In Santa Monica…Start the day off with an art talk at Shosana WayneGallery at Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Ave., B1) from 11-2pm. http://www.shoshanawayne.com/

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In Venice…Venice Beach Music Fest takes place today at Windward Plaza Park (just off the beach) 11-7pm. http://venicebeachmusicfest.com/

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In West Hollywood…

Cohen Gallery offers a booksigning event for Karolina Karlic‘s new book “Primer.” The focus of the book spotlights the auto bail out debacle in 2008. I had a chance to interview the artist for my Westside Today (Art Hopping with KL) article.

Here’s some of that interview as told by Karolina Karlic: “I relocated to Los Angeles years after leaving the Detroit area. I had already made work about Detroit’s state of depression in the early 2000s and wanted no part in being associated making photographs that would categorized as “ruin porn,” a term that was being used to describe photojournalistic work about impoverished, depressed areas. In fact, I have issues with that term, still. In 2008, David Bunn, a professor of mine from when I attended CalArts, handed me the cover of The New York Times, which featured a powerful photograph by Fabrizio Constantini whose caption read: “S.U.V.’s sat on the altar of Greater Grace Temple, a Pentecostal church in Detroit, as congregants prayed to save the auto industry.” The photograph made me feel a sense of urgency as the country awaited a bail-out from President Obama. I resisted to make work once again about Detroit, but knew I had some insight and access to my own family’s situation during the economic crash of 2008. I wanted to share it.”

Karlic’s work is part of Cohen Gallery’s current group exhibit titled “24/7 (still life) remix” on view through August 30th. The exhibition also features the work of Kate Johnson, Siri Kaur, Tricia Lawless Murray, Lisa Ohlweiler, Vincent Ramos, Heather Rasmussen, Katie Shapiro, Carly Steward, Ruth Van Beek, and David Weldzius.

On view: January 10th – February 22nd

What: Opening reception
Where: Cohen Gallery, 7354 Beverly Blvd. LA 90036
When: 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Phone: 323.937.5525

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In Santa Monica…

ROBERT BERMAN GALLERY hosts a closing reception for “Murray Garrett: Hollywood Redux.” A selection of black and white photographs including never before seen vintage silver gelatin prints from the artist’s archive.

See image: Marilyn Monroe at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre (signature, hand and foot print in wet cement) prior to the premiere of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, 1953/Printed Later
Archival pigment print  14 x 14 inches | 34 x 34 inches

From the 1940s until he hung up his cameras in the 1960s New York native, Murray Garrett, was one of the most sought after event and celebrity photographers in the country. With his medium format cameras, like the Speed Graphic and Rollieflex, he deftly captured the lives of the entertainment industry’s elite and other popular figures of American culture and high society. Garrett was consistently welcomed into the innermost circles of Hollywood during its golden age, and produced many iconic, revealing and memorable black and white photographs of an industry where image is everything.

On View: July 26th – August 23rd

What: Closing reception
Where: THE ROBERT BERMAN GALLERY, Bergamot Station, (B-7) 2525 Michigan Ave., Santa Monica, 90404
When: 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Phone: 310.586.9128
Website: http://www.robertbermangallery.com/

In Santa Monica…

bG Gallery is pleased to present “Baby Animals.”

With depictions of baby animals by a wide variety of artists and mediums, this exhibit promises to be the cutest exhibit of the Summer.

Arists include: Airom, Douglas Alvarez, Terri Berman, Nicole Bruckman, Keith Dugas, Jennifer Fields Ferris, Simone Gad, Kate Jackson, Ted Meyer, Christopher Mudgett, Carol Powell, Daniel Rolnik, Hilary Wootton, Danger Dogs, and more…

What: Reception
Where: Bleicher/Golightly Gallery, 1431 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, Ca 90401
When: 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Phone: 310.451.9983
Website: http://caporalebleicher.com

Also in Santa Monica…

It’s time for the 3rd Annual Cardboard Yacht Regatta at the Annenberg Community Beach House.

Two-person teams of all ages (primarily youth ages 8 and up) from Santa Monica and surrounding communities, plus all their supporters cheering them on.

Teams test the seaworthiness of their homemade cardboard yachts in a race across the historic Beach House pool. Prior to race day, teams construct yachts from corrugated cardboard and duct tape, and decorate with a creative theme. Teams bring yachts to the Beach House on race day to paddle their way across the pool. Awards are given in a variety of fun categories. Spectators welcome.

What: 3nd Annual Cardboard Yacht Regatta
Where: Annenberg Community Beach House, 415 Pacific Coast Hwy, Santa Monica (enter parking lot at Beach House Way traffic light)
When: 6:30 pm
Website: http://beachhouse.smgov.net/

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In Culver City...

Bruce Lurie Gallery hosts an opening reception featuring the work of Carylann Loeppky.

Here is some info from the artist – Carylann Loeppky: “My work speaks for itself. I call my process GRIMMAGE: a story to unfold.

The viewers job is to find connection to the work and find the story. The traditional use of scratching, pushing + carving out the image, along with the aesthetic of dripping + splattering are all evident in my work. Music has been integral to my process, allowing a free form of movement to carry a paint loaded brush.. Sound + vision working together in harmony.”

On view: August 23rd – September 13th

What: Opening reception
Where: Bruce Lurie Gallery, 2736 South La Cienega Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232
When: 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Greene Exhibitions (2654 La Cienega Ave.) offers an art party from 6-8pm. http://www.greene-exhibitions.com/

Also in Culver City…

Enjoy an evening of art, music and community at The Whole 9 Gallery. “Anchors Away” celebrates photography. Featuring the work of Gil Mares, the exhibit captures the beauty of the ships that traverse the oceans.

On view:  August 23rd to August 31st.

Suggested donation: $20 includes appetizers, sweets, & beverages. RSVP: TheWhole9.com/AnchorsAway   (All are welcome to view art at no cost.)

What: Opening reception
Where: The Whole 9 Gallery, 3830 Main St., Culver City, CA 90232
When: 6:00 pm 10:00 pm

Blum & Poe presents an evening with YouTube impresarios Carole Ann Klonarides and Tom Recchion.

See my  Westside Today (Art Hopping with KL) article about this event. Back in the dark ages, live music performances and early pre-made music videos reigned in underground nightclubs before cable television and MTV usurped their omnipresence. Videos were usually reel-to-reel, ¾ inch U-matic tapes; discarded outtakes from commercial and industrial production houses, edited live to records played on turntables. When the bands played, they were recorded and broadcast on ceiling monitors in the club.

Klonarides explains her inspiration for the event…”I have given lectures on video art where I use YouTube to dictate the direction of the lecture, and the students can participate by suggesting searches. I am interested in how people now research subjects using YouTube as a main source of gathering material. I thought for a summer event it would be fun to do music as the subject, turning the parking lot into a big video club.”

What: Opening Reception
Where: Blum Poe, 2727 S. La Cienega Blvd., Culver City, 90232
When: 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Phone: 310-836-2062
Website: http://www.blumandpoe.com

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In Silverlake…

The Gabba Gallery presents Urban Playground, an exhibition bringing the bright and bustling urban environment into this almost 2000 sq. ft. gallery.

The playful excitement of children playing tag, a pick-up game of basketball, happy dogs, dandelions, metallic buildings, graffiti covered walls, boom boxes on full blast and skateboarders zooming by is the feeling this exhibitions contains.

The showing enmeshes several artists to create the vibrant street feel of the city to include Los Angeles Street Art Alumni Max Neutra, Angelina Christina and Jules Muck.

Artists include: Max Neutra, Jules Muck, Anyes Galleani, Mary Hanson, Angelina Christina, Michael Christy,  Andrea LaHue, Jon Measures and a whole bunch more.

On view: Aug 23rd – September 20th

What: Opening reception
Where: The Gabba Gallery, 3126 Beverly Blvd. 90057
When: 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Phone: 310-498-2697
Website: www.thegabbagallery.com

In Downtown LA…Night Gallery (2276 East 16th St., LA 90021) hosts an opening for a new exhibition from 7-10pm. BRA Gallery (30941 Agoura Road #310, Westlake Village) hosts from 6-8pm. http://www.abragallery.com/