Well it’s a crazy weekend….with so many art events. My Pick of the Week starts Saturday, the Santa Monica Auctions, an annual live public art auction at Bergamot Station in Santa Monica. This yearly event occurs in two sessions beginning on Saturday, June 18, 2011 at 6:00 pm continuing on Sunday, June 19, 2011 at 1:00 pm at the Bergamot Station in Santa Monica. So hop on over to this annual live public auction, it is always quite the scene featuring an open bar with food trucks and incredible installations. See below under Saturday Events for more details about the Santa Monica Auctions. I also have a full article about it on the Examiner, feel free to check it out http://exm.nr/iVrONW
Also don’t forget to Save the date, June 25th…. Sona Mirzaei, a brilliant artist, is set to show in a group exhibition at Seyhoun Gallery, in West Hollywood. The opening reception happens from 6:00 pm till 9:00 pm and will be a fabulous party! I will keep you posted. See my recent article in Singular City Magazine. http://bit.ly/m3pop3
Friday, June 17th
South, an amazing restaurant with delicious Southern food presents “Friday Night Lights” (out door BBQ and live music) Tonight, you can catch the Gumbo Brothers from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. 
Remember South has a great happy hour, yum! Starting at 3:00 pm and it runs till 8:00 pm. So get there hungry! South also offers drink specials too. $3 beer, ($10.00 pitchers) and $5 well drinks.South is located at 3001 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90403. (310) 828-9988; http://southsantamonica.com/.
Track 16 (C-1) offers a reception for filmmakers Alysa Nahmias and Benjamin Murray, co-directors of the documentary Unfinished Spaces. Their film follows the careers of three Cuban architects who designed what was to be the world's most spectacular and futuristic art school, the ISA, in Havana. This event runs from 7:30 pm till 9:00 pm. Track 16’s site boasts of music, mojitos, beer and Cuban food….hmm, sounds good, we’ll see. 310-264-4678; http://track16.com. 
Or in Venice, stop into the Talking Stick, Venice MoZaic is hosting their 9th annual "Summer Celebration" from 7pm on. There will be some awesome talent committed to this amazing evening! "Zebra Party" starts off the night off with their fantastic blend of Jazz, Funk, and Soul! The VeniceVille Players will be sharing their individual talents during this magical party. DJ Noj keeps the groove goin’. Nickie Black hosts this festive and FREE community gathering! 310.450.6052; www.thetalkingstick.net; Saturday, June 18th
Back to the Pick of the Week….The Santa Monica Auctions is hosting its annual summer live public art auction this weekend at Bergamot Station in Santa Monica, CA. Art is a wonderful investment and unlike real estate, the bank can’t take away. So hop on over to this annual live public auction, it is always quite the scene featuring an open bar with food trucks and incredible installations. This yearly event occurs in two sessions beginning on Saturday, June 18, 2011 at 6:00 pm continuing on Sunday, June 19, 2011 at 1:00 pm at the Bergamot Station in Santa Monica.
Santa Monica Auctions feature modern and contemporary works and showcases mid-career and established artists of all mediums including painting, photography, sculpture, drawing, multiples and prints. Artists included are Peter Alexander, Larry Bell, John Baldessari, Sean Cheetham, Guy Dill, James Doolin, Helen K. Garber, Dennis Hopper(image to right), Man Ray, Ed Ruscha (see image,above left ), Andy Warhol and many more. An unusual piece of functional art is offered by artist, Helen K. Garber (see image, below). Her creation dubbed Miss Lucy was born out of the re-use of a 1955 Shasta 5th Wheel Trailer which was found stripped and abandoned in the forest in Idyllwild CA. Duce, the renowned graffiti writer who had collaborated with Helen on their Night View Collaboration the year before, created a 4-sided mural depicting the state of the US economy in 2010.Miss Lucy has garnered much attention as she traveled to Bergamot Station for Month of Photography's Opening Night 2010 and then later to Pershing Square to be the centerpiece of the Autumn Lights Festival, 2010. Miss Lucy is now up for auction.
Helen K. Garber is known for her night urban landscapes taken in cities such as Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Rome and Venice, Italy. Her images can be found in the permanent collection of museums, corporations and private collectors. For more info, see her website at www.helenkgarber.com.Inspired by the guerilla auctions of New York City’s East Village in the early 1980s, Santa Monica Auctions is noted for receiving record prices for works by Banksy, Pettibon, Ruscha and Warhol as well as selling other gems for a fraction of their current market value, allowing new buyers bid alongside avid art collectors.
Now if you do go to Bergamot, you should start here at Craig Krull Gallery (B-3), from 4:00 pm -6:00 pm for an early opening of “Phranc of California” (see image) and Larry Cohen’s exhibit, “Views of the Coast” . 310.828.6410; http://www.craigkrullgallery.com.
William Turner Gallery which is also at Bergamot (E-1), will be having an artist reception for two shows, Arron Sturgeon: Resampled and Mary Koneff: Moments in Between. The Opening reception runs from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. www.williamturnergallery.com
Santa Monica offers more events such as this fun art scene at 18th Street Arts, who will be presenting a performance installation. They always have fun events here. These final two exhibitions are from its Legacy theme, Jerri Allyn and Inez S. Bush’s “Debating Through the Arts: Performance Art Event 3 project and York Chang’s second life project. 18th Street Arts is located at 1639 18th Street 90404, and the event runs from 7:00 pm-10:00pm. (310) 453-3711; http://www.18thstreet.org.
Another fun event in Santa Monica,, deyermond art + books, 2801 Main Street continues with their FREE concert series….with performances by Musica de la Gente and Kissing Cousins,. They always put on a fun party here, Run from 8:30 to 10:30 with free booz. (310) 450-4400; www.deyermondbooks.com.
If you prefer Venice, the owners of Dannys, Canal club and James’ Beach are bringing back an old tradition to celebrate the Summer Solstice. (Now I am NOT sure how organized the parade will be, but hey, how bad can it be when it ends up in a bar, right?) Starting at 3:00 pm the Neptune Parade runs from the breakwater at Venice Beach, past the Skate Park, across the Boardwalk to the Venice Sign on Windward, where the Start of Summer will be proclaimed and King Neptune & his Royal Court will be crowned.
Then at 5:00 pm Danny's offers live acoustic soul and funk rock music by GAEA. Happy Hour specials until 7:00 pm and 1/2 off drinks for anyone who dresses up for the parade.
Then at 9:00 pm - Neptune Ball moves to the Canal Club, which always has the best parties, with live DJ and drink specials all night long! Wear your best Summer time beach attire - there will be a costume contest with great prizes!
In the Hollywood/Hancock Park area, check out these two wonderful galleries which are right next to each other….so park and hang for a bit.
Jack Rutberg Fine Arts will be having an artist reception for “George Condo: a collection of etchings” and “Summer Group Exhibition: paintings, prints, drawings & sculpture”. The opening reception runs from 5:00 pm-8:00 pm and continues through September 3, 2011. I saw a preview of this show and it is simply amazing. Jack Rutberg Fine Arts is located at 357 North La Brea Avenue in Los Angeles. 323 938-5222; www.jackrutbergfinearts.com. 
Carporale/Bleicher Gallery presents FLOOD, featuring dynamic new works by Australian artist Josh Rosenthal. A portion of the exhibition proceeds will benefit Homeboy Industries. I also saw a preview of Josh's show and it was quite thrilling. Opening reception is from 6:00 pm till 10:00 pm. Carporale/Bleicher Gallery is located at 355 N. La Brea Ave 90036. 310 237-6423; http://caporalebliecher.com. Or head to Culver City and drop into LeBasse Projects who will be presenting the opening reception for Shark Toof’s latest show, “Nature will Always Win”. LeBasse Projects (6023 Washington Blvd. 90232) Opening reception runs from 7:00 pm-10:00 pm. 310.558.0200; www.lebasseprojects.com.
Down the street, Thinkspace (6009 Washington Blvd., 90232), will be open as well and always has nice events…From 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, enjoy the opening reception for Jen Lobo and Scott Radke(see image). 310.403.8549; http://www.thinkspacegallery.com. 
The George Billis Gallery is also having an opening reception for their group show featuring Todd Willamson, Joe Davidson and Meeson Pae Yang. Reception runs from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. George Billis Gallery LA at 2716 S. La Cienega Blvd, 90034. 310 838-3438; www.georgebillis.com/. 
Then stop by Las Cienegas Projects, which is open a bit later (till 10:00 pm). They will be offering an opening reception for two exhibitions, Sayre Gomez and J. Patrick Walsh III: ZZYZX and Zoe Crosher: LA-LIKE:Transgressing the Pacific, from 7:00 pm till 10:00 pm. See image by Zoe Crosher,Transgressing the Pacific: Where Natalie Wood Disappeared off Catalina Island, from the seriesLA-LIKE, 2008. Las Cienegas Projects is located at 2045 S. La Cienega Blvd. http://lascienegasprojects.wordpress.com/.Sunday, June 19th
If you have not been to “Grand Performances” it’s a wonderful Free event that happens in Downtown L.A.’s California Plaza. Grand Performances’ offers incredible performers, all established singers, dancers and musicians in this free performing arts summer series. Tonight’s show is Embers, A jazz Opera in Poems. Librettist Terry Wolverton pairs up with composer David Ornette Cherry for a concert reading of a jazz opera that fuses world music, hip hop grooves, song and spoken word.. Directed by Michael John Garces, Embers spins an unforgettable tale of forgiveness and redemption. Show starts at 8:00 pm. http://www.grandperformances.org/en/gp/events/2011-overview.html
Back in Venice, The Solstice party continues today from 2pm-6pm - Start of Summer Tea Dance at Canal Club with live DJ, drink specials, and Bottomless Summer BBQ! Dance the afternoon away!
Then this Tuesday 6/21 is the Actual Start of Summer! Enjoy Summer Solstice Celebrations at James' Beach, Canal Club, and Danny's. Drink Specials.
No comments:
Post a Comment