L.A.-BASED ARTISTS CHELSEA DEAN AND OSCEOLA REFETOFF EXPLORE FLEETING DESERT LANDSCAPES
WITH THE TWO-PERSON SHOW “PARADOX CALIFORNIA” AT LAUNCH LA
CLOSING RECEPTION SET FOR SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 1-5PM,
INCLUDING AN ARTISTS’ TALK MODERATED BY SHANA NYS DAMBROT FROM 3-4PM
“Paradox California,” a two-person exhibition presenting works by mixed-media artist Chelsea Dean and photographer Osceola Refetoff has a closing reception set for 1-5PM on Saturday, March 23 at LAUNCH LA (170 S. LaBrea Ave, LA, 90036). There will be an artists’ talk moderated by art critic, editor, and curator Shana Nys Dambrot from 3-4PM. The two artists were paired for the show because of their mutual enthusiasm for the deserts of Southern California. Refetoff and Dean collaborated on the show’s title, which addresses the contradiction between the promise of paradise to be found in the “Golden State,” and the harsh realities of much of its terrain and opportunities.
Though different in style and medium, their bodies of work complement one another. Each finds beauty and looks for the truth in landscapes transformed by weather, time, and circumstance, as well as evanescent traces of civilization. The works suggest both impermanence and timelessness.
Pictured is “Paradox California,” their one collaborative piece in the show. The artists selected a photograph from Refetoff’s “Framing the Desert” series. Dean says, “My first move was to cut out and remove all the negative shapes within the image using an x-acto knife. After experimenting with a variety of backgrounds, we both fell in love with the ethereal qualities of a turquoise etching that I created back in 2011. Once we had our photograph and background solidified, I cut and layered metallic foil on top of all the shapes where wallpaper was peeling off within the image, creating the effect that it was somehow revealing the gold, ornate material that was hiding underneath. To add more physical depth and shadows to the piece, I raised the cut photograph on foam core while also adhering several cut elements onto the background. The end result is a piece that highlights both of our styles and mediums.”
