Jordi Alcaraz- Ideas of Sculpture
The works in Altered States, Jordi Alcaraz’s current show at Jack Rutberg Fine Arts, consistently challenge viewers perceptions. The glass frames surrounding drawings, paintings and sculptures are often broken or warped, where objects may have tried to get in or out. In others, it is the object itself that is being altered. The works get more intriguing as you progress through the gallery.
The show closes 12/21/13.
From Betye Saar’s :The Alpha & Omega-The Beginning & The End
Betye Saar’s installation at Roberts & Tilton contains many objects all coming together to contemplate time, identity, nature and the world around us. Unlike her previous show at the gallery, Red Time, which challenged the viewer with both its imagery and the power of the color itself; The Alpha and Omega, creates a feeling of calm, both in its color palette of blues and grays but also in the objects chosen like clocks and ships. In both shows, history is an important theme. This can be seen most clearly in The Challenges of Fate, a sculpture within the work, made up of a black bird perched on a cage housing a ship, which is above a globe resting on a glass box of bones, all set upon a stack of books.
Also at the gallery is Projections Part II: Film As Painting, curated by Aaron Rose. Multiple films by various artists are presented through different projections and monitor displays. The films are very different in content but work together to present the concept of film as not just film, but moving painting. There are thirteen films within the show and their creation dates range from the earliest, Len Lye’s A Colour Box (1935) to Rose’s own The Dress (2013). One standout is Marie Menken’s Go! Go! Go! (1962-4) a frantic speeding up of footage of life in the 1960’s in New York.
Both shows close tomorrow, 12/14.
One room from Pet Shapes at China Art Objects Galleries
If you are in Culver City, tomorrow (12/14) is the last day for this group show. All the works are pet related, and there is even a purring chair (not shown). It’s worth checking out if you are in the area.
Joel Otterson- Bottoms Up #2
Joel Otterson’s current show is “Chandelier Queer” at Maloney Fine Art. This title references the slang term “chandelier queer” defined as- “a homosexual with exquisite and/or expensive taste” or a “self-spoiled fruit”(according to Urban Dictionary). The show consists of sculptures made from found glass wear. The chandeliers are beautiful and seemingly fragile creations which take take what most consider trashy objects, and turns them into something glorious.
Otterson is one of the artists selected to be in the Whitney Biennial 2014.
This is the last weekend for Arts ReSTORE LA: Westwood. There are several events planned for the weekend including Popup Arcade Extravaganza– a free event on Saturday with games designed by former and current UCLA students.
Clown by Marnie Weber
Mark Handforth
Halloween may be over but you can keep the spirit alive by checking out this terrifying (if you are scared of clowns) section of the show Room to Live currently at MOCA Grand Avenue. The show features works from MOCA’s permanent collection with an emphasis on recent acquisitions, including a room of photos by Nan Goldin and the second work pictured above- Desert Sun by Mark Handforth.
MOCA is free tonight (Thursday) and Marnie Weber is discussing her work. RSVP here.
Want to prepare yourself for the room of clowns- here’s a video of the installation.
Don’t forget to look behind the clown who has lost its dog.
You’re A Very Bad Man! by A.S. Ashley
Tomorrow (9/22/13) is the last day to see the 2013 Los Angeles Juried Exhibition at Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery located at Barnsdall Park. It includes 74 works of art by 46 artists selected from more than 900 submissions by 368 artists.
Today is the last day for Exxopolis in Grand Park- go check it out!
The picture above was taken from the inside of one of the inflatable structures for Exxopolis created by UK artists Architects of Air.
Today (8/18/13) is the last day of the Gary Baseman show at Skirball. It’s a fun show and great for kids!