SANTA MONICA AUCTIONS Hosts Its Annual Auction...June 5th, 2016!

SANTA MONICA AUCTIONS presents its annual auction for 2016 on Sunday, June 5^th 2016. SANTA MONICA AUCTIONS has been independently owned and operated since 1984 and offers unusual and well-known artworks by both emerging and established artists.

Raymond Pettibon
No Title (I stole my sister boyfriend), 1984
Original artwork used for Sonic Youthss album "Goo" in 1990
Ink on paper
Signed and dated in ink on verso
Sheet: 10.5 x 8.5 inches; Framed: 13.25 x 11.375 inches
Estimate: $20,000/$30,000

Unlike other auction houses Santa Monica auctions accept rare, and important artworks up until the day of the auction. This is different than most auction houses since most print catalogues much earlier and stop accepting works at least a week prior to the auction. Whether you are new to art or an established collector, the SANTA MONICA AUCTIONS offers an opportunity like no other.

Robert Berman, owner of the SANTA MONICA AUCTIONS said, “One fascinating work that will be up for auction is the original drawings by the artist Raymond Pettibon (originally an LA artist, now a New York artist), the drawing was created in 1984 but was later chosen for the cover of Sonic Youth’s infamous album entitled ‘Goo.’ Sonic Youth was one of the seminal art and music groups to come out of the punk rock era. “The Raymond Pettibon is arguably a holy grail by Pettibon. Music lovers will likely recognize this and understand how great and rare this drawing is,” said Berman.

“Another exciting work up for auction is the Robert Heinecken portfolio,” continued the art dealer. ”The Heineken portfolio is a rare suite that includes twelve cibachrome photograms and a suite of twenty five lithographs, all by the infamous Robert Heineken.”

Highlights of the annual auction include works by renowned artists such as: Peter Alexander, Charles Arnoldi, Don Bachardy, Banksy, Jean Michel Basquiat, Billy Al Bengston, David Bowie, Judy Chicago, George Condo, Laddie John Dill, Ned Evans,  Shepard Fairey, Sam Francis,  Joe Goode, Robert Graham, Robert Heinecken, Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Mapplethorpe, Ed Moses, Helmut Newton, Raymond Pettibon,  Pablo Picasso, Alex Prager, Robert Rauschenberg, Cindy Sherman, Andy Warhol, and many more.

SANTA MONICA AUCTIONS is open everyday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Stop by to view works to be auctioned off at both the A-5 and B-7 galleries. On Saturday, June 4^th, enjoy an auction preview talk by Robert Beman. Visit the website online to see the full catalogue. 

Ed Moses
Nambe #8 , 1987-97
Oil and acrylic on canvas
Signed and dated in ink on verso
72 x 60 inches
Provenance: Brian Gross Gallery, San Francisco; LA Louver, Venice CA, tag on verso
Estimate: $30,000/$50,000

On Sunday, June 5th, from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (possibly later), don’t miss the SANTA MONICA AUCTIONS, which will be held in between the B-7 Gallery and A5 Gallery at Bergamot Station Arts Center (‪2525 Michigan Ave., Santa Monica). There will be both online and live phone bidding as well. One day before the auction, on Saturday, June 4th, Robert Berman will give an art talk about the items up for auction at 1:00 p.m. http://www.smauctions.com

"Looking Glass" Set to Open at bG Gallery May 28th!

On Saturday, May 30 bG Gallery presents "Looking Glass," a group show featuring surreal and fantasy works. Curator and galley director Om Bleicher reached out to artists that featured a surrealistic approach to their works. He said he thought the art of Ty Cummings would work well in the show.

A pop/street artist, Cummings received his BFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York in 2008, as well as an MFA from CalArts in Los Angeles in 2012. Working with all types of found items and alternative tools such as glitter spray, puzzle pieces, charcoal etc., Cummings has been creating art since he was in his teens. He is also a talented sculptor.

"The painting Every" was inspired by momentum, said the artist. "I work on art everyday and put in the hours, said Cummings. “There’s a lot of aspects to being an artist besides just painting; I paint often. Cummings went on to say that he noticed changes in his work recently and over time. "There are always new things I want to incorporate into the work. The concepts build off of each other and the story keeps moving." His art has been on view at HIVE Gallery, LACDA, Santa Monica Art Studios and The Downtown Playground, as well as in the Brewery Art Walk, Venice Art Crawl and pop-up spaces such as 800 Main and Windward Plaza.For more information about the art of Ty Cummings, visit tycummings.com

Bleicher had a similar feeling about the work of Jim Holyoak. He explained, "Jim Holyoak is currently traveling the world for his Nowherland solo show in November he's done a number of collaborative installations with artist Matt Shane and a great one will be featured in the show."

Holyoak has exhibited over a dozen times at the gallery and is showing a three-way collaborative drawing. “This is a drawing of my friend and fellow artist, Matt Shane, transformed into an otter,” said Holyoak. “It is a highly realistic depiction.”

Om's amazing,” said Marcus Durkheim…”so many different show themes, collection of artists and consistently high quality – he's a super nice guy, responsible, honest and a real pleasure to work with.”
Durkheim’s work is about perception…”The illusive nature of physical reality. Our beliefs and preconceived ideas prejudice our responses to everything around us. This body of work is created under a pseudonym with the intent of inserting an additional layer of ambiguity; questioning assumptions and conclusions.”

Bleicher continued, "Marcus Durkheim explores seemingly mundane objects symbolize larger philosophical questions about human understanding and interpretation of existence. The illusive nature of physical reality, individual beliefs and preconceived ideas prejudice our responses to everything around us."

Another artist exhibiting work in “Looking Glass” is Cory Sewelson. One of his works, titled Big Top is from his series Fun House, which explores the metaphor of a Fun House, (the piece is titled Fun House as well). “This painting is from a series called Fun House,” explained Sewelson. “Continuing my interest in how we use architecture to relate to the world, I’m exploring the metaphor of the fun house. These attractions are familiar amusement park experiences noted for illusions and sensory surprises.”

See image: Cory Sewelson, “Big Top” 2015, 10 x 8” acrylic, oil on panel

 Enjoy the art of Gay Summer Rick, Bob Branaman, Nathan Cartwright, Brian Cooper, Ty Cummings, Wangechi Mutu, Jerry Uelsmann, Ed Freeman, Dan Busta, Marcus Durkheim, Cory Sewelson, Jim Holyoak, Airom and more. 

Don't miss the opening reception of "Looking Glass" on Saturday, May 28^th from 5-8pm at bG Gallery (G8A) at Bergamot Station 2525 Michigan Ave., in Santa Monica. The exhibition will run 5/28/16 - 6/5/16. 

Call 310 906-4211 for additional information, or visit bGArtGalleries.com

May 15th, 2016, the Venice ARTBLOCK is Back!

On Sunday, May 15, the Venice ARTBLOCK is back for its sixth event. The artist run group has evolved into a thriving art organization. The free event takes place twice a year and features over one hundred Venice artists exhibiting their work in over seventy venues. All types of art will be on exhibit along with live painting, live music, poetry and more.

Rohitash Rao creates works out of found objects. “My pieces are a reflection of our mass-consumerism Not only in our waste materials, but also in our pop culture. The materials I paint on have all been thrown away. You could say I talk "trash" on trash.” Rao will be exhibiting guest artists at his studio. Paintings by Alexandra Dillon; Photography by Marlena Elise and Illustrations and Paintings by Jack Herzog. Rohitash Rao studio is located at 1637B Electric Avenue; http://www.rohitashraopaintsontrash.com/

Helen K. Garber’s studio is located at 801 Ocean Front Walk and has participated in ARTBLOCK since it began. Garber is most known for her night urban landscapes taken in cities all over the world. 

 “I will be presenting the first six pieces of my new series of photo-based mixed media collages containing numerous views of decaying gas stations found during road trips in CA and the southwest.”

Her series Chasing Ed Ruscha, combines archival pigment prints on various papers, book pages, oil pastel with painted encaustic wax medium. Garber will be offering some amazing deals for her work this year. 801 Ocean Front Walk; http://www.helenkgarber.com

Artist Leonardo Ibáñez will be participating in the event for his fifth time and will be showing his drawings and masks. He explained, “I am working on a series of drawings inspired by the medieval era, featuring a female figure combined with my own poetry in calligraphic writing. 

The name of the series is Illustrate Manuscript/Manuscritos Ilustrados.” Ibáñez will be showing his works at Letelier Studio at 6^th Avenue and Indiana Court. http://45leo.blogspot.com/

The Letelier Studio will also feature art by Franciso Letelier, Marybeth Fama, Hagop Belian, Maude Tanswai, and Martha Ramirez Oropeza. An exhibit titled “A Place Called Venice,” will also be on view. Curated by Franciso Letelier, the group exhibiton will feature Venice new realism artworks by artists by Ruth Chase Boudreaux, Marybeth Fama, Jason Hill, and Meryl Lebowitz.

Kay Brown is a member of the eleven-year-old Los de Abajo Printmaking Collective originating at Self Help Graphics in East LA, which is housed at SPARC. “Thanks to SPARC we have a space to teach and exercise our printmaking art practice as a collaborative of five artists - three of us speaking Spanish and English, two speaking Spanish, English, French and German.” The one-on-one workshops provide non-toximaterials along with the proper supplies needed to experience traditional and non-traditional printmaking.

During the ARTBLOCK, Brown will be demonstrating the art of printmaking on a small etching press. “We support the ARTBLOCK effort to build the art community and art appreciation in Venice.”

The ARTBLOCK is funded in part by The Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs and with the help of Community Partners.

The Venice ARTBLOCK takes place on Sunday, May 15, from 11-6pm and is centered in and around the Oakwood neighborhood as well as on Abbott Kinney Boulevard and its environs. Pick up an ARTBLOCK route map at 1003 Art Gallery and Lounge, 1003 Abbott Kinney Blvd, Weir-Quiton Studios at 4^th and Vernon Blvd, Letelier Studio at 6^th Avenue and Indiana Court or anywhere along the route. Look for the Yellow flags, grab a map and explore. Shuttle buses and pedicabs will be available. For info and to download a route map: www.Veniceartblock.com