Time for the Weekend Update...PIck of the Week is the 18th Street Arts Center's Celebration this Saturday.

There were just too many events to choose from this weekend, but these are my favorites…Be sure to stop by my PIck of the Week, 18th Street Arts Center's Celebration this Saturday.

There's lots going on here and you won't want to miss it. First we have ArtNight: Pacific Standard Time, which includes, Art, music, poetry and more. Don't forget, those yummy cocktails...too!

Also tonight, a new exhibition opens, honoring artists who were central to the alternative artist space movement in Southern California since the early 1970’s.

Be sure to stop into this show entitled, Collaboration Labs: Southern California Artists and the Artist Space Movement. Curated by Alex Donis, this exhibition is part of the Getty Foundation's innitiative, Pacific Standard Time: Art in LA, 1945–1980.

This landmark exhibition features the works of Rachel Rosenthal, Barbara T. Smith (see image above left, nude sit In, performance and installation) , EZTV, Electronic Café International as well as Suzanne Lacy and Leslie Labowitz-Starus (see image left, In Mourning and In Rage, media performance)

 

See Saturday Events for more details.

Friday, September 23^rd

Remember, there’s some great music events happening at Figtree’s Café and South…..check the Restaurant/Bar Page for more info   http://www.ktrpromo.com/p/restaurantsbars.html

If you need an art fix, in Beverly Hills, Gagosian Gallery presents an exhibition of sculpture and drawings by Robert Therrien, his first in Los Angeles for more than a decade. Opening reception: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Gagosian Gallery is located at 456 North Camden Drive in Beverly Hills, 90210; 310.271-9400; http://www.gagosian.com/

Nearby, stop in 1301PE which celebrates the work of Uta Barth with an artist reception. 1301PE located at 6150 Wilshire Blvd., 90048 323 938-5822; Opening reception 6:00 pm - 8:0 pm.  http://www.1301pe.com/

Also in the same area, enjoy a group show at ltd los angeles, located at 7561 Sunset Blvd., 90046.

Opening reception starts at 7:00 pm, and ending at 9:00 pm.  Artists such as John Divola , Christopher Michlig (see image), Karthik Pandian and more. http://www.ltdlosangeles.com

Since you’re so close…Michael Benevento has two openings at two galleries both on Sunset. Polly Apfelbaum (see image), a fellow New Yorker, who also seems like she needs to work out some stuff by this image (hey, I’m just sayin.’ The artist reception will be held from 6:00- 8:00 pm at 7556 Sunset Blvd., 90046.

Is that a freaky image? or What? Mama's gonna toss her cookies!

Then at the other gallery, located at 7578 Sunset Blvd., 90046 they’ve got another NY based artist David Scanavino, who’s site specific sculpture will be featured. The artist reception runs from 7:00 pm till 9:00 pm. http://www.beneventolosangeles.com

Or how bout' some FREE Jazz....?  The 2011 Angel City Jazz Festival kicks off its 4th season as a part of Jazz at LACMA with a special double bill.

The evening begins with the winners of the first annual Angel City Jazz Young Artist Competition, followed by eclectic pianist Larry Karush’s Quintet, a world music infused ensemble featuring Randy Gloss and Joey DeLeon on percussion, Chris Colangelo on bass, and Danilo Lozano on flute.

Admission is FREE. LACMA is located at 5905 Wilshire Blvd., 90036. 323 857-6000 http://www.lacma.org/event/angel-city-jazz-festival

Saturday, September 24^th

Now before we get to the Pick of the Week, come enjoy a day of art and music at the TARFEST MUSIC FESTIVAL which happens today from 12 pm - 6 pm at Hancock Park - 5801 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036

There will be a free concert at the Historic La Brea Tar Pits featuring live bands and Everest (see pix), live painting, art installations, and environmental sculpture.

The art exhibition is curated by Merry Karnowsky Gallery, LA Art Machine, and Los Angeles Art Association. There will also be a TarFest Lounge and Food Trucks spread throughout the park!  Bring the kids for the childrens's art making tents (12:00 - 2:30) http://www.tarfest.com/music.html

Back to my PICK OF THE WEEK….at 18^th Street Arts Center. A new exhibition opens, honoring artists who were central to the alternative artist space movement in Southern California since the early 1970’s. Be sure to stop into this show entitled, Collaboration Labs: Southern California Artists and the Artist Space Movement. Curated by Alex Donis, this exhibition is part of the Getty Foundation's innitiative, Pacific Standard Time: Art in LA, 1945–1980.

This landmark exhibition features the works of Rachel Rosenthal, Barbara T. Smith (last photo on left), EZTV, Electronic Café International as well as Suzanne Lacy and Leslie Labowitz-Starus.

This exhibition uses these five artists/artist groups’ as case studies to trace how their collaborative practices and alternative cultural infrastructures functioned like laboratories for testing the political possibilities of experimental artist-run spaces.

These artist practices and the spaces that hosted and fostered them were intimately related to the politics of the time (i.e. gay liberation, civil rights, freedom of information and feminism). Collaboration Labs demonstrates that much of the Los Angeles time-based work in the 1970’s grew out of and fed into California artist space movement, which increasingly shaped the landscape of post-war LA art. See image above Artists: Sherrie Rabinowitz and Kit Galloway

The evening features the Indonesian-inspired performing arts company Bali and Beyond; an artist marketplace; open studio visits with current international visiting artists. I always love the chance to wander through an open studio and see where all the art starts… This place always has a fun party, as well as complimentary cocktails. Food Tucks too.

And there's even more...Highways Performance Space, presents The All Stars of NonViolet Communication, a blue vaudevillian poem in three parts that unleashes the vitriol of four dead, under-appreciated gay entertainers of the 1970s. www.18thStreet.org

Since I'm a chick from NYC....I'm wonderin' where the blip is the Elysian Valley, well come to find out it's where they celebrate Frogtown! Say what?...I'm talkin’ the 6th annual Frogtown Artwalk which is happening today, Saturday from 4 p.m. to 11 pm along Blake Ave., between Colidge and Rich St. Just walk along the river.

Elysian Valley lies on the edge of the L.A. River and is home to an eclectic mix of artists. Hey, it's like an inland version of Venice....I got it. 


This weekend, visitors will have a chance to explore the neighborhood and wander along the pedestrian and bike path that runs along the river in a self guided tour of over thirty artist studios and lofts.

Though I’ve never been, I've heard that the Frogtown Arttwalk is like one big street party, with music food and music.

This year a local factory owner commissioned a mural covering three walls of his building.

Its christening will feature a display by the Elysian Valley lowriders, a car collecting group. NOMAD studios, an art collective will feature demonstrations of silk screening and printing.

Conceptual artist Jim Piatt (see image, left) will unveil an installation designed to produce drinking water from the L.A. River. Cool! Enjoy live music, a hula hoop contest (ooh, I may have to complete)  and a juried art show too. Local food trucks, as well as Frogtown’s own “Taco’s by Kevin” will be serving refreshments. Sounds fun…I’m goin’!

You can download maps from their website. Maps will also be available at the open studios and galleries. 323 664 0202 http://www.frogtownarts.com/

If you prefer Santa Monica, there are a couple of openings at Bergamot Station, located at 2525 Michigan Ave.

The Rose Gallery (G-5) celebrates the work of Jocelyn Lee with an artist reception.

The event runs from 6:00 pm til 8:00 pm. 310.264.8440; http://www.rosegallery.net/

 

Then at 6:30 pm, William Turner (E-1) presents artist Fred Eversley: Four Decades. This exhibition is part of Pacific Standard Time. Eversley is an incredible artist.

I have been to his studio in Venice…Brilliant. This will be a fabulous exhibition.

Opening Reception 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm. http://www.williamturnergallery.com/

 

While you’re there…pop into The Robert Berman Gallery (C-2) to see the show Paid to Play Illustrating Los Angeles: 1945 – 1985.

This exhibition features artists who earned their living as illustrators. This exhibiition offers some incredible, pin-ups and collectables.

 

Paid to Play is the first of several exhibitions to appear at The Robert Berman Gallery which fall under the umbrella of Pacific Standard Time. This unprecedented collaboration, initiated by the Getty, brings together more than sixty cultural institutions from across Southern California for six months beginning October 2011 to tell the story of the birth of the L.A. art scene.  See image by Palombi.

It opened last week, but it’s a fabulous show, you gotta see it. http://www.robertbermangallery.com/

 

Also in Santa Monica, Obsolete will be having an artist reception for Marianne Kolb and Christina Bothwell.

Obsolete is a funky store, located at 222 Main St. in Santa Monica.

The opening runs from 6:00 pm till 9:00 pm. 310 399-0024; http://www.obsoleteinc.com/

 

Also, there are several openings in Culver City….




The Whole 9 Gallery offers a group show featuring artists Alexandria Douziech (see image), Stephen James, Amanda Mears, Jonathan Hart and more from 7:00 pm till 10:00 pm. The Whole 9 Gallery is located at 6101 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232; http://www.thewhole9.com/

Corey Helford Gallery features new works by internationally-collected California artist Nataly (Kukula) Abramovitch. Be sure to climb upstairs to see digital artist Natalie Shau. Always a fun party here. http://www.coreyhelfordgallery.com/

Parker Jones will also be having an artist reception for Rob Thom from 5:00 pm til 7:00 pm. Parker Jones is located at 8545 Washington Blvd., 90232. 213.618.6464

http://www.parkerjonesgallery.com/

Sunday, September 25^th

 

The Abbot Kinney Festival is here BABY! This is such a fun event, I’ve played it many times…the whole community comes out. The Abbot Kinney festival will take place from 10:00 am till 6:00 pm and runs from Venice Blvd to Brooks Ave.

There are three musical stages and special food courts with food trucks and seating areas. I will be out there doing some serious shopping. Every year I go crazy….shop till you drop…baby! http://abbotkinney.org/

BE AWARE that the "Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Triathlon" is happening the SAME day as the AK Festival. Duh? Who's idea was that?

The Triathlon starts in the water off Venice Blvd. parking lot and then travels down Venice Blvd. to downtown Los Angeles.which will close Venice Blvd., on the same day.

Thanks goodness it will happen beofre 11:00 am, but for visitors coming to Venice, the only place you can cross Venice Blvd. will be at the San Diego Freeway! Visitors to the Festival from south of Venice Blvd., so locals, get out there early to support the exhibitors. I'll be there early, lots of shopping to do.

Pop by Bohemian Exchange, who will also have a booth. They always have great prices, trendy designs, exceptional clothing, jewelry and accessories.  I have been a customer of this store for years…Wonderful stuff.

Bohemian Exchange is located at 1358 Abbot Kinney right off California, 90291. http://on.fb.me/ob9r0y

 

Also, you’ll want to visit Viola living Jewels for amazing jewelry.

And..., if you love leather bags…gotta check out Fahmina who will be sharing a booth with Viola. Fahmina creates plush waist bags that class up the very functional fanny pack up. These are simply gorgeous. Turn them from a waist bag to a clutch…she’s got lots of new ones too. http://www.fahmina.com/

 

Be sure to stop by Very Venice Art and Design Gallery, who will have a booth in front of their gallery (1629 Abbot Kinney Blvd)…..with fantastic deals, live painting and more…   

Very Venice Art & Design Gallery is a combination of a co-up, and a gallery together, with intensive marketing and monthly PR and events. Owner, Dary Rees, who has a background in business and PR is the perfect person to run a gallery such as this. Dary is also an artist herself as well as a Venice resident.

The gallery features original art, and hand crafted merchandise by artists such as Fahmina, Linda Fenster, Lisa Goldfarb, Outi, Dary Rees, Rachel Rubenstein, Karen Saviskas, Felice Willat and so many others. http://www.veryveniceart.com/

The anna bruce store will also be open in conjunction with performances happening at Robin's Sculpture Garden.  They will be showing the work of local artists. 1632 Abbot Kinney.

Other local businesses participating are Ananda, The Brig, The Juicy Leaf, Kolu Clothing, Ohm Salon, Zingara Trading and more. See their website for a full listing. http://abbotkinney.org/

Have fun and enjoy the festival, the music, the food and of course the great shopping!

 

Or if you don’t want to deal with the crowds….At the Beacon Arts Center, enjoy an informal panel discussion with exhibition curators, Artists of The Optimist's Parking Lot will be present for informal Q&A at the closing reception. Panel discussion starts at 3:00 pm. Ihop will be cooking up pancakes! .

This event will be held at the Beacon Arts Building, located at 808 N. La Brea Ave, in Inglewood, 90302, from 7:00pm till 10:00pm.

 

Special Event....Monday, September 26^th

If you are from Venice, you may have heard that Ron Munsey recently passed away in his sleep on Sept 3rd. He was the house photographer and a neighbor to The Talking Stick. Tonight, there will be a memorial evening along with Venice MoZaic, DJ NOJ, Nickie Black and The VEniceVille Players and a variety of special presentations around the Open Mic night hosted by Roger Houston. Sign-ups begin at 6:30pm.

If you would like to share something that night, please come early if you can, and sign up. Or send us a note on FB so that we can be sure to include you in the line-up. RIP Ron Munsey 3.7.1944 – 9.3.2011

The Talking Stick Coffee Lounge is located at 1411 Lincoln Blvd. Venice 90291. Free admission, 7:00 pm till 10:00 pm. 310.450.6052. http://www.thetalkingstick.net/

Have a wonderful weekend....and try something new!!!