A LeRoy Grannis Mural Graces Venice

I was on my morning stroll to the French Market when I saw a fresh, new mural on the side of a wall on Abbot Kinney, next to Leaf Automotive.

It features LeRoy Grannis, the "Godfather of Surf Photography", and it's really great. Thanks to artist Gretta Kruesi for adding to the art and beauty of our neighborhood. I love it.

Have a great week, everybody ... get out there and do something cool yourself!

Matthew Heller - Grand Theft Autocorrect

Sometimes a lot of fun things happen in Venice at once, and sometimes that means you have to attend an art opening still completely covered in glitter from participating in the Mardi Gras Parade down the Boardwalk earlier in the day. Which is fine, because the art opening was also in Venice, and the people understand.

The show opening was Matthew Heller's Grand Theft Autocorrect at the great gallery space that doesn't seem to have a name on Main and San Juan. Heller is a friend's cousin and another friend's favorite artist, so I was there, glitter be damned.

I've always been very attracted to art with words in it (what is that called, anyway?), so Heller's new work did not disappoint. In fact, it was almost all words, made even better by having many of the pieces filled with lyrics from favorite songs like John Denver's "Annie's Song" or David Bowie's "Life On Mars" (done before he died, so not on the bandwagon).

Some of the works are made from what looks like masking tape spelling out words ...

Some pieces feel like you're snooping on someone's love letter writing, someone that's really, really good at inducing swoons through words ... Poems as visual art. Poems that kind of remind of Kerouac at times, high praise for me, indeed.

There were a lot of cool people at the opening, made cooler by the fact that no one blinked an eye at the  Glitterbomb talking to them, in fact, some wondered where they could get some for themselves. Right on.

Heller's work contains a whole lot of emotion in pretty minimalist pieces, which I think is the mark of a really good and effective contemporary artist. Simplicity that packs a wallop.

In chatting with Heller, I found that he couldn't be nicer or more open to talking about his work, another refreshing element in his artistic profile, especially with so many artists going up their own ass once anointed as chosen by the Art World. Not Heller. Warm, approachable, smart, and very clearly talented.

I think my favorite piece was this one that felt exactly just right to be shown in Venice:

Demand optimism! I love it.

Matthew Heller's Grand Theft Autocorrect is on view now through February 28 at 201 San Juan.

Life Takes Time

As is often the case here in Venice, sometimes the very best advice comes from just walking down the street ...

When so much is insane these days, it's more important than ever to remember - No, MAKE SURE - that you do, in fact, LOVE what you do. And do what you love. I'm pretty sure that's the whole point of this one turn you get in this life.

DO. LOVE.

Repeat.

Wheel Of Fortune

What a delight to see another fun installation from Venice Public Art on the boulevard! Abbot Kinney was packed with people enjoying the sunshine this last weekend, and many of them stopped to give the new Wheel Of Fortune a spin in the front yard of The Green House Smoke Shop's Abbot Kinney location.

Keeping the spirit of fun alive in Venice is our responsibility as much as it is to fight big development and gentrification so out of control we won't recognize the place if we're not careful. So to that end, it's always a joy to see something out there just for the fun of it.

Robin Murez just installed the wheel on Saturday, and we were among the first spinners. I'm happy to report that I will enjoy a life of Passion. Of course. Lacey, no surprise, spun up some Fun.

Thank goodness for fun local businesses like the Green House, cool owners like Bunny and Sandor, and active artists like Murez for maintaining a atmosphere of whimsy and unexpected surprises.

Abbot Kinney himself would be proud of you. Other businesses and artists should take note, take part and join the FUN. Thank you. Love you.

Abbot Kinney Peep Hole

I was racing down Abbot Kinney on my way somewhere the other day, when something on the corner of Andalusia stopped me in my tracks. A metal box with "Peek!" scrawled across it.

Of course, you have to. I peeked, and was delighted to see an old-timey photo of Venice, Abbot Kinney the Man era, as a kind of 3D diorama inside.

The little plaque beneath the box explained the history, and I noted that it was done by Venice Public Art  - aka Robin Murez, formerly of Robin's Sculpture Garden on Abbot Kinney. Murez lost her eclectic space on the boulevard after 12 years (as so many of the original shops and businesses have in the great money grab/rent ruining Abbot Kinney's charm), and has re-located her studio to 2935 Main Street in Santa Monica. Somehow that doesn't seem right.

These surprises around town honoring the history of Venice are the mission of Murez and her Venice Public Art projects. From murals of Abbot Kinney and the camels he envisioned cruising around, to the labyrinth on 6th and San Juan, Murez keeps coming up with creative and fun ways to keep the legacy of Abbot Kinney and Venice alive. She sticks with it, even when some local people have her arrested for painting little blue waves on the streets that used to be canals (Give me a break. We NEED more fun and originality around!). Store owners (or creative/anarchist artists that want to help!) that have spaces for sculptures or paintings (or who knows what could happen!) can contact Murez at www.venicepublicart.com.

Take a peek when you're strolling down the boulevard next time. Better yet, surprise people yourself! It's way more fun around here when that kind of thing happens.

Super Moon Year of the Horse

Tonight is the Super Moon - meaning two new moons in the same month, AND the start of The Year of the Horse for Chinese New Year! I don't know much about it all, but I have been told that it's a great time for change, rebirth, forward motion, being honest with who you are (and want to be) and with others. All motion should be going forward, like those horses. Choices should be made for the good of the whole, shifting from Me to We. Dreams manifested now have all sorts of planetary alignment helping out to come true, and more importantly. STAY true.

So it was fitting that on my stroll today, I saw another sign on the street. Dream BIG.

AND dream small. But dream.

Hopefully you can see the moon rise where you are (We can't, but we NEED rain, so we're doing that dance instead this time) and feel its power. HAPPY Year of the Horse! Giddyup.

The Venice Artblock - Excellent and Free!

The very first Venice Artblock was held on Sunday, and it was fantastic. And FREE! After many of our local artists were denied participation in the official Venice Art Walk this past Spring, they took it upon themselves to create - in a very Venice-spirited way, a little anarchist, take the power back style - their own event, free and open to the public, without any lines, wrist bands, or corporate headquarters ... just art, art and more art! In these times, that's both highly commendable, and historical.

It was done just as legit (if not more) as the Art Walk, with a great map, balloons and signs to signify where the stops were, and even a shuttle to get you around if you forgot your bike (always the best way to cover the most ground at these type of events). It was very spread out, from the beach to almost Lincoln, and from Venice Blvd. to Rose. The area around Vernon and Sunset was kind of the hub, with the most concentrated number of studios to hit.

It's so great to go around, and get to see inside the studios of artists that you may just know socially, or have heard of, and then get to peek inside their work space and understand how they operate. What a treat to have them share so much of not just their art, but themselves.

It was a party atmosphere at the studio of William Attaway, with Argentinian barbeque being grilled up, and music thumping. Attaway has a new series of paintings going that feel very bright and tropical, and it's always fun to see his sculptural works in progress.



Alberto Bevacqua's photographs are always haunting and provocative, and stood in stark contrast to the wooden circus animals of Pamela Weir-Quiton down the street. There is certainly something for everyone to admire in Venice.

Gary Palmer had his studio open and shared some stories about his recent excursion to participate in a big sidewalk chalk drawing event in Atlantic City. If you saw his Abbot Kinney in chalk at the Street Fair, you know Palmer is a master of this craft. His oil paintings are collected all over the world, and it's cool to see where it all begins. Very cool.

I always love to see what they have going on at the Curio Studio, one of my favorites in town.  

361 Vernon, where Palmer's studio is, also had a whole slew of studios open, from video installations to ceramics and everything in between. There is so much going on all the time, that you don't have any idea about, which may explain why so many people feel that Venice truly IS a creative vortex.

With SO much going on, it was difficult to hit all the points on the map, especially when you get held up chatting and catching up with other art lovers enjoying such a remarkable day. I stopped by to see what performance artist  and awesome lady Amy Kaps had going on, and she showed off her works while performing hostess duties all decked out in black, white and hot pink. She is a Venice treasure, for sure.

Across the street on Electric, Rohitash Rao was showing his paintings done mostly on garbage. Faces and phrases painted on empty coffee cups or other flotsam, all comic with an edge. Good stuff, good hang too.

I got a late start so it was already almost 5 (closing time) when I got over to SPARC. The talented and erudite Kay Brown showed some of us how her gorgeous wood block printing, and how the printing process is done. Her floral print reminded me of Attaway's flowers at the first stop. Full Circle.

SPARC always has wonderful things to look at, and the murals surrounded by the old bars of the town jail that the building once was lend even more power to the images you're seeing. SPARC is a hallowed institution and if you live in or care about Venice, it really warrants your time to explore and know about.

Every person I ran into along the way raved about how excellent this event was, and how wonderful that it was free and open to absolutely anyone, not just those who can cough up the steep admission price of the official Art Walk. It somehow felt more REAL too ... like art for art's sake, not necessarily profit, though work was being sold, and perhaps as importantly, being seen, learned and known about. The community was out in force, great conversations were being had, and every artist I encountered was beaming with the success of the day ... and the FUN!

Artblock was in fact SO cool, that I have to imagine they're already plotting the next one. And you should be there. It's the REAL deal. Thank you to all the artists involved, for inviting us all into your creative spaces, and for being there in the first place. Venice needs you!!! Sincerely, Thanks.

The Venice Art Crawl Turns 3!

The Venice Art Crawl turned three with a fun party to celebrate last Friday. Time flies, man. I remember the very first one well - three years ago already?! - as one of the most blast nights ever.  As was Friday, with Venizens showing up to party in the street, like the good old days.

Speedway and Dudley was the street party, with one half of the jamboree happening at The Cadillac Hotel and the other half across the street in the old Henry's Market (newly gone) at 9 Dudley. It was great to have art in the space again, as we spent many MANY a good time in the old Sponto Gallery located right next door. Sponto himself would have LOVED to see so many good Venice people out having a good time on a beautiful summer evening on Dudley.

Music blasted so loud you couldn't really talk that great, so you just smiled, hugged and looked at the art and the people who make and appreciate it.

Artists donated pieces to be hung/sold. Several local restaurants donated food and drink. Many volunteers donated their time and hard work. Organizers (Edizen! Nicole! Sunny! Danny S!) broke their backs securing all of the above, and it was well worth it, to judge by the grand old time people were having.

It's all about Venice, and all about the art that is created and shown off here. The next Art Crawl will be September 19, and there's a lot of good stuff in store. Mark your calendars to get out to it and see what all the fun is about as the Venice Art Crawl kicks off it's fourth year.

Happy Birthday, VAC!!! .... AND MANY MORE!!!!

Nick van Woert - The Last Show at L and M Arts

I just got back from checking out the last show at L & M Arts in Venice. As if to reflect my mood about it, the fog rolled in just as I walked in the doors to see Labyrinth, the sculptures of Nick van Woert. It was bittersweet, as I've spent a lot of time in this gallery, learning, appreciating and reflecting ... most often on foggy days like this.

In the West Gallery, van Woert has a series of wall sculptures modeled after mappae mundi - the medieval maps of Europe. Bronze casts of basic tools, like hammers and arrowheads give it all a feeling of the history of man, and the ways in which we got to today.

In the big main piece, Not Yet Titled (2013), van Woert made up his own personal history. According to the press release, "This large sculptural lexicon is the sum of the artist's influences and ideologies. It includes casts of relevant books, childhood toys, peace pipes, and other meaningful objects that, together, helped to amass his character." Cool.

The work builds "a link between seemingly antiquated notions of construction, industrialism, and sustainability amidst shifting societal values and consumer demands.

The West Gallery is all serious and tangible feeling, heavy with permanence.

In contrast, the East Gallery houses the title piece, Labyrinth (2013), a maze of plexiglass boxes that contain, well, junk. Plastic, man-made junk. AstroTurf, pinatas, aquarium rocks, a hot dog, dirt, cat litter, fabric, what have you. This gets a little into the territory of "What is art? Anyone could do that!" To which John Waters famously said, "Then you should." Right on.

Where the West Gallery feels all museum-like and hallowed, the East Gallery feels ephemeral and cheap.

Interestingly, the press release - and thus, van Woert, acknowledges exactly that, saying his sculptures "are ammunition for a material revolution that rebels against the dividing qualifiers of 'fake' and 'authentic'. Selected for individual traits, rather than an ability to replicate the favored materials of antiquity, van Woert engages the inherent aesthetics, palettes, and textures of each material he chooses ... His work challenges us to become increasingly aware of the artificial concoctions that populate our contemporary habitat." In other words, art is everywhere.

I loved these moments of solitude, just me and the creativity and ideas of the artists shown at L & M Arts, thinking and understanding. The Gallery closes its doors for good on August 23rd. They will be fondly thought of and most assuredly missed. Thank you for the beautiful time you spent with us here in Venice. And thank goodness art IS everywhere here.

Neo Povera at L & M Arts

I finally got over to see the Neo Povera show at L & M Arts, in what I sadly heard will be there second to last show. The Venice gallery is closing for good this fall, in what will be a big loss to the local art community. I'm not sure why (usually it's a money thing), but I know for sure that they will be missed.

Before you even go inside (or even if you don't), you can enjoy Andy Ralph's sculpture, Manifold Destiny, 2013, which is a bunch of artfully placed chain-link fences.

The show is based on the Arte Povera movement of the late 1960's, which translates literally to "Poor Art". The Artists all worked with accessible materials in an attempt to blur the lines between "elite art and the colletive experience.

The press release explains it well, with an excerpt from the manifesto by Germano Celant, outlining the original movement, Notes For A Guerrilla War:

"Over there is a complex art, over here a poor art, committed to contingency, to events, to the non-historical, to the present ... to an anthropological viewpoint, to the 'real man', and to the hope (in fact now the certainty) of being able to shake entirely free of every visual discourse that presents itself as univocal and consistent. Consistency is a dogma that has to be transgressed, and the univocal belongs to the individual and not to 'his' images and products."

In other, less lofty (everyday) words, it's art made from everyday stuff, that anyone can get, and create with in their own vision.

So you get Maya Lin's take on a Manhattan phone book.

You get Karla Black's cellophane sculpture, Spared The Sight, 2012.

A piece that looks like just a regular old Igloo by Patrick Meagher.

Virginia Overton's Untitled (Sandbag), 2013 ... made from yep, a sandbag.

None of the works were labeled (which always bugs me), so I'll just share some with you that I liked, but don't know the titles or artists of, and didn't want to keep asking ...

I come from a railroad family, so I liked the repurposed railroad tie sculpture back outside by Marianne Vitale.

All in all, it reminded me a bit of the Fluxus movement, where the premise is that everything can be art. Everything can be SEEN as art. And you should go see this very interesting show, while you can. It's on until July 6th, and then there's only one more exhibition at this wonderful space.

Which I guess means we all need to make more art, more accessible, and pick up the big slack that will be left when L & M is gone. Venice is up to the task, as art IS everywhere here.

L & M Arts
660 Venice Blvd.
Venice
Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00am - 5:30pm