Hustler of Culture

"Sao Paulo" at Scion Installation LA

February 28, 2009 - 8:25 p.m. - Culver City, CA

Artists Gary Baseman and James Jean were only two of the many artists that turned out for the "Sao Paulo" art opening at Scion Installation LA. Curated by Choque Cultural (Culture Shock), the show aimed to bring the "aesthetic and energy of the street indoors."

"Conjure" by Thomas Beale

Kinsey/DesForges Gallery

Gelato With Gelatobaby, Alissa Walker

February 26, 2009 - 12:41 p.m. - Burbank, CA

A little while ago, I made a lunch date with fellow foodie, DnA: design and architecture associate producer, and culture writer, Alissa Walker of Gelatobaby.  Alissa's quite the bi-pedal adventurer and was game to explore my work neighborhood of Burbank. I knew I had to find a restaurant worthy of the culture maven's attention and commute so I suggested we eat at local fave, Pinocchio Italian Restaurant.

Upon entering the neighborhood landmark, Alissa walked straight into a freezer case of orange-sized scoops of gelato. Welcome to Monte Carlo Italian Deli & Market, the grocery portion of the restaurant! Alissa was smitten. And I instantly knew that we were going to have a good lunch. We caught up over lasagnas leaving just enough room to treat ourselves to five baby scoops of different flavored gelato -- all for $2.95. I couldn't have asked for more from an afternoon of conversation and comfort food. Except for maybe a repeat visit.

LA - "Traveling with Nara" Screening (03.01.09)

DailyD is bringing you a free screening of Japanese Art Star Yoshitomo Nara's 2007 documentary "Traveling with Nara' this Sunday at the incredible Royal/T in Culver City.

With a pre-screening cocktail hour and post film wrap party we hope you will join us in viewing this unreleased film that follows Yoshitomo Nara as he prepared for his biggest show ever.

Sunday March 1st, 2009
Cocktails 6:30p
Screening starts at 7:30p
@ Royal/T 8910 Washington Blvd. Culver City, CA
Additional details online at DailyduJour.com

SM - Rock, Paper, Scissor: A Benefit Concert for the Santa Monica Museum of Art (03.01.09)

LA - "Sao Paulo" (02.28.09 - 03.28.09)

LA - "Conjure" (02.28.09 - 04.04.09)

Thomas Beale: Conjure

February 28 - April 4, 2009    OPENING RECEPTION: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 6-9PM

Kinsey/DesForges is delighted to present New York-based artist Thomas Beale with his first solo show in Los Angeles. The exhibition of mixed-media sculpture opens with a reception on February 28th and continues through April 4th.

NYC - "Of Flame and Splendour" (02.28.09 - 04.09.09)

PERRY RUBENSTEIN GALLERY
527 WEST 23RD STREET
ANNOUNCES

KAMROOZ ARAM
OF FLAME AND SPLENDOUR

February 28, 2009 – April 9, 2009
Opening Reception, Saturday, February 28th, 2009, 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Perry Rubenstein Gallery is pleased to announce Of Flame and Splendour, Kamrooz Aram's debut solo-exhibition with the gallery. Aram will exhibit new paintings and drawings created over the past year.

London - "Desert Island" (02.28.09 - 03.05.09)

Desert Island: Ana Laura Lopez de la Torre
28 February – March 5

(Closing reception Thursday 5 March 6pm – 9pm; with short performances by Ana Laura Lopez de la Torre at 7and 8pm)

For our first exhibition of 2009 and our participation in this year’s EAST Festival we’re excited to be presenting some very timely new work by Ana Laura Lopez de la Torre looking at ideas of the public, the social and the private; of personal belongings; at what we get from others, and our relationship to material need. Along with wall pieces exploring notions of sacrifice and the material conditions of creativity, the show includes an installation incorporating everything the gallerists have provided or surrendered to artists over the years to make the shows at Wiebke Morgan possible. This deft manoeuvre by the artist combines the site-specific with a new notion of the person-specific, and offers up an institutional critique of our unusual institution and ways of working. In ‘Desert Island’ Lopez de la Torre conjures an explicit opportunity to think about what it is to take part in public life, whether it’s worth it, and whether it shifts something in the way you think about yourself and the world.

LA - "Islands in LA" (02.27.09)

LA - "That’s Painting" Book Event (02.27.09)

That’s Painting

Please join us at Machine Project on Friday February 27 from 8:00 to 10:00pm to celebrate the release of THAT’S PAINTING a new book on the work of conceptual house painter Bernard Brunon. This event will be accompanied by Music To Watch Paint Dry By, arranged by our current artist in residence Emily Lacy, and a slide show of walls previously painted by Mr Brunon.

“With less to look at, there’s more to think about” is the motto Bernard Brunon gave his company, That’s Painting Productions, some twenty years ago when his activity as an artist turned to house painting. This first monograph on his work describes the process and explains the motivations behind this trajectory in two interviews done fourteen years apart - with Michael Kosch in 1993 and Pascal Beausse in 2007 - and an essay by Pascal Beausse: “Bernard Brunon, Painter and Manager”. The book shows how his work evolved from the late 1970s, when his painting followed the “Support/Surface” movement and was part of the anti-illusion current based upon a rejection of representation, in the late 1980s into house painting.

Team CB's 5th Annual Oscar Party

February 22, 2009 - 7:10 p.m. - Mar Vista, CA

Team CB hosted their 5th Annual Oscar Party with a couple dozen of their closest friends. Not too many tears were shed this year although it was agreed upon that the James Franco/Seth Rogen comedy bit was the highlight of the night. Oh... that and watching Sophia Loren want to maul the other women on stage. Glen won the Oscar pool inching ahead by voting for his boys. Thanks T and B for hosting another fulfilling Oscar night!

SF - "The Ambush" (02.26.09 - 04.??.09)

City Cooks Club - Korean Food

February 21, 2009 - 8:09 p.m. - Santa Monica, CA

Every month I get together with some of my gal pals and we cook dinner together. Every month we select a different theme to explore. February was the month of Korean food. OMG. Kalbi heaven, take me away! Special shout out to Sinden and Kyoung for taking the lead, I'm definitely going to repeat some of these recipes in the future!

LA - "Looking Into Andy Warhol’s Photographic Practice" (02.25.09 - 04.18.09)

"I Can't Feel My Face" Curated by KAWS

February 20, 2009 - 10:44 p.m. - Culver City, CA

New York-based artist, KAWS is in town and everybody's feeling pretty damn excited about it. I was invited to attend a closed reception for "I Can't Feel My Face", a show curated by the artist from the works of Susan Hancock's private art stash. Seeing as it was mandatory for all Manhattan ex-pats to show up, I happily, obliged. The show includes work from KAWS and several dozen other artists offering, "a view into the fractured imagery and energy of the creative mind." KAWS, who was in attendance, was fully supported by the Los Angeles creative cabal. Artists Gary Baseman, Tofer, and Peter Sutherland were spotted amongst friends.

The show runs concurrently with KAWS’ first Los Angeles solo exhibition, "The Long Way Home" at Honor Fraser Gallery.  "I Can't Feel My Face" is open to the public until September 7th at the hip cafe cum gallery, Royal/T.

The Praxis Show and Fundraiser!

We know this amazing and sweet dog, Praxis. He is so full of love. He also has cancer. Please buy art from some of our favorite artists (including my husband, Silvio) to help raise funds to offset his chemotherapy and other medical bills.

From Michelle, his bi-pedal roommate:

For the next seven days, you can view and bid on ebay for artwork by some of my favorite artists. They have created and/or donated work inspired by my dog, Praxis. Most of these artists have met Praxis, or know how much he's meant to me, and donated their time and talent to my effort to raise funds to pay for Praxis' chemotherapy and other medical bills after he was diagnosed with lymphoma in May 2008.

I've held on to these for a while, maybe too long, and I only kind of know why. Since the diagnosis, I've been in a strange state trying to wrap my head around losing a loved one to an illness like cancer. You have to accept that there's no cure, and that treatment can buy you time, but there's never a guarantee of quality of life, and certainly no sense of how long that time will last. Engaging in this artwork, all of it capturing some part of Praxis and my love for him, brings that home for me... and I'm not always strong enough to find a way to deal with the loss that's looming ahead. I think part of me also wants to keep it all!! Each piece is so fantastic... truly. This is a talented bunch and I'm incredibly lucky to have these folks as friends. This is an exciting time in my life. This is the first time I've had so many creative friends who are successful in their endeavors and inspire the same in others.

Godzuki With Expansion Pack

February 18, 2009 - 9:55 p.m. - Santa Monica, CA

LA - Haydn Celebration Concert 2 (02.22.09)

Please join us at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
at 6:00 PM next Sunday, February 22, 2009 for

HAYDN CELEBRATION Concert 2

Pianist Yue Chu performs:
Haydn: Sonata in D major, H.XVI:42
and Sonata in B minor, H.XVI:32
Liszt: Sonata in B minor.

This concert marks the second of our Haydn tribute during this celebratory year. These concerts feature selected prize-winning New England Conservatory students, and are presented concurrently with NEC’s own Haydn retrospective, curated by piano chair Bruce Brubaker.

These concerts are funded by a generous grant from the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation.

Boombox by Ely Kim

BOOMBOX from Ely Kim on Vimeo.

I've known Ely to be a lot of wonderful creative things. But I had not known that the last time we went karaoking, I was actually witnessing his now famous dance prowess. Ely's got the skills to pay the bills! How fun is this video?! 100 days, 100 songs, 100 locations, and 100 dances! I especially loved #13,  #39, #50, #52, #59, #61, #71, #80, and #94. Hey Ely, I've got your number! I smell a dance off.