Category Archives: contemporary art

Sometimes Size Does Not Matter

November 7, 2007

I’ve been wanting to see this show ever since I found out it was going to be at San Diego State. I missed that boat, but luckily for me, the show was also traveling to good ole’ Cal State Los Angeles. I’ve never been to Cal State LA, and I must say, their Luckman Arts complex is gorgeous. Me gusta mucho. I love how accessible it is from the parking structure, and how easy it is to find from the freeway. Two thumbs up from a tourist’s perspective. (Everytime I go to LA I feel like a tourist). So anyway, going on as we speak…

The Graphic Imperative: International Posters for Peace, Social Justice & the Environment, 1965-2005
Libertidad Para Angela Davis, Beltran Felix, 1971

Where?
Cal State Los Angeles
Luckman Gallery
5151 State University Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90032-8116
(323) 343-6604

When?
October 27-December 15, 2007
Gallery Hours: Mon-Thurs. and Sat. 12-5pm

How much?
FREE, except for the dollar that you’ll pay for parking… which is a bargain for parking in LA.

I STILL don’t get it.
What initially drew me to this exhibit? Two words: Guerilla Girls! I love seeing their pieces at different exhibits. They’re so inspiring, I would never pass up an opportunity to experience their work up close. The aura of powerful women is always palpable. I know their pieces are posters, and it’s not exactly the same as viewing a painting, because it’s not one of a kind… but I think that’s what’s so great about this exhibit, and about the graphic arts in general. Graphic art, for me, has so much cultural influence and resonates loudly irregardless of which form it takes; whether it’s a billboard, graffiti, a sticker, or in this case, a poster. It’s a piece of art that is utilized in the mainstream of everyday and in turn may be discussed outside of the political arena, making these issues everyone’s problem instead of just the government’s. It’s kind of sneaky if you think about it. We are advertising a social movement like we’re advertising a consumer good. If you capture someone’s attention, the product becomes more popular, and then more people will jump on the bandwagon. Well, that’s in the utopia for social movements in my mind, but I guess in the real world it’s a little more difficult.

The Graphic Imperative exhibits 111 posters that have served to create awareness of social issues or injustices that existed, and in turn created a discourse to try to make change happen. The exhibit includes posters from the past 40 years; four decades that were critical to many issues such as unfair labor, racism, violence against women, AIDS, the environment, and many more.

The Luckman Art Gallery at CSLA is pretty small space, but an average size for a University art gallery. Although the exhibit is small its message is anything but.

Also posted in 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, activism, exhibit, feminism, gallery, graphic art, los angeles, posters – 0 Comments

Kids + Abstraction = Funny

August 28, 2007

So what is better than experiencing contemporary dance? Experiencing contemporary dance with a bunch of 5-12 year olds. Yup. That’s what I did on Sunday. I went to the RKDC open house to watch the preview piece for the upcoming Museum Project. Best exchange between two 7-year-old dancers:

Dancer #1: This is weird.
Dancer #2: I think it’s because it’s for a museum.

Oh kids. So cute. Anyway, here’s the info. Check it out if you can. (FYI: the piece will be performed by professional, non-adolescent dancers.)

The Museum Project

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbjTFsR1dOw

Where?
Torrance Art Museum
3320 Civic Center Dr.
Torrance, CA 90503
When?
Sept. 28 & 29 @ 8pm
Sept. 28 @ 2pm
How much?
$20
I STILL don’t get it.
This will be a site specific performance at the new Torrance Art Museum. So basically you’re killing two birds with one stone. You’re 1.) experiencing a once in a lifetime performance and 2.) visiting a brand new art space. Not too shabby.

Also posted in dance, museum, torrance – 0 Comments

Check it out…

August 14, 2007

Life Between Painting
Life Between Painting

Where?
6767 Bright Ave.
Whittier, CA 90601
562.696.9493
When?
August 11 – September 1, 2007
Gallery Hours: Tues.-Sat. 11:30am-9pm
How much?
FREE
I STILL don’t get it.
This show focuses on the pieces of four artists from the California College of Arts and Crafts: Ryan Martin, Nohemi Espinoza, Ramiro Hernandez, and Mick Farrell. Each with his/her unique perspective and concentration, this show exhibits merely a peak at the inner psyches of these distinct talents. From the abstract layered compositions Hernandez presents and explains to be reminiscent of his childhood to the almost surreal perfection of Martin’s portraits which exude a type of nostalgia for the beauty of innocence. Espinoza’s mixed media works express the juxtaposition of naivete and perversion while Farrell’s ink renderings add a dark humor which he explains are influenced by a mixture of found objects such as “a yearbook from the 1970s.”

Overall this was a really fun show to see. The Bluebird Art House is quaint and intimate, which makes for a great experience. The artists were all great to talk to, and my Aunt and I had fun arguing whether the abstract shape in one of Espinoza’s pieces was a pelvis or intestines. Even though the space was so small, I ended up sticking around for a couple of hours (4 total). The people were great, the art was great, and the DJ was great.

So, my camera ran out of battery basically right when I got there so I was only able to take one picture:
Hey DJ keep playin that song…

Yup. That’s the DJ. :o P Looks like you’ll have to go to The Bluebird Art House yourself if you want to see any art. But I must say, the DJ was pretty amazing. Never have I heard a DJ go from playing the Fugees to retro Indian music to Salsa. Talk about a treat for the ears. All in all the evening proved to be an amazing one and absolutely inspirational to the fans of art (–> Me.)

Also posted in exhibit, gallery, student art – 0 Comments

“We were known as the baby ballerinas.”

July 31, 2007

Lately I have been reading a lot about European (mainly Russian) graphic design history. And in doing so stumbled upon posters for the Ballet Russes, and thought to myself “isn’t that documentary in my Netflix queue?” And indeed it was.

I really appreciate the fact that some amazing people decided to film the Ballet Russes performances. The concept of dance being a momentary and dynamic experience is a concept that has always left me feeling conflicted. Dance along with theater and other performance arts pieces (such as the Happenings of the 1950s & 60s or Fluxus art), can be performed forever (in theory), like Nutcracker ballet for example. But each performance and each combination of dancers and audience experiences are unique and differ. These performances are so valuable and precious because they, most of the time, are not filmed or really documented in a manner that makes them permanent, like a painting or a photo. They are not captured in a way that can be enjoyed by the masses forever, and in some aspects it is sad, but I think that in other ways, this is what makes the performances so magical.

It’s amazing that the filmmakers found all of this priceless footage, all of these amazingly talented 70-90 year olds and made this documentary. Although not a dance history buff, I am a fan of dance, and an ex-ballerina, err kind of. My most critically acclaimed** performance was dancing to the song “Hi-ho!” from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs when I was 12; my farewell piece, as I then retired from my 3-year dance career a few months later due to the inability to do the splits. :o P Enough about me, this film was well edited, well researched and full of richly descriptive and delightful stories about traveling the world to bring ballet to the people. I highly recommend it, if you haven’t seen it already.
Nijinsky Poster

So, like Center Stage or Dirty Dancing, this film made me want to dance. Like, as soon as possible. It also made me feel really out of shape compared to those 80-year-olds in leotards with those ever impressive plies and releves. In essence it made me think about the company that my friend dances with, and their upcoming open house, which I will probably check out… or actually maybe I’ll just go and watch. :o ) I’m kinda rusty.

Regina Klenjoski Dance Company’s Open House
Regina Klenjoski Dance Company

Where?
Torrance Cultural Arts Center, Studio I
3330 Civic Center Dr.
Torrance, CA 90503
When?
Sunday, August 26, 2007
1-2:30pm: Modern Dance Technique with Regina Klenjoski
3-4:30pm: Showcase and sample classes
How much?
FREE
I STILL don’t get it.
The RKDC has performed in numerous venues and universities throughout the United States since opening its doors in 1993. Klenjoski’s pieces often explore her fascination with the human experience in a contemporary society. Utilizing partnering to convey diverse relationships in her pieces, Klenjoski’s clever voice brings a unique element to the world of contemporary dance.
This open house will create an opportunity for anyone in the community who has a love for dance to sample her classes and get a feel for her take on contemporary movement and choreography.

** not actually critically acclaimed… unless my parents count as critics, in which case, the performance was acclaimed.

Also posted in dance, film – 2 Comments

Sometimes I wish I had been born 50 years ago…

July 13, 2007

so I could have experienced the 1960s and 1970s. All of the intense movements and changes happened then (in my opinion). From the Weathermen to Womanhouse in Los Angeles to the creation of a punk fashion culture (ahem…Vivienne Westwood). Lately it feels as if a lot of museums are showing works from that culture-shifting time period. And it makes me jealous. Don’t get me wrong, I’m proud of my generation, and the fact that I was able to participate in the ongoing third wave feminist movement (or tried to do my part, at least); I would really have liked to be at the forefront of all of that change. And I would have LOVED to see Elvis in concert. Damn.

Ok, end of the rant. But this brings me to the newest exhibit at our very own Orange County Museum of Art. I haven’t visited this museum since, oh, the John Waters: Change of Life exhibition which in my opinion was one of the best exhibits I have ever witnessed. John Waters is a hero indeed. But for the good year and a half since that show everything there has looked pretty boring, to be honest with you. Until now! ::cheers:: Opening this Sunday…

Art Since the 1960s: California Experiments

Vija Clemins, Eraser, 1967

Where?
Orange County Museum of Art
850 San Clemente Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660
When?
July 15th 2007- September 14, 2008
(Museum hours: Wed – Sun 11-5pm; Thurs 11-8pm)
How much?
Ten big ones.
I STILL don’t get it.
Well, this exhibit will highlight pieces from the museum’s permanent collection that focus on post 1960s contemporary art. What am I excited about? Of course seeing more of Eleanor Antin’s work. When I saw her Carving: A Traditional Sculpture piece at the WACK! exhibit a few months ago, I was incredibly moved. (The entire friggin exhibit was moving. It’s open for a few more days kids!!!) She makes the concept of crash-dieting over 36 days highly unglamorous and real juxtaposing the classic idea of a Greek sculptor chipping away excess marble to reveal an “inner beauty”.

I can go on forever about Antin, but there are handfuls of other artists to see at this contemporary exhibit. So go, and be sure to share your thoughts.

A Traditional Sculpture by Antin

Also posted in 1960s, 1970s, exhibit, feminism, museum, orange county – 1 Comment
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