The Kids Are Allright/Collecting Robert Olsen

10 Jul The Kids Are Allright/Collecting Robert Olsen

Sorry for the lack of posts recently but after the London Tragedy I just wasn’t feeling it. As a matter of fact I started to slip into one of my " I need to move to another planet" depressions. So needless to say, drastic action had to be taken and the only way I know how to get out of one of those depressions is to go look at lots of art. So I grabbed the cat, some of the neighborhood kids and Mrs. OC Art Blog and loaded up the station wagon and headed up to LA to see what the state of the art world looked like up there.

The Kids are Allright

Our first destination was Venice where I wanted to catch a couple of group shows showcasing some mid-career and emerging artists primarily based in LA. Our first stop was cherrydelosreyes where they were showing Paper Beats Rock. Mary Leigh Cherry has one of the stronger programs going right now if you ask me and this show continues the quality. Go see it. Next up was Domestic Setting which was right around the corner. I had always heard about shows at Domestic Setting, this was my first time there. It seems Jeanne Patterson turns her home into a gallery every so often and puts on high quality shows. This particular show was curated by Michael Gold and was titled WivesHusbands and consisted of collaborative work by artists who were couples. I’m partial to the alternative space, great show by many names who you have seen shown separately in LA. Final stop in Venice was the Rogue Wave show at LA Louver Gallery. I actually collect one of the artists in this show so I’m a bit biased but after these first three stops in LA and some we made later, my message to the LA art community is….you have something good going on here and I know there are many distractions…..but don’t miss it. The Kids are all right. Photos follow:

Sombody get this piece by Charlotte McGowan-Griffin ASAP….before I do.

Libby Black

Domestic Setting

LA Louver

Culver City & Collecting Robert Olsen

Our next stop was Culver City. Pretty soon everybody will be here (sixspace & Kim Light soon to be the newest additions) so you better learn the lay of the land. I primarily came up to see Robert Olsen at Susanne Vielmetter and Erick Swenson  at Q.E.D. and both shows didn’t disappoint. Also of note was the group show at Anna Helwing Gallery primarily because Emilie Halpern was included.

We are also are happy to report that we have a new piece in the collection by Robert Olsen. Someone I consider an Edward Hopper of our times. After some research I found another well regarded art blogger who is a fan.

Side Note: It’s always nice to have your wife make you promise in front of an important dealer that you won’t buy any more art until we go to NYC in Nov. Luckily I had my fingers crossed behind my back and nobody noticed.

Our new piece from Robert Olsen’s Bus Stop Series. Just awesome.

Culver City

OK, I’m tired now but expect other posts on the Tim Hawkinson show at LACMA and a post on a new gallery in the LBC I’m excited about called Enview.

It’s the end of the world as we know it….and I feel fine.