Kate Carvellas: Making a Mark on the World

Posted on by Diversions LA

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It’s appropriate that artist Kate Carvellas has a solo show at an Altadena Gallery known as McGinty’s Gallery at the End of the World. After all, Carvellas is intent on making her own marks on this earth – possibly, prolifically, all the way to the end of it.

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“When I began making art in 2004 after a hiatus of many years, it was made purely from either borrowed images or objects. But, slowly, over time, I began to make my own marks on my work.  That ‘marking’ has led to full blown abstract paintings that evolve either purely from my subconscious or using my own photographs as a springboard.  Abstracting reality,” Carvellas explains.

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Her works are dynamic and bold, and she wants to get bolder.

“I would love to create large, mixed media paintings that incorporate abstract painting, collage, assemblage and my photography. I can’t quite see that work in my mind’s eye yet.  But, I believe it is bubbling under the surface waiting to come out. I would also love to create large sculptural assemblages. Right now, the only thing holding me back is space and money,” she laughs.

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Carvellas’ sculptural pieces employ found objects. Her choice in materials is often based upon items that draw her to them. “I am drawn to the rusty and discarded. Old metal and wooden objects speak to me the most. I love uniting disparate objects that are old or used and giving them new life and meaning as part of a larger whole.”

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Whether working with sculpture or on canvas, the artist says her work “almost always comes from my subconscious and is intuitive.  I rarely know the meaning of my work until it is finished.”

When it comes to her assemblages, she notes that her work is like putting a puzzle together. She says it starts with “Looking through my collection of objects and finding ones that speak to me and to each other.” As to her paintings, she asserts they arise from one of two places.  “Either I will suddenly ‘see’ a painting in my mind’s eye and then need to get it onto canvas or I will use one of my photographs as a springboard. But, even then, the painting is intuitive.”

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Carvellas calls her favorite type of project whatever she is currently working on. She’s currently working on about four different series at one time.

“I would get horribly bored if I had to make the same kind of art all in a row, over and over again. The assemblages and paintings seem to satisfy different parts of me. The paintings are so healing. They bring to me to a place emotionally and mentally that I would say is close to bliss. The assemblages are more of a challenge.” 

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Want to see Carvellas mark her spot in the artistic world? Visit The Gallery at the End of the World this weekend, June 3rd & 4th during the Altadena and Pasadena open studios tour from 11 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The Gallery at the End of the World is located at 2475 N. Lake Ave. Altadena, CA

Genie Davis; Photos provided by artist

Go West: Utopian Vision for One City One Pride LGBTQ Arts Festival

Posted on by Diversions LA

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The city of West Hollywood’s One City, One Pride LGBTQ Arts Festival offers a wide range of programs and a utopian vision for 2017. Running through June 30th, the fest’s theme of “Go West,” references movement toward a utopian promised land, dreams of gay liberation, and the freedom to live openly in West Coast communities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, and West Hollywood. Featuring interactive, performance, visual arts, and education events, this year’s programming explores LGBTQ history, culture, and art.

Dubbed a “Day of History,” on Saturday June 3rd, One City One Pride offers multiple events that will take place throughout the city.

At 11 a.m., Radar Productions presents Drag Queen Storytime in the West Hollywood Library Community Meeting Room. The free event includes children’s stories and crafts. Radar brought the same acclaimed program to the San Francisco Public Library. The meeting room is located at 625 N. San Vicente Blvd., 90069.

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Also starting at 11 a.m., the Stuart Timmons LGTBQ History Tour combines an urban hike with an entirely original performance art piece. Written by author and historian Stuart Timmons and directed by Jason Jenn, the tour leads participants to a variety of locations.

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They’ll encounter over a dozen costumed characters, bringing the history of West Hollywood to vibrant life.  The experience includes a brief shuttle ride that drops passengers on Sunset Blvd.  Each tour lasts between 90 and 120 minutes, with departures scheduled every fifteen minutes between 11 and 1 p.m. Live music will be performed while participants wait to board. This is the third year for the charming tour, presented in a final staging to celebrate the legacy of the recently deceased Timmons. Timmons is the author of The Trouble with Harry Hay and GAY L.A., among other works.

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ADA accessible throughout,  colorful parasols will be provided during the tour, offering shade from the sun and enhancing the lively interactive atmosphere. This unique event starts at the West Hollywood City Council Chambers at 625 N. San Vicente Blvd., 90069.

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From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., trans artist Yozmit, the first artist to receive a Trans Initiative Grant from the City of West Hollywood, presents the interactive performance installation “Totem Building.” Yozmit will create transformative visual wearable art pieces to be used as a ritual object or totem. The audience will be invited to create prayers and intentions which she will collect for part of a future performance.

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The artist will stitch a ribbon or bead onto her Pyramid Dress, as a symbol of exchange for those intentions and prayers. This interactive, transformative performance will be held on Santa Monica Boulevard near San Vicente Boulevard.

At 5 p.m., there will be a screening of Reel in the Closet, a feature-length documentary. The film connects viewers with queer people from the past, utilizing rare home movie footage that dates back as far as the 1930s. Filmmaker Stu Maddux also discovered recorded news stories and community productions, and regularly updates the documentary, encouraging audience members to share movies of their own pasts. Maddux notes that he embarked upon the project when he was searching “for a way to really understand the people who came before me, not just read about them.”  The film will be screened at the West Hollywood City Council Chambers, located at 625 N. San Vicente Blvd. 90069

Also at the City Council Chambers, throughout the day the film LA: A Queer History will be shown in a continuous loop; ONE Archives LGBTQ History Exhibits will be displayed in West Hollywood Park.

Later in June, One City, One Pride highlights include:

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“Out There,” a group art exhibition at the Los Angeles Art Association’s Gallery 825 opening June 9th from 6 to 9 p.m. The exhibition will run through June 18th, with the gallery open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except Monday. The gallery is located at 825 N. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, 90069.

Also on the 9th, from 6 to 10 p.m., the Annual Dyke March begins with a protest sign making workshop conducted by Sparkleblob’s Julianna Parr, followed by a march down Santa Monica Blvd. at 8 p.m. Confirmed speakers include Patrisse Cullors of #blacklivesmatter, and Supervisor Sheila Kuehl.  the The workshop takes place and march begins at Sal Guariello Veterans’ Memorial, 8447 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, 90069.

From 7 to 9 p.m. on the 9th, Yozmit’s Migration of the Monarchs and WALK will take place. Based on the idea that everything in life transforms, the trans artist will perform WALK as live ambient art along Santa Monica Blvd. between Robertson Blvd. and San Vicente Blvd.

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June 11th from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., LA Pride hosts a human rights march in lieu of a parade. The march starts at Hollywood and Highland in Los Angeles, and concludes near West Hollywood Park. 

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And June 29th, at 7:30 p.m., there will be a world premiere film screening of Jeanne Cordova: Butches, Lies, and Feminism, a new documentary on the life and accomplishments of late activist and author Jeanne Cordova. Film director Gregoria Davila and Cordova’s partner Lynn Harris Ballen participate in a post-screening discussion. The screening takes place at West Hollywood City Council Chambers, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd., 90069.

For a full calendar of One City One Pride events through June 30th, visit    www.weho.org/pride

One City One Pride is organized by the City of West Hollywood through WeHo Arts, the City’s Arts & Cultural Affairs Commission and Arts Division, with input from the City’s Lesbian & Gay Advisory Board, Transgender Advisory Board, and other community partners. 

 

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  • Genie Davis; Photos: Weho.org

Photo Finish

Posted on by Diversions LA

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What was the best part of Photo Independent this year? Held once again in its 4th iteration at The Reef in DTLA, there were over 156 exhibitors, and it’s difficult indeed to choose.

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Photographer E.F. Kitchen was awarded “Best in Show,” the result being a booth at Photo Independent next year.

Here are a few of the highlights in a strong exhibition attended by over 3500 art lovers this year:

Photo LA Martin Cox

Photographer Martin Cox created photographs of images far removed from the LA zeitgeist: beautiful, wintery images of snow in Iceland. The images are from a landscape series Cox created during a residency in Iceland.

Photo LA Olie

Also far from LA: the work of Olie Marius Joergensen from Norway, justifiably dubbed “one of the top six photographers to watch” at the fair. Ethereal images with mysterious softness.

Photo L A Andy Burgess

Andy Burgess, a U.K. native now residing in Arizona enjoys working in analog rather than digital images, and his photographs have a lush aspect reminiscent of noir filmmaking. The artist is launching his own Dark Spring Press to create limited edition photography books for individual artists.

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Jane Szabo’s new series Family Matters was on display – stunningly realized simple images of still-life objects on dark backgrounds that pulse with life.

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Szabo infuses inanimate objects with history and resonance and creates visual poetry.

Photo LA Richard Chow

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Richard Chow’s luminous Urbanscape created sculptural looks at city life.

Photo LA Donn Dleson

Donn Delson’s aerial landscapes dazzled with rich abstract takes on the world from above.

Cathy Immordino

Cathy Immordino explores a fantasy landscape with a vibrant palette.

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…And generously invited attendees to step inside her world. The Mars-like foreground was shot at Trona Pinnacles near Death Valley National Park.

Photo LA jessie Chaney

Jessie Chaney’s porthole-like views of the sky are haunting and quiet.

Images. Many at Photo Independent remain in the minds-eye, strong and potent.

 

  • Genie Davis; Photos: Genie Davis and courtesy of artists

The Shape of Color: Robert Soffian

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With vivid colors and shapes, artist Robert Soffian moves nimbly between the figurative and the abstract. His paintings have a sense of drama, a fluidity of emotion that is perhaps unsurprising given his past work in theater, directing, and lighting.

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Many works vibrate like a freeze-frame in a film, as in his recent “Justice,” dye, oil, and mixed media on panel. Here Soffian has created a large-scale work with faces, figures, and what resemble tribal masks. With a bright yellow at the bottom of the work and flame red at the top as background, the painting feels like a sunset on fire, with justice perhaps not so much blind as blinded by the light, color, and longing around her. His works have an element of the surreal as well as the abstract, with a movement toward the more figurative in his most recent works.

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Another recent work, “Chapel Repaired,” an oil that is a vast 80” by 60”, resembles stained glass as folk art or mosaic, and without identifying them as such, here are saints and icons and fertility symbols, here is the Rothko chapel completely revisited.

soffian Freedom of movement

“Freedom of Movement” is something else again – the words ‘please’ and ‘help’ and dark brown colors separated with a grid or fencing from a blue sea and gold sky upon which face/forms look like skulls. This is perhaps a border crossing of the spirit, or a dividing line among souls. 

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Entirely abstract is the oil, dye, gouache, ink and pastels on panel that is “kickriver,” reminiscent of Matisse.

But above all, through all, it is color that maps the way to the heart of Soffrian’s work.

“I wish to paint things we all know or dream…very often I am first motivated by the excitement of the materials I am using…obviously I enjoy vibrant colors, and the texture of the physical body of the paint…” he relates.

Soffian says he moves in contrast as well as color, and that he can sense the shape of color itself.  He uses phrases in describing his work in which he says that when he paints figures they have colored shapes and that he can sense the shape of color, even eat it. These are interesting words indeed when viewing his work, because there is a sense of the color even devouring his figures and forms. There is a deeply visceral quality to his work, something that the eye absorbs and the retains, almost as if it were printed on the mind.

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Currently residing in Los Angeles after spending many years in Northern California, the artist has also traveled extensively, and remarks on the fact that for him, every place he’s visited has had a “special light.” Along with color, it is the quality of light, an inward to outward glow that is riveting about Soffian’s work. Again, knowing the artist’s background, it is easy to see that sense of drama in his works, and that the color and the light within it is the palette of the theatrical.

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above, “Spine of the Matter”

Works on paper such as “3 Fish Friends” – which almost swims before the eye, shadings of watery blue in the background, and fish whose scales almost dance with a sort of imagined iridescence, the way sunlight can make the scales on living fish go silver and rainbow – are delicate and dreamlike. Witness “Spine of the Matter,” ink, graphite, pastels, and crayon on rice paper, in which a central image of a spine –which could also be a bamboo branch – is surrounded by dark matter that could be a vision from an X-ray, all against a background of golden shades. Or “Blake Struts,” ink, gouache, and mixed media in a rainbow of colors, faces and bodies and letters, clouded abstractions, an almost alchemical mixture, something magical and shamanistic.

Soffian justice detail

With work that is entirely original, yet evokes connections to Matisse and Chagall – especially, perhaps Chagall, Soffian’s paintings are both mysterious and familiar, in motion and motionless.

  • Genie Davis; Photos: Robert Soffian,  Shoebox PR