“El Paraíso”, 2023, and “Coin Laundry”, 2023, Acrylic on canvas
“Kurashiki Ki”, 2023, Acrylic on canvas
“Daikanyama”, 2023, Acrylic on canvas
Brian Alfred’s paintings for his exhibition Beauty is A Rare Thing at Miles McEnery Gallery capture moments from his travels around the world. Small details are removed to focus on shapes and colors, resulting in works that are extremely pleasing to the eye.
From the press release-
…Alfred’s process, honed over the past two decades, distills his source imagery to its most essential forms, layering idyllic elements together and segmenting forms into two dimensional planes of mostly-solid color to reveal a sense of stillness that can be tranquil, unsettling, or both. His compositions are reminiscent of architectural ukiyo-e prints, both in technique and style, while his exploration of collage continues to inform the resulting paintings.
“Alfred captures the ephemeral, silencing the noise of the world and focusing solely on the composition,” writes Annabel Keenan. “In every image, there is a sense that he is not only preserving the memory of a place, but also the essence of a specific time. This show… is more personal than his others.” Beauty is a Rare Thing casts a newfound appreciation on the everyday, presenting an aura of hope over our ever changing world.
Also included in a separate room are his portraits of contemporary musicians, pictured below.
Things to do in Los Angeles this weekend (5/30-6/2/19)-
Thursday
Artists Shinique Smith and Rirkrit Tiravanija will be discussing their history of transforming museum spaces with journalist Jori Finkel at The Hammer
Holy Wave are playing with Triptides and Gold Cage at The Factory
Apex Manor are playing with Coastal Clouds and Near Beer at the Bootleg Theater
Bennett Simpson and Rebecca Lowery will be giving an exhibition walk through of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA (both MOCA locations are free on Thursday evenings)
LACMA is having a free screening of Halston with a post screening conversation with director Frédéric Tcheng and producer Roland Ballester
Xiu Xiu are bringing their unique sound to Lodge Room with composer Gregg Kowalsky opeing
Performance art duo Princess (Alexis Gideon and Michael O’Neill) will be performing Out There, a live music and video album, at Zebulon. CRICKETS, a new performance and recording project with Roddy Bottum (Faith No More), JD Samson (Le Tigre/MEN), and Michael O’Neill (Princess, MEN), will also be performing.
Friday
Sego are playing at Moroccan Lounge with Hate Drugs and Lens Mozer opening
Death Bells and Hit Bargain are opening for Odonis Odonis at Zebulon
Dodger Stadium is hosting LGBT Night with Dodger owners Billie Jean King and Ilana Kloss throwing out ceremonial first pitches, Nicki Blonsky singing the national anthem, the Dodgers playing the Phillies, fireworks after the game, and more
Wavves is playing at Lodge Room with Puzzle and Slut Island (also Saturday)
Friday through Sunday
FEMMEBIT is a “platform and triennial festival uniting an all-female roster of Los Angeles based artists working in video and new media”. There will be screenings, panel discussions, live performances and more taking place at Civic Center Studios
The free Lummis Days Festival celebrates the arts, history and ethnic diversity of Northeast Los Angeles with programming that includes a screening of Con Safos:Reflections of Life in the Barrio by Emmy Award winner Jimmy Velarde at Occidental College on Friday, plus live music, exhibitions, workshops, dance performances and more at various locations on Saturday and Sunday
Saturday
Venice Pride kicks off LGBTQ+ Pride Month with an illumination of the Venice Pride Sign and Block Party (free)
Outpost Los Angeles City Market is a free cultural festival taking place at Rolling Greens in the Arts District with workshops, panels, and more- plus performances by Porches, Kirin J Callinan, Negative Gemini, Ana Roxanne and a DJ set by Neon Indian
The Specials are playing at The Novo with L.A. Salami opening
Jai Wolf is playing at The Shrine Expo Hall with Shallou, Evan Giia, and Ford. opening
Plastic Cactus are playing at The Hi Hat with Easy Love, Chelsea Rose, and The Sob Sonnets
NY Night Train Soul Clap & Dance Off w/ Jonathan Toubin is a night of soul music on vinyl at Zebulon with a live performance by LA band Los Blancos
Sunday
MOCA Community Day is taking place at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA and is centered around the homelessness crisis in LA, specifically “the youth population affected by the crisis, and how creative experiences can spark change”. The day will feature performances, information booths, workshops, and activities over the course of the day. (free)
The Aero Theatre is hosting a Jim Jarmusch double feature- Stranger Than Paradise and Down By Law
Zebulon is hosting a free screening of Alain Resnais’ film Providence and later Weirdo Night returns with performances by Dynasty Handbag, Malik Gaines, Amelia Bande, Kate Berlant, Dance-Y-Oke and more
