“…I’ve been coming to this place for 47 years and believe me, 10 years ago you couldn’t have this kind of art in this venue. Abstract expressionism, Conceptualism ruled here until right up until recently. If you come here and you take this for granted you are making a big mistake, cause a lot had to change in this country to have a show like this. I just want to thank all of you people and I’m just, overwhelmed, absolutely overwhelmed. “
– Robert Williams upon receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award at Beyond Eden 2010
BEYOND EDEN 2010 opened with a blast this past weekend drawing nearly 4,000 people total over the weekend to the beautiful grounds of Barnsdall Park and the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery.
We would like to thank everyone who came out to support the artists and to extend our gratitude to the staff at LAMAG for making the event possible and nurturing it into such an overwhelming success. Saturday night’s opening reception alone drew well over 3,000 people and the energy in the air was palpable.
At 8pm when the time came to present the one and only Robert Williams with a Lifetime Achievement award, the venue was simply packed with a crowd of friends and revelers that stretched outside into the municipal gallery’s courtyard. Robert Williams, ever a gentleman, was gracious and ribald during the well received presentation.
We can’t stress enough what a huge honor it was to have Robert–the progenitor of contemporary West Coast art–there and to be able to present him with this award in front of all his friends and family. It was truly the crowning moment of an already amazing night that saw so many new people exposed to the thriving New Contemporary Art Movement. Long ignored by the mainstream, this movement continues to gain momentum and supporters all the while further breaking down the doors at institutions and museums the world over. A new generation of artists and art enthusiasts is rewriting the rule books and we are excited that BEYOND EDEN can serve as a vehicle of enlightenment and change.
Check out pictures from the opening night reception here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thinkspace/sets/72157625160997928/
Thank you all again for the magnificent support of BEYOND EDEN 2010 – we look forward to seeing you all again next year!!!
* Pictures courtesy of Sam Graham and Andrew Hosner
