Every September, the art scene really revs up—not that summer was slow. But after Labor Day, art exhibitions heat up as the evenings cool down.

Lenz Geerk, Bennett Roberts

Andrew Moore at Kopeikin Gallery

The Culver City Arts District swelled with openings Saturday. First stop had us at Roberts Projects for German artist Lenz Geerk‘s LA debut of his thick mysterious portrait paintings. We even snagged a photo of Geerk stepping out for a smoke with dealer Bennett Roberts. Venturing down to La Cienega Blvd., we turn the corner for  Kopeikin Gallery where Andrew Moore’s astonishing large-scale photography had guests puzzling over how the images were created. His Texas landscapes captured an eerie look, drawing you into the expansive surreal terrain.

R. Buckminster Fuller at Edward Cella

Jeffrey Vallance

Next gallery down, at Edward Cella, the lively crowd sipped Tecate and mineral water while musing over “R. Buckminster Fuller: Inventions and Models,” the first exhibition of its kind in LA. Viewers craned eyes up at Dymaxion Rowing Needle, a 21-foot dual hull rowing shell suspended from the ceiling, while marveling over the sculptural forms on ground level. Jeffrey Vallance posed for fans in the project group show.  Moving onward, attendees at George Billis Gallery sipped pink lemonade while taking in the group show “Selected Abstracts.” The main gallery featured dark-yet-whimsical paintings of animal/human hybrids by Fred Stonehouse.

Walter Maciel Gallery with artist Hung Liu

Up the street, viewers flocked to greet artist Hung Liu at Walter Maciel Gallery. Fans asked Liu what is her inspiration, discovering many works were based on Dorothea Lange photography. Circling back we stopped by Luis De Jesus for Paul Anthony Smith‘s impressive large scratched-on photographs.

Robyn Allatorre and daughter at Blum & Poe

At Blum & Poe, the well-heeled crowd sporting glittery sneakers and tottering platforms browsed among Tomoo Gokita’s large Baconesque black-and-white portraits. “Kind of like Invasion of the Body Snatchers, only with faces,” one gallerygoer remarked. We didn’t have time to stop in at Susanne Vielmetter or Klowden Mann, there’s only so much one can do! Next time…

Tracy Weiss sculpture at SoLA

Adesina Cooper

Venturing away from Culver City, we found ourselves at Peggy Zask‘s SoLA Gallery, where a vibrant party atmosphere introduced Adenisa Cooper, Carolyn Laliberte and Tracey Weiss with ceramic work from bones to boats to pyramids. The party continued at Gabba Gallery with DJ Jonathan Williams spinning and a busy bar sponsored by Humboldt Distillery and Auspicion Wine, featuring four solo shows by Mike Habs, Olga Ponomarenko, CANTSTOPGOODBOY, and Nicholas Bonamy; Habs gave away bins of T-shirts with slogans like “Stop Making This Look Glamorous.” But it would be hard to make it less fun.

Photos by Genie Davis and Lynda Burdick