New shows & articles

The old Milo Gallery has conveniently become a marijuana dispensary, thus allowing me to enjoy the justin Beal show, next door at ACME. Saran wrapped mirrors with clear tubing protruding from the aforementioned saran.
http://www.acmelosangeles.com/artists/justin-beal/
Like Mike said, "It'll probably be on the cover of ARTFORUM next week.
I mis-read the opening schedule, and arrived to a shuttered gallery at Michael Kohn, which really diminished my great parking spot on Beverly Blvd. I persevered to Culver City where Corey Helford was dishing out the usual (yawn), but I was really fascinated by the work of Britton Tolliver, at Kinkead Contemporary. Really great and interesting paintings, well executed and original. Go!
http://www.kinkeadcontemporary.com/exhibitions/index.php
This last weeks New Yorker has a great article on Julie Mehretu (March 29, issue). Good article on a great, young, black, gay painter. Provided valuable insight into her work, and where she is coming from. Good read!

Art Installation Olympics

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/23/arts/design/23handlers.html?emc=eta1

I can not tell you all how proud I am

How did we get to Thursday?

When time flies, it's generally because you're busy.
I've had a good week work-wise, and life-wise.
Firstly, all hail some progress in the Government Health care reform!
I'm still moving the wealthy out of LA. This last one stayed in CA, though.
I De-installed the home in the Pacific Palisades (the Highlands) and moved them out to Indian Wells. Just 2 1/2 hours from LA, and a beautiful, clean air desert!
Tonight I'm going to see a photographer talk about her work at A&I photo lab, part of the Julia Dean workshop.
http://www.ssreg.com/juliadean/classes/classes.asp?courseid=9769&catid=2276
The talk, featuring Tierney Gearon, will bring technical advice, and personal reflection to her image making practices. Please join me, but refrain from direct eye contact. Thank you, and know if you see me, I am wearing my IRON MAN underwear.

Beautiful Saturday

Holy smokes is it gorgeous out there today, or what?
A little motorcycle gallery hopping today!
I'm first off to Santa Monica Airport to see the artist studios, and a couple gallery shows, all in one place at: http://www.santamonicaartstudios.com/
Then I'm going to check out a new gallery space (I'm so happy to see galleries opening, rather than closing!) also in Santa Monica, Jeanie Madsen Gallery, http://www.jeaniemadsengallery.com/
Then I'm taking my two beautiful dogs out for a nice long walk before going to tonights opening at Gallery 825, 7 billion billionaires. But honestly, what I'm really looking forward to, is the pizza at Vito's, across the street from the gallery. The pizza comes highly recommended by Shana Nys Drambot, a former NYer, so I am taking this seriously, and have heightened expectations (of course if they last more than four hours, I will see a doctor) I would love to go and see more art, but knowing that after a few good slices of pizza, and a few beers, I will want nothing more than my high thread count, and my pooches, all horizontal.

Slow week

I don't know if it's just me, but business seems to be taking off in spurts. One week I have over 90 hours of billing, the next, only 40. All the art fairs in NY may be slowing things down here, while my market shops in NY. There are several large projects that I estimated this week, so next week is looking pretty good. There's a collector moving from the Palisades to Indian Wells, and There is the set-up for west-week in west hollywood, I'll be at the PDC installing for Thomas Lavin showroom, www.thomaslavin.com
Thank the heavens for stellar designers like James Magni! His clients are keeping me busy, and with a look at his projects, it's no wonder. http://www.magnidesign.com/
I hope everyone had a fun and trouble free St. Patty's day, and nobody is too green today!

Can you hang art on glass?

That was the basic question I was to address at the office building on Wilshire Blvd.
"Why yes, of course." was my response.
The lobby of the building was sheathed with 12' panels of white glass, varying in width, from 36" - 43". Great idea to avoid the expense of re-painting the surfaces, and keeping them free of mold/bacteria, but uh, now how do we put up art?
By law, zoning law or something, all business building have to contain artwork equal to a small percentage of the buildings construction budget; and that african sculpture, shoved in the corner wasn't going to cut the mustard.
Long story short, I referred them to grip-lock systems:
http://www.griplocksystems.com/artsuspension/
You can see it live and in person at Anderson Gallery, in Beverly Hills:
http://andersongalleries.com/

New Artwork from Jennifer Celio

I've been busy, working hard, selling and servicing. My friend, Randi, tells me that "You cannot work in your business, and on your business at the same time." I have thought a lot about that statement, I see her point, but what's my choice?
Well I have rewarded my hard work by borrowing $500 from my girlfriend, and bought some (more) art. Dude, I'm going to pay her back; get real!
http://jennifercelio.com/
Wonderful work that I am excited to get up on my wall! And to think that I thought walls were to support ceilings at one time, hah!
Take note, this is one of those artists that is young, talented, and hard working. You will see her artwork in the future, so why not buy directly from the artist, rather than wait until a gallery sells her work at twice the price (and it will still be worth it!).
Today I will be working in the studio with another fine and talented artist, Bill Tunberg, Check out his artwork at his website:
http://williamtunberg.com/

Laddie John Dill

I love this artist, and his work.
http://www.laddiejohndill.com/
He usually mixes cement, glass and wood together to manufacture some of the heaviest artwork since marble! That means people can't lift it, nor move it, nor put it on the wall. That means work for me and my company! Today, Monday, March 7th, I was happy to get a call from the Housing Authority of Los Angeles. They purchased a building that came with a Laddie piece in the lobby, which is about to undergo a much needed renovation. They called Laddie; Laddie told them to call me. Did I say that I love this man? Well, five hundred dollars later, The Housing Authority has artwork in an office on 6th Street, that our hard working civil servants can enjoy and reflect on while working. For sure, productivity will increase, more people will be found affordable housing, employees will get raises, the stores in their respective neighborhoods will sell more goods, the GDP will rise, and all will be right with the world, because of a Laddie John Dill painting in a public building. WOW!

Saturday Night

Despite the current inclement weather, I'm braving the elements to venture forth to a few openings. The first of which will be the Merry Karnowsky Gallery, a timely show by Camille Rose Garcia Alice in Garcialand
http://www.mkgallery.com/index.php
next stop, provided I'm not soaked, nor sloshed, should be the rather unknown, Known Gallery. They have a "Freedom" show with many young and talented up-and-comers

http://www.knowngallery.com/.

I'm looking forward to checking out a Retna (no I in retna) at New Image Art, first saw him over at Robert Berman Gallery at Bergamot, he's in the Freedom show, has recently put out a publication with MAC, and has the material to put up a solo at NIA. That's a hard working artist!

http://newimageartgallery.com/shows/

If you're too lazy to venture out into the cold and wet, I certainly don't blame you. Take a minute to view this great little video, that's up for an award tomorrow. It's kind of like going out....

http://www.logorama-themovie.com/

Friday without traffic

Installed a canvas in Playa del Rey, from Sherman Gallery in Venice
(http://www.shermangallery.net/). I love installing huge canvas' in stairwells.
I don't even know if love is a strong enough word. Then on to assemble and install an IKEA artwork, and install it. The guy claimed that he didn't know that he had to assemble it. I'm like, "Dude, the only thing that IKEA makes, that you don't put together yourself, is like, a candle, or an extension cord." Guy's gotta get REAL.
He lived over on Sawtelle, near Giant Robot, so I went there and checked out their sweet art, ephemera and books. Bought myself a picture book of Barry McGee, Stephen Powers, and Todd James. I'm totally into the McGee installation sense, more than the sad head thing.
Got off the streets by 2:30. Made it home clean (phew!)

New Hi-Rise in Marina/Venice Beach

I got a chance to see inside the new residences, built out of the former office tower at Via Dolce and Washington Blvd. in Marina del Rey ( http://www.pierpointelife.com/).
Super sweet hand chiseled wood flooring, with custom metal banister work; 2 story 3/3 for $319 a foot. That translates to 2000 sq ft living space for under 800k. Sounds great if you're flush!
I installed the model, the designers did a really nice job of furnishing and accessorizing the place. I especially liked the pristine copy of an Art in America magazine from 1967, on the coffee table.

Beverly Hills Hotel

We are suspending artwork from the ceiling of the 22' high ballroom!
The Hotel is gorgeous old world Hollywood. It is the Essence magazine awards for the Hollywood leading ladies of Color. Sorry guys, invite only.

New Laguna Beach Gallery, Swenson Fine Art

Hey, Thanks for checking out my new artblog!
Yesterday I installed the inaugural show at Swenson Fine Art.
They are located in Laguna beach (yes, with an ocean view!) at 460 South Coast Highway.
Tell Laurie that David told you about the free wine
http://www.swensonfineart.com/