As we approach Thanksgiving, it’s pretty awesome to be living in Los Angeles where the art scene gives us plenty to be thankful for besides cornbread stuffing and candied yams.
Art at the Rendon: “Stories” took attendees into the lives of multiple characters in an immersive experience that combined glowing video and digital art on the building’s exterior with 22 rooms as performance art sites inside. At Wednesday night’s press and VIP preview, guests were treated to vodka libations from Infuse spirits, Angel City beer and Pali wine in the hotel’s former bar, while gypsy jazz musicians The Vignes Rooftop Revival played.
Art at the Rendon
The evening began with tasty eats from Pearls BBQ; tacos that included a delicious vegan cauliflower from Es Todo, and Topo Chico mineral water served up in the courtyard. A buzzing crowd of VIP attendees and press chattered at high-top tables until silenced by opera singer Rachel Staples Guettler singing guests into the hotel.
Tomoaki Shibat, Loren Philip
At Castelli Art Space, the large-scale, scroll-like painting collaboration of Loren Philip and Tomoaki Shibata dazzled opening night guests on Friday. Twelve-by-nine-feet raw canvases draped to the floor and guests roamed the gallery taking in the vast works; outside, guests enjoyed Japanese beer as well as wine and spicy tacos. Conversation focused on how the collaborative project unfolded, and that a portion of artwork proceeds benefits Sea Shepherd.
Liz Robb
Keystone Fall Open Studios took the stage in DTLA Saturday evening, where artists opened workspace revealing everything from Heather Lowe’s lenticular art to Liz Robb’s large-scale textiles (not to mention her puffy feathered shoes) to Louise Donegan’s glittering mosaic viruses that looked like mandalas and were crafted from Swarovski crystals. Paintings, sculptures and photographic art were plentiful too as artists conversed with excited attendees, along with treats such as handmade black-and-white and rainbow cookies, skewers of grapes and cheese, pizza, and of course—plenty of wine. Overheard, artist Henry Bell explaining how he made a massive abstract sculpture: “It’s easy, you can do it at home, I don’t mind.”
Daniel Leighton
Also Saturday, Daniel Leighton exhibited stunning interactive AR work at LACDA. Attendees downloaded an app to watch the vibrant digital artwork literally come alive, and loved what they saw.
Across town, the Inglewood Art Walk opened doors and gallery spaces all weekend long, Friday evening as well as the weekend days. An artists’ reception at Residency Gallery in downtown Inglewood was jammed with artists and friends Friday; the vibe was engaged but quiet on Sunday at the 1019 West Studios on Manchester, and up and down La Brea Ave., as the city continued to cope with brush fires. The mellowness of the event allowed attendees to sip wine, taste cheese and fruit, and ask artists how their work unfolded, from the figurative aluminum wire sculptures of Melanie Newcombe and her studio-mate Gay Summer Rick’s light filled oils to Rachel Kaster’s large-scale cast-glass and Jeanne Dunn’s epic look at the ravages of war.
An art weekend with much to be thankful for indeed.
I’m so glad that you came by Karen! You caught a lot in these photos and in your notes including our Inglewood citywide studio event. Thanks for your great eye!
Second message – – Genie Davis, they’re your excellent photos and text reporting! Hmm… apologies for not saying that from the outset. Thank you again, you got to see and photograph and report on an amazing number of exciting art events on the weekend. Yes, occasion to be thankful .
Thank you for writing about us! but details are officially wrong. My name is Tomoaki Shibata and gallery name is Castelli Art Space. And big canvas size is 12×9 feets. I know it is common error and it is still just detail. Love.