los angeles Tag

Upon entering artist Michael Giancristiano's newly-minted Santa Ana workspace, you are greeted by the renowned collection of cylindrical plywood sculptures rising in various heights and circumference from the concrete floor in a scattered formation, The Pits of Despair: Regret, Uncertainty, Credit Card Dept, and the smaller works in between entitled "Empty People". As pits go, they are incredibly beautiful, hard to miss and it is not until you are peering directly into them that you are struck with "pit-like" foreboding. Even then it is a conversational...

02 September, 2012 /

[caption id="attachment_4179" align="aligncenter" width="406" caption="Baldessari leaves MOCA board"][/caption] NEWS.  On Thursday, July 13, 2012, renowned artist, John Baldessari resigned from his post on the board of trustees at MOCA. Baldessari's exit is the fifth MOCA board member to leave since February. "His exit after 12 years is another signal that the old guard of L.A.'s contemporary art scene has grown disenchanted with its direction under Deitch," according to LA Times writer, Mike Boehm. Baldessari told LA Times that his reasons include the recent ousting of respected chief curator...

13 July, 2012 /

I recently had the privilege of interviewing Ciscandra Nostalghia from the LA-based avant garde electro-acoustic musical duo Nostalghia. They have been called "post-apocalyptic gypsy punk," which is the best description I have heard of their intensely creative music. Nostalghia is the brainchild of recording and performing artists Ciscandra Nostalghia and Roy Gnan. The musician and visual artist pair blend beautiful, mysterious romantic visuals with passionate music and avant garde performances. At times, Ciscandra's unique, raw, and expressive use of her voice is reminiscent of Kate Bush,...

12 June, 2012 /

Joe Sorren's paintings remind me of the sweetness of the simple moments in life, like a flower covered in dew sparkling in the sun or a child quietly playing in a garden. We have to intentionally stop being mentally absorbed in the incessant activities of our lives, to mindfully notice these sweet and movingly beautiful moments happening before our eyes everyday. Going to see Sorren's paintings on display feels like this. Like a visit to a park just to lay down on the grass and...

16 April, 2012 /