Santa Monica’s Essentia Showroom presents two New York street
artists, Westgard and FLOrE. The artists have shown their work together before
and will be showcased in a two-person show named “CALIFORNIA Dreaming.”
For this exhibition, ten of each artist’s solo works will be on view. He said he is looking forward to showing at Santa Monica’s Essentia showroom. This is my first full show in California. I will be flying in a few days before the show with a one way ticket.” When asked if he thought LA artists would be very different, he answered, “No I think artists are the same all over the world. Their work may look different.”
For this exhibition, ten of each artist’s solo works will be on view. He said he is looking forward to showing at Santa Monica’s Essentia showroom. This is my first full show in California. I will be flying in a few days before the show with a one way ticket.” When asked if he thought LA artists would be very different, he answered, “No I think artists are the same all over the world. Their work may look different.”
Well known for his “Love” themes on the streets of New York
City, Westgard has an eclectic yet positive energy in his art. He talks about
his work…“The Love tag is so simple, but powerful…People need it, they take to
it. They email me and tell me how it helped them through a hard day or just
made them smile while walking by.”
Westgard is a fan of painter, Johan Vermeer. One of his works entitled 1665, was inspired by Vermeer’s Girl with the Pearl Earring. “I have
always loved this image. Vermeer is a master,” said Westgard. “As I find/create
my own style I enjoy "remaking" these classic images as well as
creating brand new pieces.”
1665,
30 x 40 inches, Acrylic and latex on canvas, 2015
Westgard has shown his work in several pop up shows in NYC,
Manhattan Proper, Refinery Rooftop, Salon de Lafayette, etc. In LA he has shown
at Gallery 38 and NWO Gallery.
Another street artist, FLOrE said he believes we (as a society) are pushed into stereotypes. He tries to avoid that at all costs with his art. He explains, “I try to see things simple, but you can get lost very easily in the monotonous pattern of life. Hi-def, multi-colored filters, or distractions, can mask reality; I want to deconstruct and expose those layers for what they really are, not just what they seem.”
When asked what he was most excited about, he answered, “To
show my work it has been a while since anyone has seen my new work and it super
rad and I’m so proud of it i cant wait to see the people react.”
FLOrE has shown in both NYC and LA, at venues such as Gallery 69, Arlington grocery, Manhatan Proper. Studio Bancs, Gallery 38, Stone Malone, NWO Gallery, lab art and more.
The two artists first me Lou D’Elia (curator), at Essentia
Showroom. They happened to be visiting from New York when walked into artist
reception.
D’Elia is also an artist in his own right. He is an
accomplished assemblage artist as well a busy curator. He will also be featured
in a documentary running nationally on PBS entitled BREAKING THROUGH THE
CLOUDS, which begins on August 1st.
He explains, “It tells the story about the first women's national air
derby that took off from Santa Monica in August 1929 and concluded in Cleveland
Ohio. Will Rogers dubbed the race "The Powder Puff
Derby." I am interviewed/featured because I am the custodian of the
Estate of Pancho Barnes, who was an aviatrix and participant.
seewww.PanchoBarnes.com and www.Happybottomridingclub.com
andwww.breakingthroughtheclouds.com“CALIFORNIA Dreaming” opens on Saturday, July 11, with an artist reception from 6-10pm at Essentia Showroom, 2430 Main Street in Santa Monica; 310-450-7819; http://www.myessentia.com/;
For more information about Westward, see http://loveforthepeople.co/ or FLOrE, visit http://Thatartistflore.com
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