Great art at MASque Attack – All Photos: Jack Burke
What happened on October 31st in Los Angeles? Well, okay, sure, Halloween.
But also on the calendar was MASque Attack, held at Temporary Space at 5522 Wilshire across from the El Rey. Part costume party – artists came in costume, part art-for-artists event – artists could display but not sell works, part fantastic visual scene, the Halloween edition of a MAS Attack event was curated and hosted by Colton Stenke, Kio Griffith, and Max Presneill. It was the ninth such event in two years.
MASque Attack hosts
According to Presneill, “This is a community building event, and we hold one every three months. There are three basic rules: no sales allowed; if you’re in the show you have to attend it; and the art must be hung salon style. Whether you’ve come from a large gallery or never have shown before, you need to hang your pieces yourself.”
Costumed artist, vibrant creation – “A Young Girl’s Vanity” – layered with meaning, color, texture
Kristine Schomaker – artist with her work
The idea behind these art shows is to create an “informal fun mixer, and make artists know they’re part of a big circle. Make friends and connections in a chill atmosphere,” Presneill noted. “We do international artists as well as local artists, but we do not work commercial galleries at all.”
Artist Dani Dodge offers the video Moving Perspective: eye glass lenses wash into the ocean, people drop lenses – what we see, we see in the motion of time.
If you’re an artist or art lover, note the next scheduled locations for these MAS Attack events: San Diego Art Institute, Riverside, and Torrance Museum of Art by next fall.
Chenhung Chen with her delicate, shimmering work
And in the meantime, enjoy some of the great art that made Halloween a lot less of a fright fest in LA.
Gay Summer Sadow Rick is a black cat with a “purr-fect” sunset skyline
We love to review, see, explore great art and events in LA – and all around the U.S.
Where do we find out about some of the exceptional arts offerings each weekend? One great source is Shoebox PR – and now yours can be, too, with a new, well-curated weekly listing:
LA Street Artist Bleep makes Art from Fast Food – Photos: HollowDoubt #hollowdoubt
Ever wonder what went into that greasy burger from the drive-thru window? Well, it probably isn’t art.
But it could be – and is – an art FORM.
Los Angeles street artist Bleep posted this Facebook update about his Project Expired Mac, and let us at DiversionsLA in on the origins of this project and what’s coming next.
(What’s not coming next? Eating fast food anytime soon, a habit we can somewhat sanctimoniously but honestly attest we gave up long ago anyway. )
Bleep writes: “as of yesterday the final stage of #projectexpiredmac#pem “in which i encased a #mcdonalds hamburger in an acrylic case as a non-biodegradable sculpture subject to the elements on the side of a building for the last 6 months” is at hand. for the month of November I will be hosting a #rotathon taking different fast food meals from #wendys#burgerking#carlsjr#jackinthebox#innout and encasing them in acrylic boxes with air holes drilled for the passage of the elements.”
Feeling hungry?
DiversionsLA: So you’re making fast food into art! Describe the origins of this project?
Bleep: The origins are kind of ambiguous I guess. I remember when I was younger, going to work with my mother when she couldn’t get a babysitter. I remember a McDonald’s hamburger stapled to the bulletin board in the breakroom as a sort of holiday prank. When I asked about it, my mother explained to me that McDonald’s burgers did not rot… and so that stuck with me and wormed it’s way into the work.
DiversionsLA: Bleep began taping burgers around the DTLA Arts District, documenting the process with photographer HollowDoubt at the beginning of 2015. His current project arose from that project.
We asked Bleep to describe the way the food items are contained and who designed the boxes/picked locations.
Bleep: The food items are contained in clear acrylic boxes with air holes to expose the burgers. We affixed the box to the side of building. (Co-conspirator/artist) Plastic Jesus pretty much built and advised the project. I can’t even begin to say how grateful I am for the help. The location? That cannot be dispelled.
DiversionsLA: How long will you leave them mounted?
Bleep: The first project is basically on-going until it sells – time is the medium for the piece. The art will increase in price as time goes on. We are at 7 ½ months in on the first McDonald’s burger.
DiversionsLA: So, in short, rot adds value. That could possibly be viewed as a commentary about Wall Street, or politics.
Bleep: The new project known as #rotathon will be up for a month. The rotathon2015 includes five competing fast food chains.
DiversionsLA: While we’re not sure they appreciate the free advertising – but, no publicity is bad, right? – in the interest of art we’ll list them here:
Jack in the Box
Carl’s Jr.
In and Out
Burger King
Wendy’s
Bleep: They’re all rotting simultaneously. I think it’ll be interesting to see how far the rabbit hole is on this.
DiversionsLA: We do, too. How often are you documenting?
Bleep: I’ve documented it off and on in intervals of two weeks to a month apart. My photographer hollowdoubt is photographing the rotathon exhibit, and those are the images you see in this article.
DiversionsLA: What do you view as the ultimate outcome of the project?
Bleep: I love to hear what people have to say about it. I really have no expectation other than to inform and inspire. I know a lot of people are becoming health conscious these days, so awareness is a key aim with this project.
DiversionsLA: But beyond the altruistic – will you sell the pieces as individual objects?
Bleep: I will be selling the McDonald’s burger at Scope Miami Basel this year for $20k as a non-biodegradable sculpture subject to the elements.
When artist, curator, and Shoebox PR owner Kristine Schomaker was invited to curate a wall at the Blank Canvas Benefit for United Cerebal Palsy Los Angeles, she invited fifty of her artist friends to help.
Opening last Saturday at the Washington Reid Gallery in Culver City, and running through December 21st, the 100% benefit show includes the fruit of her, and her friends’ labors.
Kristine Schomaker with her own contribution
Her wall features fifty very different artworks, each 12 x 12 inch pieces. So many artists, so much overwhelming talent, and all for sale at a won’t-break-the-bank $150.00.
Some of stellar artists responsible for the Shoebox PR wall at Washington Reid’s Blank Canvas benefit – Photo: Jack Burke
Erika Lizee’s stunning floral, Susan Amorde’s glittery dripping faucet, moving figures by Malka Nedivi, Jodi Bonassi, Bibi Davidson, and so many more displayed their superlative squares. Over half of these vibrant artworks have sold – which leaves some still left for art lovers who also warm to a charitable cause.
Erika Lizee
Elsewhere in the gallery, Devon Tsuno, curator of artist-run Concrete Walls, brought the same artist-centered aesthetic to Washington Reid and his curated wall. Featuring 25 young artists including student artists from California State Dominguez Hills, Tsuno named his wall after his artist-run-curatorial project. Tsuno was responsible for inviting guest curators to create individual gallery walls like Schomaker’s. Each guest curator had full license to invite and select their own artists in order to create their “dream wall.”
UCPLA WRG, located in the Culver City Arts District, is an Art Gallery/Studio Art Program which functions within an Adult Day Program for the Cerebral Palsy community. The Art Program and Gallery supports professional artist development and mentorship in digital media, studio practice, gallery operations and curatorial studies.
The benefit show Blank Canvas is an annual affair that raises funds for this program, with all proceeds going directly into the program itself, providing art programs, physical therapy, innovative technology and exhibition opportunity for persons with Cerebral Palsy.
So as we approach the season of giving – and the season in which we share gifts – why not do both? Stop by Washington Reid Gallery, enjoy the art, and buy what has not already been tagged “sold.” Blank Canvas makes it easy to put a stop to blank walls – all for a good cause.
The gallery is located at 6110 Washington in Culver City.
