It was a celebratory evening at the Underground Museum benefit auction, My Kid Could Do That, on Friday evening. The benefit was in support of ProjectArt’s mission for arts education for children…and we all know how important that is for human beings, and society in general.

Cocktail napkins…

But, this is not a lecture; it’s time to spend some money! Upon entering the space, we immediately spotted a very VIP crowd, Getty Museum Director Timothy Potts for starters! Moving right along, the attire was diverse, from tattered blue jeans to evening gowns. Lyn Winter was elegant in her white long dress, with very sensible shoes… we loved that! A passed tray of grilled butternut squash on skewers swished by, very tasty, sending us thirsty in hunt for the bar where complimentary wine, champagne and spirits were served. After we checked out the patio where Catherine Opie held court in a dark corner, the art in the exhibition called for our attention.

Jake Kean Mayman, Pillow Face, 1986, age 6.

Children’s art is just irresistible. All of the art in the show was work done by established artists when they were children (this work was not in the auction and NFS). Some of the art was just kid stuff, but a lot seemed to foreshadow the careers to come. As you might imagine, it was one of the most fascinating shows in recent memory. I’ve always been a sucker for children’s work; many pros often try to emulate the child’s eye, Picasso for one. There’s something about fresh innocence when using the right side of the brain.

Live Painters!

On our way, we passed three easels with children doing Live Painting! Michael McCarty from the famed New York art/restaurant walked by; his artist wife Kim McCarty had her work in the exhibition: “Swiss Cow,” medium crayon, age 6.

Ry Rocklen, 1st, 1984, age 6.

We savored the opportunity to see such works as the lump of clay produced by lil’ Ry Rocklen at the tender age of 6. Rocklen was on hand and he regaled us with the story of how a squashed clump of clay became a work of art; he accidentally dropped the ball of clay, and when it collapsed, he saw a face with a squished hat atop. Ta da! Art! The clay remained unfired.

Lisa Anne Auerbach, Jimmy Carter Puppet, 1976, age 9

Peter Shelton, First deer, 1961

Lisa Anne Auerbach’s piece, Jimmy Carter Puppet, was a hoot. We kept going back to that in wonderment of the sophistication and accuracy of former President Carter’s likeness. Auerbach told us the assignment was to paper mache over a light bulb for the head of a puppet. Remember that trick? She was only 9, but already quite political. Other works revealing an assured path into the art world was Peter Shelton’s cast bronze deer! Opie’s self-portrait is another example of prescience. A black-and-white photograph taken at age 9, where she puffs up her arms in a victorious stance, making muscles and hamming it up for the camera. Kelly Berg’s psychedelic colored-pencil drawing reeked the essence of pop culture of the mid-’90s (one of the younger artists in the show).

Lita Albuquerque, Self Portrait, 1963, age 17.

The crowd was exuberant, everyone abuzz amid the convivial atmosphere. Many gallerists made it to the benefit too: Diane Rosenstein, Mihai Nicodim, Deb Klowden. All in all, this exhibition is a must see, with works by renowned LA artists such as Doug Aitken, Jim Shaw, Lita Albuquerque, Tim Hawkinson, Diana Thater and Ed Ruscha. It’s a rare opportunity to see the early works of any artist, let alone art made from the formative years. It’s amazing that these works even existed. I thought most artists came from fucked-up families, therefore most of the childhood art was probably just tossed away or hung on the refrigerator until it eventually disintegrated. A lot of the artists confessed that they themselves hung onto their work. Another sign they knew early on that art was going to stay their passion.

Photos courtesy Anne Martens.

This exhibition ends tomorrow. Go see it!

Free and open to public today and tomorrow from 11-4pm. 

Free Artist led workshop for kids  by artist Yassi Mazandi tomorrow at noon. 

Underground Museum, 3508 W Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90018