Rauschenberg sees Beauty in the Discard

The Robert Rauschenberg exhibit is up now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY. It is curated by Paul Schimmel of MOCA & will come to LA later in 2006.

In 1986 (-ish?) I saw numerous pieces from the MOCA collection of Rauschenberg's work that were at the time, housed in the now known Geffen Contemporary, in the then known Temporary Contemporary (aka "The TC").
Good Times- I was young & motivated, influenced, ahh-ed & amazed, a little eccentric, emotional & very much in love with detritus. I felt a connection with Rauschenberg's love affair with found objects too, his knowledge of finding beauty in the discard & his use of them in his art. My romantic notions made me fantasize that we were kindred spirits.

His mixed media sculpture, he called "combines", rather than assemblage, as much of this type of work is known, rose out of the height of Abstract Expressionism (much influence is evident of this in his paintings of the 50's). As well as the paper elements; photos, newspaper, letters & cardboard that can be seen in contemporary collage since the early 1920's, he built upon traditional collage even further, adding chickens, goats, brooms. His color palette was surprisingly fresh at times, as in "Minutiae", with the use of red, pink, orange & blue, whereas the earlier paintings were very very '50's in the use of neutrals, browns,tans, grey & black.

As quoted in this December 23 2005 NY Times newspaper, "I really feel sorry for people who think things like soap dishes or mirrors or Coke bottles are ugly, because they're surrounded by things like this all day long, and it must make them miserable."

I loved his work back then in the 80's and I love it now too. I can't wait for Rauschenberg to come back to town.
Walking through a retrospective is such a wonderful way to see the flow of thoughts as the years went by while the artist worked(*).
The timely-ness or the ahead-of-timeness that the art has/had.


(*) However, with Basquiat, it was strange to see the flow. The work was arranged in almost exact chronology throughout the entire exhibit. As I came into the last room, I looked at the work & felt a sense of decline. I noticed a difference in his line, his figures, the shapes & use of color had lost its' intellect. This seemed a little off to Jodon, because his eye was not tuned into seeing nuances, but rather he saw much of Basquiat's work as all of the same manner, regardless. When I mentioned that the last work was done the year he killed himself (albeit accidentally) then it became evident even more, that he had been gone for some time already.

here is an informative article: Rauschenberg American Masters
for more. And Here - the value & commission of Minutae

I hope to bring you additional accessible reviews, educational tips & art commentary including my personal experience/opinions/rants etc. throughout the year. Enjoy & Comment! -Leora

a Diane Arbus photograph

John Waters said "Christmas in LA is like a Diane Arbus photograph."

Happy Holidays in whatever way shape & form you personally subscribe to & describe as your own.

Gallery Revisited
Leora Lutz

PS
This photo is from the Griffith Park Observatory Light Festival.
Not a Diane Arbus photo, but maybe the experience of queuing up, passing the nachos & cotton candy vendors, looking at the neighboring cars - Hummer Limo with a kids' birthday party (they were wearing party hats), a van with the Nemo movie playing inside, a Homie in a Santa hat...then rounding the corner to a giant lit tree with The Loudest Smooth Jazz Christmas toons Ever heard, is uniquely L.A. too.

See Movies on Liquored Nog

So, holiday time is a fine time to plug in movies while plugging in the tree.

And thanks to my husband's job that he despises...I mean, Loves, he LOVES his job - we saved a couple hundred dollars this year from buying one of those DVD players. Yes, we finally have a DVD player, courtesy of the Co. Xmas Goody Bag.

"Honey, we can go to Video Journeys again!!" I exclaim. (Video Journeys is our local movie rental place)
Not that there are several good movies still on Video Cassette that we can put into our combo TV, but there is Nothing new coming out on video anymore.
Well, it lasted longer than Beta.

Post Haste, Jodon flew over to the Golden Apple to retrieve "Mystery Men". (Jodon is the husband)

If you love Bladerunner, Brazil, Fargo, Tank Girl & Mars Attacks...you'll love this. Everyone is in it. Tom Waits, William H. Macey, Ben Stiller, so many more. Artfully & colorfully lit, funny, quirky, deadpan & oldy timey slapstick meets comic superheroes. (this is not a review, just a note).

Happy Movie Holidays...
PS - see King Kong on a weekday at the ARclight.
We are convinced that at least 300 people were unable to see a movie there this opening weekend because there are too many options to buy tickets. Just bring back the one line - Not the ON line, not the Line outside by a machine - just the Line Inside.
And, if you're gonna get all digi & hyper-available with ticket purchase choices, please update your screen Immediately - so we Know when the 3, 3:30, 4 & the 4:30 is sold out by 2...
Before we go online & cannot logon to the system, then race over there in the car to stand In Line Inside - hopeful, wanting to see the big guerrila...
Also, Please serve an alcoholic Nog at your bar.

A movie theater with a bar. nice.

Your Comments Welcome

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Thanks,
Leora

ART Everywhere + fatigued holiday fun

The phone calls, the emails, the discussions, the art everywhere.
It's everywhere! Everyone is making great art, talking about art, talking about shows, selling art to all their adoring fans...getting into shows without trying, trying to get into shows & not, making art, making art affordable, making art disturbing, making art important, art that thinks, art that moves, art that smells...

In the meantime I get up from the computer & see the fatigue setting into my skin. The tree smells Good!
Downtime from the actual gallery space means working more from home. Loud music, colored lights & spots on the bridge of my nose because of the glasses I must wear Over my contacts while on the computer.
Rush out door in the afternoon to gather checks due, drop off art, go xmas shopping. Apply bandaid to very large red zit on forehead & head up the escalator to a surprisingly empty mega-shopping establishment that has gotten smart by going dim with the lights.

baba-baba-baba-ba-baba"I wanna be sedated..." up to my knees in hand-made holiday greeting papers (it's not really a card)

More art just around the corner - January will be here before we know it - stay tuned folks, some exciting stuff is on the way for 2006.

My Collector beat up your Honor Collector

Lately there has been some discussion regarding "real" collectors or "important collectors" vs. someone else who ... gee, buys art but isn't published in a magazine as someone who is a collector. Which is about 98% of the accessible & relevant (to this commentary) population.

I cannot practice bias amongst people who are excited about the art I am showing at the gallery;
who have their sights/insights on buying work, who are just starting their collection, or who are looking to add something new to their already developed collection, or who have never even walked into a gallery before, who are 20 years old, who are 60+, artists, philosophers, tenure professors, dandies, debutantes, ladies who lunch, men who manage, museum directors/curators, other gallerists...

I welcome anyone who is showing an interest - forethought or happenstance in acquiring fine art or art items. (Especially what I show)

For artists, it is gratifying & impressive to have a celebrity on your resume. Or to know that an important collector owns your work - because it is exciting knowing that when the time is right, they donate their collection to your favorite national museum, which of course, includes you.

But I think it is a good idea to not discount the countless others who understand, & ideally want to or will own your work. Or may be the published collectors of the future.

Heck, if they "want it" "need it" & ultimately buy it, they must "get it".

Accessible Art is the New Way

Planning 2006 for Gallery Revisited...lots of great shows lined up. So sad that there is only time for about 8 shows a year.
The calendar will be packed before you know it.

Which is why the Open View & Salon area of the gallery will be so great:
Artists' work & names will be accessible at all times in these intimate & interactive areas of the gallery.
Allowing for folks & fans to peruse affordable pieces under $200, from
original tiny paintings to art items, such as figurative sculptures or art books.
Or get to know artists more via their portfolios.

People are loving it up & it is creating quite a stir & wave of excitement from both artists & collectors.
Artists want the ability to make some change to support their larger & more conceptual statements - and what better way to do that than by selling more art. "Keep it inside", is one of my mottos.
Collectors want the ephemora to supplement their larger acquisitions. They also like the flexibility of acquiring smaller, & subsequently more affordable pieces by artists whose careers they are just learning about.
With more & more artists working in multi-mediums to expand their identity, these art items are sure to be as valuable as the larger works when the time is right.

Hand Pick art for $100

Well, more multi mini-art events still to come...(as per season of art2)

I swung by the Pharmaka "Small Wonders" Preview on Thursday the 8th. There is some really great work to win in the Art Raffle. Fumiko is doing a great job organizing the event & getting people excited about it.

Here is how it works:
You buy a ticket for $100. (proceeds go to benefit Pharmaka, the non-profit downtown collective & gallery)

If your raffle ticket is selected, you get to choose a piece, from about 100 selections.
Artists include Kim Abeles, Lisa Adams, Habib, Gronk, Ruscha and others - so many others...there is truly something for everyone & everything is top-notch & ready to appreciate & be appreciated.

RAFFLE EVENT: Saturday December 17th, from 4pm - 7pm Hosted by Ian McNeice.

PHARMAKA

good gallery vibrations/great art tonight

Last night I hung out at the new gallery location for an event that was hosted by Sumi, featuring some gorgeous items that are worthy of recognition & sure to fill some wish lists.


Sumi is doing a wonderful job at making the corner at Descanso a wonderful destination for shopping, dining...and of course, it will soon be a wonderful destination for all of your art needs in the future - featuring Gallery Revisited and all of the great artists.

There were so many great people who came by that I met - Everyone is excited about the Gallery coming in, so it was very motivating to have that positive response for something new to the neighborhood.

Thanks to Gretchen, from the Department of Graphic Sciences for stopping by to pick up a Powerpole Tshirt from my apparel line.
If you need identity branding, the gals there are the ones to go to.

There are a ton of openings tonight. Go to Caryn's blog - she is really good at listing shows to look out for.

Look for the blog icon on the home page.

Giving Art as Gift Too Personal?

This year is the most saturated year of art exhibits specifically targeted toward purchasing art for the holidays. Many say that work can be purchased as gifts, or a way to acquire affordable pieces.
Is Art Too Personal to Give as a Gift?
I don't think so. Of course, giving it to someone you know really well doesn't make it too personal at all. Giving it at the office Secret Santa may not be the best thing to do. I say, go to more galleries with friends, get to know their taste, see what they like, start talking about art.

Start here: 33 1/3 books is having an event this Saturday in Echo Park. Their event is anti-the facists-that stole Christmas. Love that, as since I respect those who do not celebrate Christmas, I don't think it is very PC to bash the choices of those who do. All political & social pressures of consumerism aside, please - it is so gauche to go around & say that society pressured you to a.b.c.
The folks over at 33 1/3 have such a nice rebel/anti/punkrock yet classic/y way of doing things.
www.thirtythreeandathird.info


Most of the artists I work with work in a variety of mediums & sizes. It always great to have the eye candy & important pieces, then have something more broadly accessible too - usually that means small & very affordable. Doncha think?

gallery move complete - season of art

Well, I am completely moved out of the Chinatown location.

As I was driving South on Broadway on Saturday night, I could see City Hall in the near horizon.
To my right was the neon sign of Chinatown Central Plaza. I felt a little homesick already. But that's just me - feeling nostalgic & sentimental lots of the time.
City Hall was gaspable - a pinnacle of deco magnificance on the landscape, lit with bright white lights, it was luminous & reflecting a pale blue transluscent glow on the surrounding buildings.
...
well, lots of art things to do this season:
I will be doing tons of studio visits with the artists I will be working with next year. Catching up on art talk & looking at work, planning shows etc.

I'm still going to have time to paint my apartment & can't wait to rearrange our collection.
Our living area has Siuan, Rozasy, Susie, Brad Valdez, CPowell, BLowe, NAbe, PGraffham, TOllier, JWilkins, LOrlasky, JPetker + some favorite vintage pieces. I am excited to get my Todd Squires soon too.
(We also have KReemtsen, DAshton + vintage Asian pieces in our bedroom)

What art do you have on your walls?

is the art scene dead here? & the economy.

oh my gosh. if i have one more discussion about the art scene in chinatown & whether it is dead or not...or how 'bout the one about the economy being bad & that's why noone is buying art...or about speculation of why galleries don't survive...

it is truly exhausting!

here is the deal : the "scene" in chinatown is fine. as far as i can tell, these galleries are doing well & have no intention of going somewhere else because the scene is gone. it's not gone.

the economy: art is a luxury item. regardless of the price range, it is not a commodity that is easily swayed by the economy because it is an item that is purchased by passion, not out of necessity. people will buy it regardless of what the economy is like.
just check out artnet & all of the huge numbers that are running through the auction houses.
look at miami - all those art fairs on one glorious weekend & the huge amount of money spent to put them on & all of the amazing art there is to buy. i am sure that plenty of the participating galleries will come home very satisfied with the sales results they gain from being a part of the fair. (and the artists too)
sounding like a win-win situation no matter how you look at it - all based on the sales of art.
so, if anything, the art is facilitating the economy.
hotels, advertising, fuel, transportation, publications, food services, bars & restaurants - all of these industries are also benfiting from the art event.

it just depends on how you are viewing the economy - the economy is a huge entity, so to blame the failure of a single industry on the Giant Beast that is The Economy is simply - simple. No matter what, people will spend their money how they choose when it comes to something like art, which is not on the pyramid of needs.

why a gallery closed: the reasons are endless & differing. For those that end soon -
at least you tried!! art is a great thing to support. did you expect to make a ton of money? not everyone does, but that's OK.
should we keep judging people for their failures? were there really failures anyway?

or should we look at the good they are doing - the great shows, the artists they support, the interesting curation concepts, the compelling press releases, the fun we had at the opening, the fine things that were said about the art, the amazing relationships that were built...the fun in acquiring art, the fun in selling art...