Painting by Scott Trimble and Photography by Osceola Refetoff

Posted on by Diversions LA

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Co-curated by art critic, curator, and author Shana Nys Dambrot and photographer Osceola Refetoff, Chungking Studios is serving up an exciting juxtaposition of painting and photography through January 29th in Chinatown. Featuring the works of painter Scott Trimble and photographer Refetoff, this visually and emotionally linked combination of images is a mind expanding look at scenery both external and internal.

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As if seamless, the melding of photographic images with painterly ones is like watching two different sides of the same art coin. Here the same touch of color, there a similar image; the vibrancy and desolation of the desert, the emptiness or vividness in a place or a face. Shapes, shadows, and feeling coalesce.

The two artists met, liked each others work, and wanted to put on a show despite apparent lack of similarities in their work. Dambrot and Refetoff chose work by each artist that is intrinsically linked, through landscape, palette, and lines.

Scott Trimble
Scott Trimble

Trimble describes his work. “I paint every day, it’s a total coping mechanism for me, the one and only area of my life in which I have total freedom. It brings me such joy, I can’t imagine not painting.”  Trimble says he was thrilled to work with Dambrot and Refetoff, and agrees with Dambrot’s description of putting the show together as “casual and organic.”

Osceola Refetoff and Shana Nys Dambrot
Osceola Refetoff and Shana Nys Dambrot

“Osceola and Scott were trading studio visits,” Dambrot explains. “Their work was so different, but they both wanted to have a show together. To assemble the exhibition, we went with a palette approach, picking images that were both hot and cold, or shared the same graphic strengths.”

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Refetoff and Dambrot made studio visits together. “It was a ‘yes, no, maybe’ process,” Dambrot notes. “And once we had the loose structure, we unpacked the pieces, we looked at Scott’s paintings and Osceola’s photographs, and we just saw the pairings. I saw that this idea made sense.”

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Refetoff adds “We were originally thinking of separate walls for Scott’s paintings and my photographs. We thought it would be hard to make black and white photos and colors work seamlessly together, but they do. It’s a dialog together.”

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“It clicks, and I can’t say why,” Dambrot laughs. “We toyed with the idea of calling it ‘Studio Visit’ since the show grew out of the binding of two artists who explored each others work.”

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The exciting visual aspect of the work is apparent the moment the viewer steps into the gallery. Thematically, the pieces work through their images, their colors, their emotion. It is an underlying sensibility that perhaps drew both artists together originally which creates a dynamic pull throughout the exhibit.

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Missed the opening? See the work of this electrifying trio Thursday 1/28 from 8-11 p.m., as part of an LA Art Show sponsored celebration honoring Pop Surrealist artist Robert Williams with a lifetime achievement award. Other Chung King Road galleries will be open late, too.

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Chungking Studios is located in the heart of Chinatown, at 975 Chung King Rd. in DTLA

Art Makes Change

Posted on by Diversions LA

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VisionLA ‘15 presents Art Makes Change, a group exhibition of 60 local artists. Through over 200 pieces of art from photography to sculpture, these works inspire viewers to confront the climate-related issues in today’s world.  These beautiful pieces are divided into four categories: Earth, Water, Recycle, and Awareness. Co-curators Dale Youngman and Lilli Muller hone in on the ways in which art can create and promote change.

Each piece speaks of either or both the beauty of the earth and the challenges facing it, such as drought, pollution, endangered species, and climate change.

Participating artists include:

Mike Anderson, Jacki Apple, Cody Bayne, Clara Berta, Om Bleicher, Jody Bonassi, Wanda Boudreaux, Qathryn Brehm, Bill Brewer, Gary Brewer, Wini Brewer, Mark Brosmer, Kate Caravellas, Michael Carrier, Nathan Cartwright, Morgan Chavoshi, Steven David, Roberto Delgado, Ben Dewell,Beth Elliott, Karen Fiorito, Nicole Fournier, Barbara Fritsche, Anyes Galliani, Tom Garner, Brian Goodman, Patrick Haemmerlein, Erin Hansen, Michael Hayden, William Hogan, Brenda Hurst, Liz Huston, Dave Knudsen, Juri Koll, Jamie Lynn Kovacs, Stuart Kusher, Jonna Lee, Aline Mare,Michael McCall, Rick Mendoza, Monica Mader, Colette Miller, Rebecca Molayem, Michael M. Mollett, Suzi Moon, Jen Moore, Pamela Mower-Conners, Lilli Muller, Julie Orr, Miguel Osuna, Billy Pacek, Yael Pardess, Vinnie Picardi, Naomi Pitcairn, Jena Priebe, Osceola Refetoff, Gay Summer Rick, Robert Rosenblum, Karrie Ross, Avi Roth, Catherine Ruane, Louise Russell, Gwen Samuels, Elizabeth Saveri, Winston Secrest, Moses Seenarine, Karen Sikie, Paul Soady, Sean Sobczak, Marilee Spencer, Anna Stump, Jill Sykes, Alexandra Underhill, Rachel Van Der Pol, Andrea Villefane, Geoffry White, Rush White, Tami Wood and Ron Zeno

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Above: a photo chronicle of Mud People, the living sculpture project helmed by artist and performance artist Mike Mollett.

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Co-curator Dale Youngman says “I am so happy about this opportunity to curate a show of this magnitude for such a really important cause.  I think that artists have an ability to engage the public in meaningful conversation through their work, and if they can affect or inspire change through their efforts, that is a wonderful thing.”

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Morgan Chavoshi has focused on the plight of endangered animals for many years. She painted these wild mustangs as if in a void, because they are disappearing from our landscape. Her sensitivity is equal to her passion for changing people’s behavior through awareness.

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Osceola Refetoff’s evocative photographs above focus on both the wonder and potential ecological disaster that is the Salton Sea. Refetoff has also worked on depicting the desert and its relationship to Los Angeles itself as part of a long term project with writer/collaborator Christopher Langley.

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Absorb the water. Robert Rosenblum’s stunning photomontage technique mirrors the life in each drop.

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Colette Miller’s vibrant wings make a great spot to pose for a photo and show support for the environment — and soar to protective, guardian angel heights to help preserve it.

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Sculptures by Mike Mollett…wires that seem to bloom like dry-weather plants.

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Support art and the environment with many of these beautiful eco-centered pieces making a very reasonable holiday gift.

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Artist Gay Summer Rick has four pieces in the show, all featuring local beach scenes in Santa Monica and Venice. “I like to paint what I see as I’m making my way around town,” she says. “I paint the bay, and I try to show the mood I feel at the moment,” she relates. “In Atomic Trash Can (left) I included the trash can of course and also tractor marks from sand combing. I wanted to create a little different impression of preserving our beautiful beaches.”
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Rick says she paints using only a palette knife, no brushes or solvents. “I’m very environmentally friendly. Very little goes into the landfill when I create my art. I want to be a good steward of the environment and still deliver a message about how beautiful nature is.”

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Youngman says: “I have selected works that  depict endangered animals, photos of drought–stricken areas, and assemblage pieces that utilize recycled and re-purposed materials to spark the flame of realization regarding environmental issues.”

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Bill Leigh Brewer’s take on the desert focuses on the Salton Sea in this series of evocative black and white prints. Viewers can almost touch the magic, the aloneness, the dryness, the preciousness of water.

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Steve David’s sculptures seem to show the human head as a flower. What ideas are we planting?

“This show speaks loud and clear that climate change is one of the most important issues facing the world today,” Youngman notes.

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Jonna Lee’s compelling Folly uses grass, dirt, wire, and wood. A whole new kind of topiary art.

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“I hope people recognize the power of art to make change – and I pray they come out to support this endeavor by purchasing work here that will benefit these artists and the Vision LA Fest non-profit cause,” Youngman says.

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Mike Anderson created the forest of art above.

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So much to see, so much to take in: art mirroring the environment, art respecting the environment, art as a song to action.

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Foreground: Mike Mollett’s balls of beauty and detrititus.

The free and truly awe-inspiring Art Makes Change exhibit is open daily Dec. 1st through Dec. 10th, at the VisionLA ’15 Home Gallery at Bergamot Station, located at: 2525 Michigan Ave, Building G1 in Santa Monica, CA 90404

all pieces in the exhibition are for sale

  • Genie Davis; all photos: Jack Burke

Beautiful Bridge: Ode to 6th Street Bridge

Posted on by Diversions LA

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Multi-media art plays homage to the soon-to-be-demolished 6th Street Bridge at Art Share L.A. in the DTLA Arts District. Over 45 artists are participating in this show, which will present a closing reception on Saturday 9/19.

Curated by Dale Youngman and Tanner Blackman, the show is a heady mix of photography, acrylics, watercolors, dioramas, and collage. From rushing flood waters tearing through the viaduct under the bridge, to this iconic landmark’s golden hue in morning light and it’s shadows in growing darkness, the bridge at all hours of the day and all seasons is represented here.

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The bridge has played a part in many television shows, movies, and commercials as well as serving as a silent model for these profoundly talented artists. For over ninety years, this graceful bridge has stood sentinel, its arches surfing the sky, its buttresses delicately poised over the containment of the LA River. Sadly, the landmark architecture has to go – its cement infrastructure is crumbling due to alkali-silica reaction, a cement destroying disease that would likely cause the bridge to collapse in an earthquake.  While there is no way to repair it – the landmark’s memory and form live on through these artworks.

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The opening reception buzzed with excitement about the art, the bridge itself, the new bridge. Artist Alex Schaefer burned one of his paintings about the bridge, sacrificing his work as the bridge itself is being sacrificed. Yes, all things, even bridges and art are ephemeral – it’s time to enjoy them, experience them, savor them, and cross them while we can. Everyday we’re burning bridges with the past and setting out to ignite the future. “Bridge” the gap –  see this show.

Artists exhibiting include Suzi Moon, Dwora Fried, Lisa Talbot, Osceola Refetoff, Andre Miripolsky, Diane Pirie, Teale Hatheway, and many others weigh in on the bridge that once hosted Terminator 2 and Grease. Connecting Boyle Heights to DTLA’s arts district, the bridge was built in 1932.  A new bridge will take its place, designed by architect Michael Maltzan, and there will be bike ramps, stairs, six arches, and a new ability to explore the river beneath its arches. But for now, its time to fete the old before bringing in the new.

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Don’t miss the final weekend for this tribute, 7-9 pm. Saturday, September 19th. Weekday gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 1-6.  Art Share L.A. is located at 801 E. 4th Place, Los Angeles, Calif.

Melissa Richardson Banks – Diane Behrens – Daniel Bernstein – Kevin Break – Qathryn Brehm – Bruce Cockerill – David P. Cooke – Diane Pirie Cockerill – Toby Corbett – Jean Christophe Dick – Kessia Embry – Margery Epstein – Teresa Flowers – Dwora Fried –Fernando Galvez – Carole Garland – Tom Garner – Patrick Haemmerlein – Teale Hatheway – Jett Jackson –  Fred Hoerr – Mark Indig –Tom Lamb – Tod Lychkoff – Rick Mendoza – Ted Meyer – Andre Miripolsky – Suzi Moon – Harry Nickelson – David Palmer – Francisco Palomares – Svetlana Penrose – Osceola Refetoff – Richard Reiner – Michelle Robinson – Rick Robinson – Alex Schaefer – Roderick Smith – Carol Cirillo Stanley – Jim Stern – Lisa Talbot – Sean Sepehr Talebi – Maureen Van Leeuwen Haldeman – Richard Willson –Michael Wisnieux and Jerico Woggon.

  • Story/Photos – Genie Davis

Gypsy Trails Gallery – Museum on Wheels

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Osceola Refetoff, Uri Koll, Hayley Colston at Gypsy Trails Gallery outside Torrance Museum of Art - all photos - Jack Burke
Osceola Refetoff, Uri Koll, Hayley Colston at Gypsy Trails Gallery outside Torrance Museum of Art – all photos – Jack Burke

A collaboration of Hayley Colston and Juri Koll, the Gypsy Trails Gallery is rolling up to museums throughout the Southland, featuring different, “museum grade” artists at each stop. “Each artist is chosen specifically to be a part of a museum, to best fit each museum’s atmosphere,” Colston says.  With eleven different artists and eleven different museum stops running through March of 2016, Gypsy trails is, Colston says, “more accepted now that other museums have worked with us.  It’s a concept that takes leg work, but the result is creating a travelnig gallery that offers the same treatment for its artists as a museum. We think it will steam roll from here.”

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Koll, the director of the Venice Institute of Contemporary Art is working to promote the idea of a museum in Venice, while honoring other museums, and recognizing their importance within their respective communities.

Saturday night, the gallery displayed the work of photographer Osceola Refetoff in a solo show outside the Torrance Museum of Art. Refetoff’s work reveals the harsh and beautiful spirit of the desert, and casts a spell of awe for the landscape and the people who have lived in it. His evocative photos are mysterious and magical – decay as transformation; loss and loneliness baked in the sun and suffused with love  – these are his subjects.

To see where Gypsy Trails is headed next, go to www.gypsytrailsgallery.com to download their schedule.

  • Genie Davis, all photos by Jack Burke