Plastic surgery is popular topic, especially in Los Angeles, and even more so this week, after a famous actress reappeared looking different enough to cause a flurry of media and public speculation.
British artist Oliver Jones’ photorealist drawings, created in colored chalk pastel, look at and question the beauty industry and our appearance obsessed world. In many of the images the subject is looking directly into the eyes of the viewer. Are we judging them, relating to them, questioning them? Is it possible to love the skin you’re in? And if so, for how long?
The paintings in Sam Falls’ current exhibition atHannah Hoffman Gallery are created by taking local vegetation, adding pigments and letting the elements, including rain form silhouettes on the canvas. The results are striking, especially the larger canvases. This show continues through 10/25.
The area on and around Highland Avenue between Fountain and Melrose is a great place to check out art. If you are there this weekend, these exhibitions are also worth a look:
Things to do in Los Angeles this weekend (10/9-10/12/14)-
Thursday
Downtown Art Walk is hosting the first day of the weekend long Plein Air Festival, (which is free and worth registering for if you are an artist) as well as other art shows
Pasadena’s ArtNight is back! The event features shuttles to all the museums and galleries, live music and much more (all free). If you take the Metro make sure to check their website for giveaways at the event.
The Thurston Moore Band is at the Echo with Sebadoh
Nosferatu double feature at LACMA– first the original Nosferatu (1922) and then Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979) a film collaboration by Werner Herzog and Klaus Kinski
Friday through Sunday
If you love independent video games then check out IndieCade in Culver City
Peaking Lights are at Los Globos to celebrate their new album with a huge lineup including Nite Jewel and an Animal Collective DJ set
During the day the Music Center is hosting Pop-Ups! where you can design and make a print, take dance lessons ($1 per lesson), check out the museum or take in a food lecture
Also downtown during the day is The Ryman Arts’ Big Draw LA flagship event- “Make Your Mark in the Park”- taking place in Grand Park
Allen Ruppersberg and Allan McCollum are speaking at Art Catalogues at LACMA to celebrate the publication of Allen Ruppersberg Sourcebook: Reanimating the 20th Century
Spanning a variety of media encompassing photography, sculpture, publications, sound, and single and multi-channel video installations, Aitken’s work explores the modern landscape and posits possibilities for new uncharted frontiers. This exhibition, the artist’s fourth solo presentation at Regen Projects, will feature an installation of new sculptural objects within a labyrinthine space designed to create an experience of unexpected encounters and a sense of mystery and discovery for the viewer to navigate.
This is a really fun show. Tomorrow (10/4), there will be a performance by Doug Aitken and then he will be signing his book. This event begins at 4pm with the book signing from 6-8pm.
Things to do in Los Angeles this weekend (9/18-9/21/14)-
Thursday
Neutral Milk Hotel, The Breeders, Daniel Johnston play the Hollywood Bowl
DesignLAb at the Pacific Design Center is having an opening reception for 10 new exhibits featuring artists and designers
Cloud Cult are playing two sets at the Troubadour (one acoustic, one electric)
Friday
Author Junot Diaz will be reading from This is How You Lose Her at Skylight Books
The 2nd Annual Afterglow Summer Video Series ends tonight at Pieter Performance Space with work from four LA-based video artists including Harry Dodge and Aimee Goguen
It’s Tarfest at the LaBrea Tar Pits Park- live bands include Hunter Hunted and The Moth & the Flame; there will be live painting by Craig ‘Craola’ Simkins, Nicola Verlato, and devNgosha; as well as food, drink and activities (FREE)
Artist Oliver Payne’s CHILL OUT performance at 356 Mission begins at 7pm- make sure you can follow the rules!
Sunset Strip Music Festival is a two-day festival with Janes Addiction, Empire of the Sun, Cold War Kids, Big Freedia, Killer Mike, and tons more playing
It’s the last day to see the video installation, Drumroll, that won Steve McQueen (director of 12 Years a Slave) the Turner Prize, at MOCA Pacific Design Center
Kees van Dongen– “Modjesko, Soprano Singer (Modjesko, chanteur soprano)”, 1908
Franz Marc– “Sketch- Nudes on Vermilion (akte auf Zinnober, Skizze)”, 1909-10
Cuno Amiet– “Mutter und Kind im Garten (Mother and Child in Garden)”, circa 1903
Today is the last day to see Expressionism in Germany and France: From Van Gogh to Kandinsky at LACMA. Make sure to download their app and use their free wifi to get some additional information about several of the paintings in the exhibition.
Things to do in Los Angeles this weekend (8/28-9/1/14)-
Thursday-Sunday
Ty Segall is playing four sold out shows at the Echo (but there may be tickets at the door) to promote his just released album, Manipulator
It’s the last weekend of the Griffith Park Shakespeare Festival. Thursday and Friday, it’s Taming of the Shrew. Saturday and Sunday, it’s Twelfth Night
Skate and Create opens at Flower Pepper Gallery in Pasadena. Over forty well known street artists created skateboards for the show.
Saturday and Sunday
Made in America Festival in Grand Park- tons of artists including Kendrick Lamar, Imagine Dragons, Juanes, Weezer, Cypress Hill, Chance the Rapper and more
Sunday
Los Angeles Plays Itself, a 3 hour film compilation of clips of movies filmed in LA, is playing at the Aero. The director, Thom Andersen, will discuss it afterwards and present an additional film.
Burger presents: OFF!, along with a bunch of other bands including Cherry Glazerr and Lovely Bad Things at Los Globos
All weekend (including Labor Day)
Cinefamily and Everything is Terrible present a weekend’s worth of programming for Everything Is Festival: Fifth Dimension– including an art opening, movie premieres (one with live score performed by YACHT), found footage compilations and more
Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah are playing at the Troubadour
Arctic Monkeys are playing with Black Rebel Motor Cycle Club at the Staples Center
Thursday through Sunday
Sundance Next Fest takes place at Hollywood Forever Cemetery and the Ace Hotel. There are still tickets available for some of the events including a film screening with panelist Werner Herzog on Friday and on Sunday Warpaint will provide music for another screening
Friday
It’s the last of the Friday Flights at the Getty– this time with Mikael Jorgenson of Wilco and his wife, artist Cassandra C. Jones. Several projects and performances are part of the program as well as a solo electronic music performance by Passion Pit’s Xander Singh
Tif Sigfrids gallery is having variety show hosted by Denver Smith that will include magic, music, comedy and a cirque du soleil style act beginning at 4pm
MOCA Senior Curator Alma Ruiz is giving a walkthrough of the Cinema Vezzoli exhibition on its last weekend
Glen Hansard, Iron and Wine, and The Head and the Heart are playing at the Hollywood Bowl
Unique USA is having their 6th annual LA Summer Market (also Saturday), $10 gets you entrance for both days, drinks and snacks and there are also free workshops
