chicano kitsch. A lucha libre wrestling figure with a Dodgers mask, my idea of the perfect gift. A Virgen de Guadalupe in a Wonder Woman rig, makes me love her even more eh. I love things made of glass, and wood, and things like that. SO I buy them and give them away, everybody wins. Hand-made artists books are also my personal kryptonite.

Plaza de la Raza has an art sale December 7, 8, 6-10pm. Frank Romero is having a sale. Avenue 50 is having a sale and artists standing by, RockRose is a good stop, as are stores in East LA to Eagle Rock, Mi Vida is a must, plus fun places up and down Figueroa. Did you know Chicken Boy has a store? You can also reach the artist by looking them up on facebook or their website. I bought great things from Daniel Gonzalez just by hitting him up. Buy that kid the doll they saw on television, but buy your friends and family some art. And Merry Christmas!

(Tomas Benitez was born and raised in front of a TV set in East L.A.  His film SALSA: The Movie was produced in 1988. He has also written for Fred Roos, Starz Encore Films, CBS, and several other producers. In recent years he has written extensively about East Los Angeles including an ongoing, online saga about his home life, titled  “The Gully”. Several of his stories about East L.A. and The Gully have been published by Blue Heron in an anthology of new American fiction, and he is editing two additional collections to be published soon. Tomas is the former Executive Director of Self Help Graphics & Art.)

Illustration by Brian Mallman

Illustration by Brian Mallman

From our good friend Brian Mallman.

Brian recently wrote a great article and posted it over at medium.com. It’s a holiday oriented story so read it soon, while it’s still timely. And read it again another time.

Coming Soon!

Los Angeles is the art capital of the world. LA Art News wants to celebrate this. We are born from NELAart News, and are expanding to cover the rest of our fine city. Starting in January the two parts of the newspaper will be both LA Art News in the front, and NELAart News in the second section. We still love NELA, and will be very focused on it but we're spreading our range to assist all of you in finding and participating in art. Live art!!