Presidential preferential paintings

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/10/07/arts/design/20091007BORROW_index.html

I believe that a person's art says more about them, than their clothes (or cars, I am in LA). I was recently educating myself on Conceptual artist Glenn Ligon, when I discovered that one of his paintings stares our president, in the face, every day. That is one hell of a compliment! So I thought, "What else does the guy look at at for inspiration. What did this guy select, from the coffers of America's collected artwork's from the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the National Gallery of Art and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Check out the website on top, to see the NY Times article on the selection of President, & Mrs. Obama, for the White House, during their tenure

Spirit Awards

http://www.spiritawards.com/
LAartGUY got some work, installing "stuff" at the tents, in Santa Monica, for the Spirit Awards. I love the spirit awards, as they are celebrating the storytelling ability, of movies. Unlike it's bigger brother, these awards are SEEM, at least to me, to be rewarding real performance. Performance achieved through the efforts of writers, directors, grips, the actors, investors, as well as the luck of the weather, favors from friends, and the like. Not unlike a painting with a storied history, these films are the products of many peoples hard work, dedication, perseverance, stubborness, and some cold, hard cash. In other words, not "Hall Pass".

Angels & Amigo's

I was fortunate to obtain 2 new clients this week. Because of my own discretion policy, I can only say, that one of them, is one of 3 Amigo's, and the other, is one of Charlie's angels.
I'd like to point out, that I install artwork for kids school auctions, as well as wealthy, famous, celebrity clients. I think that the display of artwork, in one's place of work, and where one lives, not only enhances, but personalizes, the entire edifice. Artwork radiates positive energy through color, mark making, image sampling, entertaining, distracting, engaging us at every glance. As titillating as eye contact in a casual cafe. Art constantly engages me, and I love it

Donate your way to a fantastic collection

http://www.thefrostigcollection.org/2011/index.php

Amazing artists, donating beautiful works, all affordable (except Guy Dill)
and for such a worthy cause!

A Chris Burden sculpture? Are you kidding?

Steve Powers

http://www.firstandfifteenth.net/

Philly born, sign painter.
Intriguing, talented, and generous.
He can afford studio space in manhattan.

His sign painting skills are all over Coney Island.

What I want to know, is does he get along with Franco?

Rioting at Disney Castle!

Libyan protestors stormed the Princess' castle at Disneyland, calling for the Man to Man wedding of Hosni Mubarak, to Gender bending Mohmar Quadafi. The love between these men is apparent to the entire world, we have to support their union.
Go to Orange County, climb the castle and be heard!!!!

Minneapolis Banksy!

Before and after shots of a MN billboard. Banksy? Billboard Liberation Front? Considerate chap? Indeed!

Woody!

Woody's got a brand new website.
Dig it. I got mine (pictured).
Fo shizzle, shell, out some wizzle, and proudly show off your sweet rizzle!
http://ellwoodtrisk.com/

Downtown LA on NY Times website!!!

I just well up with pride when my NY home state, endorses my adopted city, Los Angeles.
NY Times spent 36 hours in downtown LA, and made some great recommendations on art, food, and shopping. Endorsing this article, gets me out of the time consuming job of actually blogging about something myself, so please read and enjoy. And please excuse my Sunday laziness. I guarantee some fascinating posts this coming week!!!

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/20/travel/20hours-los-angeles.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=homepage

Banksy in LA

LAartGUY, always on the cutting edge, is bringing y'all top headline news!
You heard/read it here first. Banksy is in LA for the Oscars, or the Academy Awards, or simply to try those killer Korean Taco's: http://kogibbq.com/
Remember that little movie, "Exit through the gift shop"? Yea, well, it might be up for some award (I don't keep up with that), and Banksy is in town to do Banksy stuff. I'm checking the pubs, looking for the hooded chap, with a monkey face, downing fish and chips: if he's in Hollywood, I'd look over here: http://sunseteg.com/pignwhistle.aspx

Art Auction

One of the most interesting of auction houses in Los Angeles is the estate liquidator, Clark Cierlak,
http://www.estateauctionservice.com/
Their auction, this Saturday has everything from art, decorative objects, fur coats, and flint rifles.
It's free to attend, exciting to watch, and for $100, you can get some un-common item.
Like this Todd Gray painting that is 5 1/2' x 8'

O. Winston Link

This photographer, indeed one particular photograph by this iconic photographer, has crossed my path, 3 times, in less than 2 weeks.
This photo was presented at the CAA auditorium, in conjunction with LA Contemporary, at the One Image/ One Minute presentation. Then I installed an original print in a Beverly Hills home, last week; and just encountered the work, again, today. Wow, that's a lot of this 60 year old photograph!
This guy shot steam trains, and American life, in the 1950's, obviously cognoscente of the culture's impending demise. Though his work looks like lucky snapshots, they are anything but. Each image of his was elaborately staged, not unlike those of Gregory Crewdson, today. See and read more about this wonderful man and photographer here:
http://www.linkmuseum.org/collection.html

Drug Policy Alliance

LAartGUY installed a benefit auction for the DRUG POLICY ALLIANCE.
The event was planned by the dynamic duo of Milo & McLean (http://www.milomclean.com/)
On February 10, 2011, the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) will be hosting its fourth art auction and
cocktail benefit, re:FORM, at Honor Fraser Gallery in Los Angeles. re:FORM represents a
growing partnership between the art world and the drug policy reform movement, bringing
together people interested in the creative arts and promoting profound social change.
The 2011 re:FORM event is the first of its kind on the West Coast, following three successful
events in New York; at Sikkema Jenkins & Co and Cheim & Read, and artists included Mark Bradford, Julie Mehretu, Andres Serrano, Fred Tomaselli, Kara Walker, and Lawrence Weiner, among many others. Ed Ruscha serves as re:FORM’s Honorary Art
http://reformartauction.com/

Mel Rubin, multi-talented artist

There are so many wonderful artists that just don't seem to garner the attention that some mediocre artists achieve. One artist that falls into this category is Mel, (http://melrubin.phanfare.com/). His charcoals are great, his 3D ceramics are amazing, and his paintings of fires are great, too. I used to see him at just about every art opening, with his dogs, obediently guarding his tiny convertible. I don't know if it's me or him that goes to less openings! Here's one of his charcoals. Just great!

Alex Prager, young female photographer from LA

One of my clients recently inquired about where to get an Alex Prager, photograph. (http://www.alexprager.com/)
Alex is currently sold through M + B fine art, in West Hollywood (http://www.mbart.com/), but prior to their representation of her work, she had done a wonderful show, Polyester, at the Robert Berman Gallery, at Bergamot Station (http://www.robertbermangallery.com/). Robert still has, for sale, the images from that show.
Alex is a young, self-taught artist, that has been flying high both before and after, her inclusion in the New Photography show at The Museum of Modern Art, in New York (http://www.moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/2010/newphotography/alex-prager/) garnishing attention, praise, and press that all artists yearn for.

self portrait, at art fair

No explanation needed...

January art fairs are over, how'd they do?

Jori Finkel, of the LA Times , put together an erudite summary of the art fair-whirlwind, that just ended. Read it here:
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-the-battle-of-the-art-fairs-20110127,0,5906207.story
LA still does not have the goods that Miami delivers. LA does not have collectors flying in, as basel does. We are almost there, we just need to find the right venue, and timing, for the fairs.

So now that the fairs are gone, what to do?
Check out some of Ansel Adams work, that he produced to pay the bills.
Hired to do publicity stills for a private school, ansel busted out his action camera.
His contrasts are still recognizable.