Posts Tagged ‘contemporary art’

How many appointments have you made in the last week?  There’s the hair appointment, waxing, and obviously – therapy.  None of that, while necessary, sounds all too fun.  We think it’s time to make an appointment that not only brings you somewhere much more interesting, but that is also free.

Welcome to Marine, a private art salon that opened in July of this year.  Bringing us back to the days when an art salon was, rather than an anomaly, a chic and inviting way of viewing group shows and discovering new artists, Marine hosts bi-monthly events and it’s only open to be viewed by appointment.  Current artists represented in the salon include Drew Beckmeyer, Val Britton, Seth Kaufman, Matt Klos, and many others.  Their work can be seen through November 7.   The domestic space focuses on bringing attention to emerging, contemporary artists and is curated by Claressinka Anderson who has worked with galleries across the city including Pharmaka, Tarryn Teresa Gallery, and even Barker Hangar.

Remember, this is the kind of salon for which you place the emphasis on the first syllable – it’s not the kind of salon where you’ve got to choose a polish color.  We suggest putting their number in your phone with the name Marine – that way you can pretend she’s just a friend of yours with an enormous, amazing, rotating art collection.

Marine is a salon located in Santa Monica, CA.  For more information, please click here.

I think our nation is on the brink of something we haven’t experienced in nearly a decade.  Our country is loosening its white-knuckle grip on the global status of “stupid Americans” or the “crazy country that elected Bush twice”.  Other nations around the world are slowly forgetting that most recent history thanks to Barack and Michelle Obama.  His foreign policy changes have been revered, he’s working to close Guantanamo, and he’s made Hugo Chavez blush.  Michelle Obama has inspired children in classrooms across the US and the UK, she’s proven that (as Barack said at the White House Correspondent’s dinner) she’s got the right to bare arms, and now she’s the unofficial arts ambassador to the White House. 

Causing quite a stir, the Obamas are making calls to museums and galleries with plans to make major shifts in the art that lines the walls of the private residence of the White House.  The general plan is to move away from the still lifes and portraits of old white ladies and move toward contemporary works by African-American, Asian, Hispanic, and female artists.  The reworking of their private residences began when LA native interior designer Michael S. Smith was invited to redecorate.  From there, the phone calls began and with them the potential for a new era where the American communities of politics and arts are no longer on opposite sides of the spectrum.

So far, the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington has loaned them seven works including African-American artist Alma Thomas’ “Sky Light and Watusi (Hard Edge)”.  They’ve chosen a piece in deep red with the words “I think maybe I’ll…” by Ed Ruscha, Richard Diebenkorn’s “Berkeley No. 52”, and Jasper John’s “Numerals, 0 through 9” all from the National Gallery of Art.  Their other choices so far include works by Robert Rauschenberg, Nicolas de Stael, Edgar Degas, and Josef Albers. 

To get a taste of the history that goes into the artistic choices for his new digs, there’s an exhibit on view starting May 28 at the M+B Gallery in West Hollywood called “Barack Obama: The Freshman”.  The photographs, taken twenty years ago by Lisa Jack, then a student at Occidental College, were taken on one roll of film and have never been shown at a gallery until now – probably because the subject of her photographs recently became the President.  The artist admitted that after the shoot, she’d hoped that Obama would ask her out on a date.  He didn’t, but I think she’s happy with how the photos turned out anyway.  If you look closely, maybe we’ll get an idea of what goes into making some of his aesthetic choices.  All we need is an album of Michelle Obama’s photos from college.  Too bad Facebook wasn’t around then. 

“Barack Obama: The Freshman” is on view from May 28 through July 18, 2009 at the M+B Gallery.  Please visit their website or call (310) 550-0050 for more information.  

Until now, I’ve thought of auctions as being “white glove, black tie” events.  Everyone is seated in mahogany chairs discussing the next piece in hushed, knowing, and yet competitive tones.  Well, if you’re already yawning at my old school imagination, direct your attention to Geffen Contemporary and MOCAs auction: Fresh 09.  With artists that range from local, emerging talent to well established folk like Ed Ruscha and John Baldessari, this auction is everything we could ask for in these modern times.  From last Saturday to this Friday (May 2nd – May 8th) the auction is open for free, public preview from 11am to 4pm.  The auction itself is hosted in the large, warehouse-like space, with a DJ, food catered by Patina, and an opportunity to talk shop with some of the artists.  All in all, this is not an evening that will include any white gloves outside of the catering staff. 

The auction itself is not free, but the preview all week is – and what a preview!  You can peruse works by every walk of contemporary artist and decide where you’d put each of your favorite pieces in your house.  My fictional, modern-art filled home would include pieces by Susan Moss, Elisa Johns, Hilja Keading, Jacci Den Hartog, Sam Francis, and lastly, Chad Attie’s “The Princess Paintings.”  Head downtown and decorate your own imaginary house – your imaginary neighbors will talk (in hushed, knowing, and yet competitive tones) about your great taste in art.  

MOCA Fresh 09 Silent Auction is going on now through Friday, May 8 and is open daily from 11am to 4pm.  The auction is located at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA space in Little Tokyo.  For more information, please call (213) 621-1778.