However, that was my taste of the limited works on a textbook, and the book was literally heavier than all of my other class books combined; thick and heavy. It wasn’t long after this that I was introduced to Chinatown’s Chung King Road, and ever since, I have grown a following towards the place. Once in Chinatown I expanded my palette by reading reviews, then learning of more artists. The file is still growing. I’m not quite sure why or how a liking grew. However, I do remember my first art museum visit. I was in third grade, the museum was MOCA, and they still had the van shuttle that would take you to the Geffen location in Little Tokyo. I believe they no longer do that.
Arely in High School: The nostalgic years!
If it wasn't about impromptu photo sessions a la Sherman in the school aisles. It was all about museum visits with my AP Art History class.
So why am I going crazy about myself?! I promise there’s a good reason.
Some of you may be familiar with the Los Angeles based blog: Fine Arts L.A.. I will admit I wasn’t until I was introduced to the site by the very own Josh Morrison, the editor in chief of Fine Arts L.A, when Josh approached me with the offer of participating on a panel he was organizing later on that month.
Never before had I met an art blogger, and yes, and L.A. based art blogger not one of the many popular New York based blogs. I’m not quite sure about the demographics of blogs, but I sure know that if in Los Angles you will occasionally meet a blogger. And it seems as if most L.A based bloggers are in between the demographics of food or entertainment; entertainment not hosting an art feed. Meeting a fellow L.A. based art blogger was already a good sign to the process that was ahead.
LACE: It's Still a Blur
Our panel: "Panel of The Muses" took place in the colorful abyss of Hollywood. At Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions, an artist run gallery on foot since the late seventies. Instantly when I found out our panel will take place at LACE my demeanor grew. Skip Arnold, Dawn Kasper, and many other artists that I look up to had participated or have/are involved one way or another with LACE. It couldn’t get any better, but it did get better.
Panel of The Muses: Josh Morrison, Freddi Cerasoli, Arely Villegas, Lee Foley, Paul Pescador, Daniel Ingroff
Panel of The Muses consisted of four diverse individuals of the Los Angles art community: Lee Foley director of Actual Size Gallery, Paul Pescador artist and co director of Workspace Gallery, Freddi Cerasoli of Cerasoli Gallery, and Daniel Ingroff artist and director of Workspace Gallery. Overall, the panel was a healthy diverse body of individuals with Los Angles art cred.
Paul Pescador has been on the top of my list:Los Angles Based Artist to Lookout For!!
Pescador’s performative work intrigues me, since the artist takes on the role of observer rather than performer. Observation also serves as a type of performance!.
Joshua Morrison served as moderator and asked questions surrounded in the on going problem of Los Angeles dispersed communities, that no sense of community seems to exist or survive. The raising question of the night explored if an arts community even existed in Los Angeles.
We were all quickly to agree that a community in Los Angeles might not fully exsist, but it does thrive. Since Los Angles has no actual central core as per say New York City. Art Galleries in Los Angeles are literally dispersed into different communities and neighborhoods-- from the west side to the east side. You're either apart of one or two, but as a creative community we do try to close this gap. As Freddi Cerasoli pointed out: " I have proposed several ideas to nearby galleries in Culver City and everyone looked at me like I was crazy" ... when trying to organize a more steady Culver City Art Walk. It's just that "do it alone" attitude of Los Angles that aides and damages any scene in our city.
Workspace Gallery in Lincoln Heights has set to fix the problem by choosing to move in to a space you normally wouldn't expect an art gallery to exist in Los Angeles. Blum and Poe are not next door, but rather a normal working class community surrounds the space. Not only that, but Workspace has conducted projects such as, Nice to Meet You: Over , which explore SPACE, community, and interaction.
Lee Foley and the rest of the Actual Size Gallery family, resided in the windy city of Chicago before moving to Los Angeles very own charming Chinatown neighborhood and establishing Actual Size, one of Chinatown's galleries run by young creative individuals-- Lee Foley herself is only twenty five. Actual Size program is by far top scale. Even participating in this years MFA Grad Cal Arts show -- Box Scheme. Foley, spoke about the importance of working as a business rather than going down the difficult road of a non profit. Not to mention the hard times for non profit spaces in our city as of lately.
As for myself, I try to not shy away from any situation. After all, I do not seek social status, but rather the pleasure of having the right to be surrounded by the sole proprietor of life: art!.
Many complain about our city's lack of awareness to the arts, and others venture every weekend into the labyrinth of the Los Angeles Art scene. Woody Allen was wrong when in Annie Hall he comments: "I don't want to move to a city where the only cultural advantage is being able to make a right turn on a red light" - .
Los Angles is a one of the world's leading hubs for Contemporary art, as Angelenos we have to learn how to navigate, and embrace the raw labyrinth of the city that we live in.
June was one of the most memorable, and hectic months of 2010: Finals, meeting internationally known artists that have just arrived from their shows in Europe, hanging out with art collectors, artists, friends, gallery owners, participating panelist, art gossip... And I can only see greater and bigger months ahead in my constant relationship with the Los Angeles art community.
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