Dazzlingly inventive and lovingly curated by Jason Jenn and Vojislav Radovanovic, “A Practical Guide to Parlour Games & Magic” at The Loft at Liz’s, features work by Phoebe Barnum, Brad Davis, Adrienne Devine, Doug Hammett, Orit Harpaz, Jason Jenn, Ashley Kruythoff, Lena Moross, Giovanni Ortega, Vojislav Radovanovic, Nancy Kay Turner, and Sean Yang. The exhibition is filled with works that are both whimsical and richly evocative of a more spiritual world.
Among the many highlights are Barnum’s delicate, Inuit-inspired ceramic masks and vessels filling the gallery’s small side room, along with her talisman-like jewelry that includes natural stones and chandelier parts. Curator Jenn’s large mandala of gold-leaf-painted leaves, a fleeting vision captured for a few moments, is alchemic, as are Radovanovic’s untitled works from his Shooting Stars series. In both works, lustrous elements light up the walls.
As if placeholders for otherworldly guests, Cole’s untitled (yellow chair) acrylic on canvas painting, and her series of small ceramic chairs, appear to await visitation from fairytale figures. Suspended above and near Cole’s work, dazzlingly intricate wire and bead sculptures from DeVine, such as I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings; snared but awaiting flight. Nancy Kay Turner’s The Pursuit of Shadows is an altar with individual components, a scavenged and repurposed small world which includes a Ouija board and a shoe form, seemingly indicative of a post-dystopian world, in which our present is a memory.
Sean Yang also has thoughtful sculptural works on display, including the trenchant When Do We Get The Seat At The Table? (cast resin, metal and mixed media.) Resin fingers strain through the surface of a chair, as if grasping an unattainable life—or, perhaps, toward a life in another or otherworld. Pure magic are the magician’s hat, bunnies, and roses presented in a variety of watercolors from Lena Moross; Kruythof’s radiant photography; Davis’ playful recombined found-object figures; Ortega’s delicate floral collage and painted works; and Harpaz’ exuberant black and white Weirdoh Birds wall covering, pillows, and prints.
This delightful exhibition is up through March 1st at The Loft at Liz, 453 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles.
Beautiful and intriguing exhibit! Must see.