The Seagull Takes Wing at The Odyssey

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The Seagull Takes Wing at The Odyssey by Genie Davis

The Seagull, one of Chekhov’s most popular plays, is here in Los Angeles at The Odyssey Theatre in an extended run through February 23rd. The production is a don’t-miss directed by Chekhov expert and actor Bruce Katzman, author of Secrets of Chekhov, and stars Sasha Alexander of Rizzoli and Isles, NCIS, and Shameless as Arkadina, and James Tupper of Revenge, Big Little Lies, Grey’s Anatomy, Men in Trees,  FBI, and The Irrational, as Trigorin. The exciting production offers a timeless performance about chasing love and mourning its passing.

Stay tuned for a review of this production, but we were delighted to speak with the director and stars. Asked why The Seagull is such a special play, Katzman explained “The play is 126 years old yet it is unbelievably modern. Chekhov had his finger on the pulse of the human heart, and the characters in The Seagull might very well be people you read about in the gossip columns of today in New York or Los Angeles. The lure of celebrity, the dreams of a country girl who wants to be famous, the frustration of a son who can’t compete with his mother’s stardom and can’t find his own artistic path, the futile pursuit of love in all the wrong places! Audiences still laugh and cry with recognition. They see themselves, their neighbors and their family in this play.”

Katzman adds that he wants audiences to know the play and this production are “100% accessible. The name of Chekov, like the name of Shakespeare, sometimes intimidates modern theatre-goers and they’re afraid they won’t understand what’s going on, or that hte language will be difficult, or the story will go over their heads. But in our production you understand everything. And it’s a brisk two hours! We have not cut anything, but it is not a boring and tedious ‘period piece.’ It is fun!” he enthuses.

According to Katzman, he’s experienced “two great pleasures” in directing this production. “First, to assemble a cast of newcomers and oldtimers who have blended themselves into a beautiful ensemble; and having earned the trust of that ensemble, that they would help me realize my vision of the play. The great payoff has been to witness audiences night after night sit in utter silence to see the story unfold. You can hear a pin drop most of the time, except when they are howling with laughter! Perfect Chekhov.”

Lead actress Sasha Alexander says what inspires her most about the production and her role in it is the fact that she has always wanted to be a part of The Seagull. “I loved meeting Bruce and James initially, we got along well and I felt safe to go on this journey with them. I have enjoyed James’ work for years and with Bruce’s Chekhov expertise, I knew they would be the right team to dive into this with. They have assembled a wonderful cast, so many young talents, and Bruce’s interpretation of the play has made it contemporary and accessible to a wide range of audience.”

Co-star James Tupper concurs and adds “I’m inspired by the level of writing. The cast who are each super in their own way — and by the chocolate for sale at the Odyssey concession.  Salted Caramel Chocolate feels a lot like love,” he laughs.

Alexander attests that she loves her role as Arkadina. “She is a complicated woman who swings many ways throughout the play, emotionally. But she is tough and smart and a survivor. I like that. That’s what inspires me the most – the challenge of the role and just getting to perform this classic with so many beautiful artists.”

She finds that Arkadina is a challenging role on many levels. “The narcissism, trauma and performative parts of her character are swinging constantly, making it a truly diffcult experience every time we perform the play. But the relationship she has with her lover, Trigorin, her son, and her brother are complicated and rich. So many things to discover and play with. I love doing it and it is never the same, which is so inspiring and satisfying. It’s been one of the most wonderful acting experiencesof my life.”

Tupper describes his favorite part of the play as “The fight scene Sasha and I have in the middle of the play.  Don’t worry, it’s very funny and I think every married couple might relate. Also it’s fun to pretend to be a very famous person, even if it’s only for two hours, four times a week.”

Director Bruce Katzman’s full cast includes Sasha Alexander, James Tupper, Parker Sack, Cece Kelly, Carlos Carrasco, Carolyn Crotty, Joe Hulser, Will Dixon, Brianna Bryan, Matthew Hartley, Lukas Jann, and Hannah May Howard. The production is co-produced by Katzman, Tupper, and Crotty.

Extended through Feb. 23, the remaining performances are Thursdays Feb. 13; Feb. 20; Fridays Feb. 14; Feb. 21, Saturdays
Feb. 15; Feb. 22, and Sunday afternoons Feb. 16; Feb.23.  Those attending can stay for post-show Talkbacks on February 23rd.
The Odyssey Theatre is located at 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd. in Los Angeles.

  • Genie Davis; photos provided by the production.

The LA Art Show Celebrates 30 Years

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The LA Art Show Celebrates 30 Years by Genie Davis

The LA Art Show is returning to the Los Angeles Convention Center to mark its 30th anniversary. The first major art show in LA is now back with over 100 galleries from every corner of the globe, including Switzerland’s Licht Feld Gallery, the U.K.’s Columbia Road Gallery, Ukraine’s Snisarenko Gallery, and South Korea’s Art in Dongsan, as well as exhibitors from the U.S. such as the Coral Gallery in Miami, and closer to home Santa Monica’s Copro, Bruce Lurie,  and Building Bridges Art Exchange, as well as the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach.

DIVERSEartLA will also be back, curated as it has been for the last eight years by Marisa Caichiolo, and this year showincasing a variety of projects affiliated with DIVERSEartLA since its beginning. DIVERSEartLA arose from the necessity to raise the voices of and amplify marginalized perspectives, and continues to be one of the most compelling and innovative experiences in the large-scale exhibition space.

According to Caichiolo, “Visitors can look forward to an engaging display that highlights pivotal moments through videos of performances and installations from each year.” Her curatorial vision of diversity and inclusion also serves this year as an important reminder that artists and art lovers alike must stay active and engaged with securing and sustaining their rights.

Caichiolo notes “This retrospective, which feels particularly important right now, honors the creative contributions of our partners while emphasizing the vibrant evolution of DIVERSE as a vital presence in the art community.” Artists and institutes included in this year’s exhibition include a special institution focusing on diversity and pride from MOLAA, in collaboration with renowned Argentinian artists Leo Chiachio and Daniel Giannone.

Other DIVERSEartLA highlights include Carlos Martiel’s Cauce/Riverbed, exploring the deep challenges faced by
immigrants in California and throughout the country; and Viktor Freso’s enormous and exciting 30-foot Bear Sculpture presented by Slovakia’s Danubiana Museum, and serving as a symbol of power and resilience.

Los Angeles-area artist Robert Vargas will be back at the event, creating an enormous live mural, “Heroes,” during the Opening Night event. The mural, which will be on display throughout the exhibition, will be designed to serve as a heartfelt tribute to the first responders who continue to serve the city, standing as a symbol of hope and perseverance in the face of the recent fire disasters.

In addition, LA-based Building Bridges Art Exchange will showcase art from those artists who have lost their homes and studios in the fires, with all proceeds from that showcase going to support them.

The decision to proceed with the LA Art Show this year was in fact made in support of LA’s creative community in the aftermath of the recent fires. The exhibition’s director and producer Kasssandra Voyagis says that “As LA’s longest-running art fair, our mission is unequivocal: to champion the artists and galleries that constitute our cultural landscape…[we have] a resolute commitment to aid in the healing and rebuilding efforts while offering much-needed community support and reprieve.”

The LA Art Show runs February 19th through 23rd at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Tickets are available at www.laartshow.com with 15% of proceeds being donated to the life-saving mission of American Heart Association’s Life is WhyTM campaign.

Free entry to the fair is available February 20-23 for firefighters and their families as a thank-you for their efforts on behalf of all Angelenos in the recent and cataclysmic fires throughout our region. The LA Art Show has also donated to California Community Foundation in support of wildfire relief and provides event attendees with the option to do the same when they purchase tickets.

Stay tuned to this space for coverage of the event as well as other art programs during February’s LA Art Week – beginning with as always, our own homegrown LA Art Show.

  • Genie Davis; photos provided by the LA Art Show

The Future of Art Is Fine – Students Show Bright Vision

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The Future of Art is Fine by Genie Davis

Guest critiquing at NYU Abu Dhabi last November, I had the pleasure of attending a presentation of art students’ works in Projects in Painting, a class conducted by Susan Ossman, artist and Associate Dean for Graduate Studies; Visiting Professor of Movements and Places, Movement and Cultural Practices.

The students’ work focused on technology and its representation in and alteration to the practice of their art. Some students were majoring in art, others in film, new media, psychology, and creative writing among others. Each displayed an intuitive and impressive ability to project their vision and shape works that encompassed various areas of technology and intimate self-perception.

Among the students presenting were  Ahmed Alakberi,  Abdulla AlHosani, Manal Aljaeedi, Shamma Alkaabi, Sara Alrayssi,
Bruna Araujo Pereira, Ayazhan Gabitkyzy, Honey Htun, and Charlotte Hall.

The awesome work above was created as an acrylic painting based on a photographic image taken by a LEGO camera built by the artist. Fun, cool, and the ultimate in multi-media.

This sculptural work – with lushly painted images on the wooden platform, cleverly incorporated LED lighting.

A super series of interlocking fish formed this vibrant, stackable sculpture.

Here, the artist has created two separate books with fascinating painted covers. On the right is a bejeweled “Mae’r Dechreuad,” on the left, in haunting black and white, is “The Last Word.”

Beads, flowers, and a bejewled heart serves as an interconnected web representing both the artistic heart and the biological in this sharp work.

This student artist’s self-portrait contrasts vivid internal color with the external white of eyes, lips, and T-shirt for a fascinating and intimate personal expression.

Here the artist riff’s on a video game figure moving through a magical landscape of abstract paint in a richly dimensional work.

The mastery and self-awareness in these young artists’ work was impressive and exciting. See for yourself: this is the vision of tomorrow’s sharp, smart, and lovely international art world. And look for their names in the years to come!

  • Genie Davis; photos by Genie Davis, photo of myself by Susan Ossman