Terry Sweeney and Lanier Laney celebrate PRIDE at Chimento ContemporaryTerry Sweeney and Lanier Laney celebrate PRIDE at Chimento ContemporaryTerry Sweeney and Lanier Laney celebrate PRIDE at Chimento ContemporaryTerry Sweeney and Lanier Laney celebrate PRIDE at Chimento ContemporaryRomi Cortier, Terry Sweeney and Recio Young celebrate PRIDE at Chimento ContemporaryRecio Young, Romi Cortier and Eva McCoy celebrate PRIDE at Chimento ContemporaryTerry Sweeney and Lanier Laney celebrate PRIDE at Chimento Contemporary
Chimento Contemporary celebrated PRIDE 2019 with a witty show by artists Terry Sweeney and Lanier Laney titled: The Stonewall Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
This show celebrates the 50th anniversary of Stonewall, by honoring the multi-ethnic, gender non conforming heroes, who rioted in the streets of New York in June of ’69. The Stonewall Inn, owned by the mafia, catered to the poorest and most marginalized people in the gay community, namely: drag queens, transgender people, effeminate young men, butch lesbians, male prostitutes, and homeless youth. Police raids on gay bars during the 60’s were routine. During the early morning hours of Saturday June 28th, an unexpected raid took a turn for the worse (previous raids usually included a police tip off, happened early in the evening allowing for a quick return to business, after cash exchanged hands). The marginalized turned the tables on the police, barricading them in the bar. The crowds grew, momentum gathered, the riots continued into a second night, and a political movement was born.
Lanier Laney & Terry Sweeneyare art provocateurs who irreverently satirize accepted societal and political norms. In their new show the art duo utilizes what they refer to as their ‘queer outlier pov’ to question the outdated patriarchal myths, propaganda and manipulative commercialization of the dominant culture. Their work utilizes performance art, sculpture, digitally altered photography, painting, and text.
I for one love the use of ‘rainbow unicorns’ as an alternative interpretation of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Imagine the type of messages could come from these kinds of Horsemen: love for all, equal rights for all, equal pay for all, equal opportunity for all… the possibilities are endless. We’ve come a long way over the last 50 years, but we have so much more to achieve.
‘Deep Dive’, Oil on Linen, 32 x 24, Richard Hoblock, Chimento Contemporary, Photo Romi Cortier‘Memoir’, Oil on Wood Panel, 24 x 18, Richard Hoblock, Chimento Contemporary, Photo Romi Cortier‘Broken Harbor’, Oil on Linen, 24 x 18, Richard Hoblock, Chimento Contemporary, Photo Romi Cortier‘Perfect Stranger’, Oil on Canvas, 84 x 60, Richard Hoblock, Chimento Contemporary, Photo Romi Cortier
Saturday September 15, 2018, marked the opening of artist Richard Hoblock’s exhibition View From The Cheap Seats at Chimento Contemporary, in the newly opened West Adams gallery.
Chimento Contemporary was previously in Boyle Heights, having opened its doors there in September of 2015. The new location at 4480 West Adams Boulevard features Eva Chimento’s signature vibe with bright white walls, white flooring, and ample overhead lighting. A space like this allows the artwork to take center stage at all times, as the walls simple fade from view. It also makes it feel a bit like a fashionable run way show once all of the guests arrive for an opening night celebration, like the one we experience on this recent Saturday night.
Richard Hoblock, Perfect Stranger, Oil on Canvas, Recio Young, Eva Chimento, Melanie Engle, Coco and Romi Cortier, Photo Osceola Refetoff
Eva’s roster of artists are inspired by her own personal art collection, as well as those whose work she’d like to collect. Therefore, there’s a deep personal connection to the artwork that she represents in her space. Prices range from $500, to $280,00… yep, that’s a huge range. But it’s quite fantastic because it gives newbie collectors the opportunity to enter the exciting world of art collecting, and it also gives returning collectors confidence in her curatorial eye. Her background includes 14 years of gallery experience, as well as museum administration.
If you’re new to the world of art, then you may not realize that the gallery scene in LA seems to be shrinking. In fact, I believe that’s also the case in other major cities, as people turn to online venues for purchasing art. But there’s nothing like seeing and experiencing art first hand, and that requires a gallery space. There’s also something to be said for building relationships in the art world… you know, so you can be first inline to get that spectacular piece from an artist whose work you’ve been chasing for years. I truly applaud Ms. Chimento for taking on a gallery space in these challenging and changing times, and I hope her local neighborhood will rise to the occasion to support a female business owner who’s simply trying to make the world, just a bit more beautiful.
‘Hitch Hiker’ Acrylic, Ink and Vellum on Archival Paper, Micheal Muller & Sage Vaughn, Photo Romi Cortier‘Attacker 1’, Acrylic, Ink and Vellum on Archival Photograph Paper, Michael Muller & Sage Vaughn, Photo Romi Cortier‘Echo Chamber’, Acrylic, Ink & Vellum on Archival Photograph Paper, Michael Muller & Sage Vaughn, Photo Romi Cortier‘Peeper’, Acrylic, Ink and Vellum on Archival Photograph Paper, Micheal Muller & Sage Vaughn, Photo Romi Cortier‘Garden Party Crasher’, Acrylic, Ink, and Vellum on Archival Photograph Paper, Michael fuller & Sage Vaughn, Photo Romi Cortier‘Attacker 2’, Acrylic, Ink and Vellum on Archival Photograph Paper, Michael Miller & Sage Vaughn, Photo Romi Cortier
I LOVED the recent art exhibition of Michael Muller and Sage Vaughn. I’ve been aware of Sage’s paintings for years, but I’ve never had the opportunity to see his work in person. This recent exhibit featured Vaughn’s painting over the photographic images of Michael Muller. Most images were 48″ x 60″ and some as large as 60″ x 90″, ranging in price from $16,000 – $22,000. I was elated to see so many red sold dots on the pieces.
Over the last decade Sage has had multiple solo shows, from New York to London to Germany and Geneva. There have also been several group exhibitions from Los Angeles to London, San Francisco to Belgium… it’s safe to say, Sage is everywhere. I wish I would have known about his work a decade ago, as it might have been a bit more affordable. But that’s what drives prices up: the international solo shows and a list of top notch collectors.
Below are a few more images of Sage’s work from his web site www.sagevaughn.com.
I’m not Trying to Forget, Acrylic, Ink and Vellum on Paper, Sage Vaughn, SageVaughn.comThe Gazer (R Prince) 2014, Oil, Acrylic, Ink and Vellum on Canvas, Sage Vaughn, SageVaughn.com
As an artist, I’ve been very enamored by Sage’s use of the Butterfly, combined with his drip paint technique. Below you can view a YouTube mural making video that I created in 2014 inspired directly by his paintings. I have no idea if he’s ever seen my work, but I do hope that he would be flattered and not offended by my interpretation of his beautiful fine art.
Seven Magic Mountains makes me think of Stonehenge on acid, or psychedelic rocks as interpreted by Pop Artist Peter Max. Alas, it’s internationally renowned Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone.
This two year installation which opened in May of this year, can easily be seen from your car while whizzing by on Interstate 15, about 10 miles south of Las Vegas. Initially you might think you’re seeing neon colored balloons, however, as you near the parking lot and exit your car, something exciting starts to happen. The striking colors juxtaposed against the beige of the desert begin to feel cool, as in cold, despite the 100 plus degree temperature. Maybe it’s because they remind us of tubs of ice cream seen behind class at the local CVS or Baskin Robbins… there’s certainly something pavlovian happening here.
In total there are seven towers made up of 33 limestone boulders. The public art installation cost 3.5 million dollars to bring to life, including fees for permits, fabrication costs, road improvements, staff and studio travel over the 5 year timeline it took to bring this project to life, as well as for land restoration once the exhibit closes in May of 2018.
I’ve never been to burning man, however, for the short time I spent moving around this installation, I felt as if I might be getting a sense of what burning man is like: hip, cool, alternative, unexpected. Experiencing temporary art thrust into a dry desert environment is quite exciting and invigorating. I actually visited this site twice in one day, as I wanted to see it while the sun was setting. Both times there were tons of people milling about, and the kids seemed the most excited by the bold colors. That said, it is the desert, so watch where you walk if you choose to visit this site. Rattlesnakes are a real possibility since this is their native habitat. They won’t care if you you’re busy taking your best art selfie to date. (yes, that’s a thing now) My sis yelled at me to stay on ‘the path’, but I had to get that long shot of all seven stones lined up side by side. I’d love to revisit this installation in a year to see what the scorching desert sun has done to these saturated colors, or how they might look against a backdrop of white winter snow. If you’re on instagram, search #7magicmountains to see the latest and greatest of the seasonal shots taken around the spectacularly fun exhibit.
Art Selfie, Seven Magic Mountains, Nevada, Photo Romi Cortier
You can learn more about artist Ugo Rondinone HERE
The video below will show you how they stacked these 40,000 pound boulders… the first earth work installation created in over 40 years.
The Limited Barrier III, Flameworked, Borosilicate Glass, Eunsuh Choi, $72,000, Tansey Contemporary Gallery, Palm Springs Fine Art Fair 2015, Photo Romi CortierArchipelago & Glass, 2014, Oil on Panel, Tom Betts, $12,800, Dawson Cole Fine Art, Palm Springs Fine Art Fair 2015, Photo Romi CortierDelusion (Study), Oil on Canvas, 40 x 30, Lui Ferreyra, $4,500, William Havu Gallery, Palm Springs Fine Art Fair 2015, Photo Romi CortierBTWITIAILWY, Neon Sign, Edition 2/3, 32 x 40, Rachel Hovnanian, $9,000, Imago Galleries, Palm Springs Fine Art Fair 2015, Photo Romi CortierCovenant with Diamond Dust, 2013, Silkscreen Print with Glaze and Diamond Dust, 53 1/2 x 53 1/2, Damien Hirst, $55,000, Heather james Fine Art, Palm Springs Fine Art Fair 2015, Photo Romi CortierNoe Katz, Thomas Paul Fine Art, Palm Springs Fine Art Fair 2015, Photo Romi CortierRetardashians, 2011, Acrylic and Spray Paint on Faux Brick Panel, Adam Mars, $5,000, Gusford Gallery, Palm Springs Fine Art Fair 2015, Photo Romi Cortier#22, Oil on Canvas, 45 x 35, Ryan Magyar, $4,000, William Havu Gallery, Palm Springs Fine Art Fair 2015, Photo Romi CortierGoing out of Business, 2012, Monoprint and Collage on Handmade Paper, Mel Bochner, $120,000, Heather James Fine Art, Palm Springs Fine Art Fair 2015, Photo Romi CortierHypochondria 60, 2014, Mixed Media, Klari Reis via The Cynthia Corbett Gallery, Palm Springs Fine Art Fair 2015, Photo Romi Cortier
The Palm Springs Fine Art Fair of 2015 lived up to my expectations. It has always been one of my favorites and this year it included 66 Galleries from 7 countries, focusing on post-war and contemporary art. As you can see from the images I’ve posted, there was a huge variety and style of works priced from $4,000 – $120,000. Some of the works were elegant and refined, while others were snarky and irreverent.
Patrons were gathering around the Gusford Gallery enjoying the amusing quotes of artist Adam Mars such as: Retardashians, I Stand By My Uninformed Opinions, Good Lay Bad Texter, True Love Waits and We’re Impatient, and For Eli Broad or some Rich Broad.
The exquisite painting by Mexican born Noe Katz was a show stopper. I love the long sinewy lines wrapping around the male figure, which looks like it could have been painted by Fernand Leger with its Deco inspired shading. His work has been seen at exhibitions in the Museo de Arte Moderno in Mexico City, the Tokoro Museum of Modern Art in Japan and the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach.
Ryan Magyar’s#22 lept off the gallery wall from across the room, glowing like embers in a fireplace. In my opinion it’s remarkably well executed and very affordable at $4,000. Imagine it hanging on a nearly black wall at the end of long corridor, it would be stunning.
Portrait artist Lui Ferreyra used a sublime muted color palette for his oil painting Delusion (study). It has a vintage cubist vibe and reminds me of the Italian Futurist exhibit I saw at the Guggenheim in New York last spring. At $4,500 I think it’s also a remarkable value.
I’m a huge fan of photorealism. Tom Bett’sArchipelago & Glass looks like it could have been painted by a Dutch master. He used thin layers of paint on a smooth panel, therefore, there are no ridges on the surface like you’d see on canvas. Art consultant Marty Raichle tells me that the painting literally glows once the lights are turned off, and I’m inclined to believe her. At $12,800 it’s a steep price point if you’re a novice art collector. That said, anytime you’re willing to lay out that much for a painting you’ll need to do your homework and look at the artists Curriculum Vitae. Who’s collecting them? Are they in any museum collections? Do they have any resale value in the secondary art market… you get the picture.
Artist Mel Bochner has his own dedicated Wikipedia page, which helps you understand why his works on paper go for $120,000. He’s an American conceptual artist and his works are in nearly 2 dozen Public Collections in Switzerland, Germany, Australia and France.
To quote art critic and museum curator Peter FrankThe fair has variety and surprise, two qualities I look for in a fair. I’m so glad that I made the drive from Los Angeles to see the 2015 fine art fair. Good art is satisfying and inspiring, and I for one left with a big smile on my face.
