Get ready for this weekend (Culver City, Miracle Mile, Santa Monica Auctions)…

ARTWALK Culver City / Sat, May 30th 12noon – 8pm
This free, self-guided tour of local art galleries and exhibition spaces is sponsored by Sony Pictures Entertainment, 89.9 KCRW – the official Public Radio Sponsor – and LA Weekly with continued participation from The MOCA Contemporaries of The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA). ARTWALK Culver City opens the doors of the area’s art galleries to introduce a wider audience to the unique vitality of the artist spaces of Culver City. This event especially celebrates the Culver City Art District, a cluster of galleries exhibiting new and distinguished artists, which is located where Washington and La Cienega Boulevards intersect. The event will also feature live jazz, performed by the Los Angeles Jazz Collective, in the Culver City Art District. Dozens of restaurants and cafes will be open in Downtown Culver City and the Culver City Art District during the event and the Green Truck, serving healthy, gourmet organic food in a fast and efficient way, will be parked on the east end of the Culver City Art District.
Over forty galleries will be open from 12noon to 6pm and selected galleries will remain open until 8pm that evening. Culver CityBus will offer an ARTWALK Bus Pass and a special shuttle bus on the day of the event.
Please contact the Culver City Cultural Affairs Hotline at 310.253.5716 or log onto http://www.culvercity.org/cultural/artwalk.asp for more information on ARTWALK Culver City. The MOCA Contemporaries, one of Los Angeles’s premier cultural support organizations, is MOCA’s council for young professionals who raise funds and develop future leadership for the museum. For more information on The MOCA Contemporaries, log onto http://www.moca.org/contemporaries.

Art Walk 2009 / Sat, May 30th 12noon – 8PM

Muse, LACMA’s membership group for young artists and art enthusiasts, in partnership with the Miracle Mile Art Walk, will present Art Walk 2009 on Saturday, May 30th. Enjoy free admission to LACMA, The Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits, the Petersen Automotive Museum, and the Craft and Folk Art Museum from 12pm-8pm, followed by a fantastic after party at the El Rey Theater featuring live music, dancing, and complimentary drinks.

For more information, with downloadable maps, a full schedule of events, plus tickets to the after party, visit lacma.org/muse.

Santa Monica Auctions Annual Live Public Fine Art Auction

Sunday, May 31, 2009 starting at 1pm

Robert Berman Gallery [Gallery C2 + D5] in the Bergamot Station Art Center @ 2525 Michigan Avenue in Santa Monica

The Santa Monica Auctions is holding it’s 25th Anniversary Modern and Contemporary Art Auction on Sunday, May 31st, starting at 1pm at Bergamot Station Arts Center. Beginning in 1984, SM Auctions has been continuously offering important works for both the beginning art collector as well as the most sophisticated connoisseur collector. Santa Monica Auctions feature the work of both mid-career and established artists of all mediums including modern and contemporary painting, photography, sculpture, drawing, multiples and prints. Last year’s sale was highlighted with unique works by Ed Ruscha, Banksy and Ed Moses. This year’s collection is shaping up to include amazing works by Art Luminaries such as Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, and Roy Lichtenstein. Highlights from this sale also include important works by historically important beat artist Wallace Berman, famed street artist Chaz, unique pieces by Chris Burden, a vast collection of very early and rare Raymond Pettibon original drawings from the 1980’s-1990’s, prints by masters Henri Mattisse and Pablo Picasso, and contemporaries Bruce Nauman and Shepard Fairey. Unlike other auction houses, SANTA MONICA AUCTIONS will take significant works for consignment right up until the date of the sale so there are always last-minute surprises.

Live previews are ongoing now in their galleries and the full catalogue can be viewed online at www.smauctions.com

reFRESH tonight at The Geffen Contemporary…

Please join the MOCA Contemporaries for
reFRESH
Tuesday, May 12, 6:30-8:30pm
(152 N. Central Ave., Downtown LA)
Grab some IZZE or Fiji water, and sift through the art works from FRESH that did not end up with a new owner on Saturday night!
Please RSVP to Michelle Bernardin at mbernardin@moca.org
View the pieces in the auction at the link below (but please note many may have already sold – this is the event for the pieces left from Saturday’s auction action):

Recommended openings to catch this weekend…

Thurs, Jan. 29th 6-8:30PM
University Art Gallery @ University of California San Diego

Mandeville Center / 9500 Gilman Drive in La Jolla / 858.534.2107
Mark Dean Veca – Paintings, Wall Drawings and Collaborations
(On view through March 15th)

Fri, Jan. 30th 9PM-1AM ($8 at the door / 18+)
Infusion Gallery
719 S. Spring Street in downtown Los Angeles / 213.683.8827
“Booty!” – curated by Heidi ‘Bluegirl’ Calvert and featuring all manor of pirate themed art, sexy performances, live music, art on display from KRK Ryden, Art Weeks, Wil Cohen, Shahid Brown, Paul Torres, Bill Bronson, Oriana Small, Debra Haden, Dave Naz, Brad Miller, Alan Deforest, and many more plus Mad Jack The Pirate and Kaptain Kula as your hosts
www.myspace.com/bluegirlproductions

Sat, Jan. 31st 7-10PM
01 Gallery
530 South Hewitt Street #141 in Los Angeles / 213.689.0101
“Graff Since ‘69” – new works from Chaz Bojorquez
(On view through Feb. 15th)
http://01gallery.com/
Saturday, Jan. 31st 9PM-1AM ($8 admission / $5 as walking art)
Cannibal Flower
NEW LOCATION: 821 traction ave #106 (across from Crazy Gideons) in Los Angeles
Featured Artist: Michael Pukac with beats by: Mr. NumberOnederful and a live Performance by the Pussy Galore Burlesque Dancers and a huge group show featuring works from Craig “Skibs” Barker, MacSorro, NC Winters, David Campbell Wilson, Stephen J. Brooks, Yuki Miyazaki, Azikiwe, Rebecca Peloquin, Rebecca Hahn, Douglas Alvarez, Michele Waterman, Clinton Neuhaus, Tina Darling, Jim Darling, John Hicks, Jimmy Blyer, Walt Hall, Patric Hammerlien, Shahid, Jeremy Szuder, and many more – presented by Sour Harvest and Venice Grind
http://www.cannibalflower.com/

Sat, Jan. 31st 6-9PM
Crewest
110 Winston St. in Los Angeles / 213.627.8272
“On the One” Closing Night Party featuring Live Painting by “Unification Theory”. Core members include visual artist Overton Loyd (from legendary Funk band Parliament-Funkadelic), renown graffiti artist Man One, visual artist/writer Gustavo Alberto Garcia Vaca and special guest painter Favianna Rodriguez along with live music by Lonnie Marshall and DJ Phyz Ed spinning Hip Hop jams. Artwork created during past Unification Theory performances as well as pieces created that night will be available for purchase.
http://www.crewest.com/

Saturday, Jan. 31st, 3–5 pm
MOCA Store @ MOCA Grand Avenue
250 South Grand Avenue in Los Angeles
The Tree Book: Signing with Mark Ryden
*please note this will stop at 5PM sharp, and Ryden will only be signing the new book and only those purchased directly from the MOCA book store on day of event – no exceptions.
http://www.moca.org/store/index.php?

Sat, Jan. 31st 12:30 – 2:30
Munky King
7308 Melrose Ave in Los Angeles / 323.938.0091
Eyegore figure (chrome edition) signing with The Pizz
http://www.munkyking.com/

Sat, Jan. 31st 9PM-4AM ($10 at the door / 21+)
Rabbit + Gun
2323 East Olympic Blvd in Los Angeles
“Reflect” presents “I Love LA” with 10 LA-based artists on view, live painting from Mear One, a photobooth by Lawrence Cassel, live music and more.
www.myspace.com/reflectla

Sat, Jan. 31st 6-9PM
Sam Lee Gallery
990 North Hill Street, #190 in Chinatown area of Los Angeles / 323.227.0275
“Flesh + Bone” new sculptural works from Rebekah Bogard (*image above of Bogard’s sculptural work)
(On view through March 14th)
http://www.samleegallery.com/

Sun, Feb. 1st (check for time, may just be during normal hours...)
SURU
7662 Melrose Ave in Los Angeles / 323.655.0770
“This Is Los Angeles” – a photographic retrospective from Estevan Oriol
(On view through Feb. 28th)
http://www.suru-la.com/

Mon, Feb. 2nd 8PM-Midnight (*may be invite-only / not sure at this time…)
Pacific Electric Lofts
610 S. Main Street in Los Angeles
‘World On Fire’ exhibition curated by Will I. Am, Kris Lewis, and Justin Giarla from the Shooting Gallery featuring portraits of grammy nominees painted by: Shepard Fairey, Ron English, Gary Baseman, Shawn Barber, Kris Lewis, Lori Earley, Sas Christian, David Stoupakis, Joshua Petker, Paul Chatem, Greg Gossel, Henry Lewis, Shawn Barber, Van Arno, Matthew Bone, Helen Garber, Mike Maxwell, and many more.
(On view through Feb. 8th open daily 11am-6pm)

Tue, Feb. 3rd 7-10PM
Gallery 1988
7020 Melrose Ave in Los Angeles / 323.937.7088
“Cackle Factory” featuring new works from Brandt Peters
(On view through Feb. 27th)
http://www.nineteeneightyeight.com/

Ryden book signing at MOCA on Sat, Jan. 31st…

SATURDAY, JAN 31, 3–5pm @ The MOCA Store
MOCA Grand Avenue
250 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Renowned artist Mark Ryden will sign copies of his newest release The Tree Show (2009), a hardcover collection of recent works. Through paintings and sculpture inspired by the Roman poet Ovid’s tales of transformation in Metamorphoses, Ryden explores the mythological and transformative properties of trees, offering familiar preoccupations in new settings.

MOCA members will receive a 10% discount on the publication.

Please note:
Ryden will only sign copies of The Tree Show purchased from the MOCA Store (proof of purchase required) on a first come, first served basis. Due to high demand, early arrival is recommended; the signing will end promptly at 5pm. The galleries at MOCA Grand Avenue will be closed to the public January 26 through February 14, 2009, for the installation of Dan Graham: Beyond

Cheech Marin led tour at LACMA…

Last weekend we headed down to LACMA for a special event put on by the MOCA Contemporaries where Cheech Marin led us through his special exhibit Los Angelenos/Chicano Painters of L.A.: Selections from the Cheech Marin Collection

The Cheech Marin collection is notable for classic examples of Chicano art produced from the inception of the Chicano movement to the present, with a concentration in painting from the 1980s and 90s. This exhibition includes a number of widely exhibited works by such first-generation Chicano artists as Carlos Almaraz, Margaret Garcia, Gilbert “Magu” Luján, Frank Romero, John Valadez, and Patssi Valdez, as well as works by such younger artists as Vincent Valdez and David Flury

Cheech’s passion for the work on display was contagious. We walked away from this special talk/tour inspired and amped up for the week ahead. His collection is just amazing and the way he has used his celebrity to help the careers of several artists and a scene/movement as a whole is something many in Hollyweird should learn from…
Shown below, Cheech in front of Vincent Valdez’ work – by far one of the most amazing works in the exhibit.