Head downtown…

Start your day off at Grand Park for the THE 2015 L.A. TACO FESTIVAL benefiting JOVENES INC.

Enjoy food, music and togetherness in the heart of DTLA at the free, family-friendly event.

The event features music by Afro-Latin–influenced Quita Penas.

Vendors include Kogi, Tacos El Gallito, Homeboy Industries, Danny’s Tacos, Los Ruizeñores and Zingo.

Starting just an hour later in Grand Park as well is the PROUD Picnic (LGBT community celebration) from 1-5 pm.

What: Taco Festival
Where:, Grand Park, 200 N. Grand Ave., LA 90012
When: noon – 7:00 pm – Saturday, August 22
Website: http://grandparkla.org

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niteSpa and Beach Beauty Culture throw an art party tonight titled Boho Disco. See my article in this week’s Argonaut Newspaper. niteSpa has recently returned to Venice and tonight is the night to celebrate.

The launch event will feature a throwback vibe so be sure to get wild with your attire. Here are some suggestions from Julia herself….Gypsy dreamers, Bohemian Rhapsodies, disco dolly’s, STUDIO 54, fab & foxy finery, summer of LOVE, and or just have your wardrobe be inspired by a fabulous psychedelic spirit. See below for more details and admission charge (which will benefit its giving back program, spaKarma).

We’ve got some incredible artists showing work, so come on by and take a peek. See our Upcoming Events Page for more info and images of all the artists. Michael Baroff has been painting for over thirty years. Baroff will be featuring his Metascape paintings. Enjoy works from two series, the Apex and Vista series! Baroff explains, “All my Metascape paintings are inspired by the transitional nature of a horizon — be it the line where the earth or sea seems to meet the sky or, more metaphorically, the limit of our experience or what we deem to be possible. The Vista series, which are horizontal, seeks to represent a more distant view and the Apex series, which are vertical, more the sense of a resolution or climax.”  http://metascapeart.com/

Stephen Schubert started painting later in life (33) and hasn’t stopped since. It’s a great story. He woke up from a dream and just started painting. His work has been exhibited in multiple museums and galleries over forty-five galleries across the U.S. Stephen’s art is currently on view at Gallery 166 in Vail Colorado and ZK Gallery in San Francisco. You can find him in the LA Area this October at the West Edge Modern Design Show. www.SCHUBERTMODERN.com

Bethany Londyn does it all. In addition to being an artist she is also an author, and entrepreneur. Londyn sets an intention when she does her work, and this piece “ode to earth” was infused with PRESENCE. Her work was recently on view at the Santa Monica Art Studios. To find out more about Bethany Londyn, visit her website at bethanylondyn.com

Don’t forget to RSVP! There will be a VIP pre-party running from 6-8pm which features appetizers and refreshments from local restaurants. To attend, visit niteSpa’s Go Fund Me page, http://www.gofundme.com/wdad5bk and choose the Speakeasy or Party People perk. Then the dance party portion is “pay what you can.” That begins at 8pm. A portion of funds collected will go to spaKarma. The event will also feature dancing, mini-spa services, and close-up magic! Entertainment will be provided by: Spinning Wheels Pink Frankenstein, Stackhouse, along with surprise guests. Be sure to check the website for more information.

For more info about Full Circle, or Beach Beauty Culture, see http://www.fullcirclevenice.org/  http://stylemovement.com/BBC/

What: Art Party
Where: Nitespa Full Circle Wellness, 305 Rose Avenue, Venice, CA
When: Saturday, August 22, VIP entrance – 6:00 pm; Pay-what-you-can – 8:00pm
Website: http://nitespa.com 

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In Culver City…

Arcana Books hosts a book signing event for Schude.

Schude celebrates a decade of work with nearly two hundred cinematic images by Los Angeles-based photographer Ryan Schude. His vast tableaux and vivid portraits combine humor – both light and vivacious and black as night – with extreme skill and an auteur’s eye that encapsulate Pop Americana in a way that has resonated with audiences worldwide.

Schude, his first monograph, features a foreword by Zac Pennington, an introduction by Davy Rothbart, and a text by the photographer himself illuminating the intricacies and personal stories behind his process in creating this engaging body of work. To get a glimpse of the nature of the Schudeverse, check out this video!

What: Book Signing
Where: Arcana Books, 8675 Washington Blvd., Culver City, 90232
When: 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Phone: 310-458-1499
Website: http://arcanabooks.com/

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bG Gallery offers a group exhibition titled “Unusual Mediums.” There will be a reception for the artist on Saturday from 5-8pm.

A group of artists use and explore media beyond the brush turning ordinary things into something extraordinary. By using media, both readily available and extremely unique, artists showcase their creativity and imagination while creating distinctive art.

A group of artists use and explore media beyond the brush turning ordinary things into something extraordinary. By using media, both readily available and extremely unique, artists showcase their creativity and imagination while creating distinctive art.

See image: Burton Gray, Peppermint Venus, Dimensions: 20 x 60 in.

Artists: Adam Nisenson, Stephen Anderson, Ellen Schinderman, Leigh Salgado, Kimberly Zsebe, Susan Hannon, Jennifer Gunlock, Susie Loucks, Joella March, Poppy Lawman, Alison Foshee, Burton Gray, Michelle Kingdom, Nick Veasey, Sarah Abramson, Shiri Mordechay, Lacey Terrell, Allan Van Fleet, Robert Branaman, Valerie Wilcox, Simone Gad, Nicholas Sitter, David Isaacson, Gina M., Vanessa Madrid and Teresa Flowers.

Gallery hours: 10-6 pm Tues-Sat or by appointment.

On view: August 22 – September 10

What: Opening reception
Where: bG Gallery at Bergamot Station 2525, Michigan Avenue, Space G8A, Santa Monica, CA 90404
When: 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm – August 22
Phone: 310-906-4211
Website: bGartGalleries.com

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Hamilton Galleries presents “Dos Amigos” featuring artists Jim Wagner and Robert Walker.

Enjoy an artist reception tonight from 6-9pm.

Art is a collaboration between artist and viewer, artist and subject, artist and medium, and in this case, between two artists; two friends – Dos Amigos.

When noted New Mexican painter Jim Wagner saw the Dreamboat photos of longtime friend former actor Robert Walker, he was inspired to explore new territory. Jim has been an artist since childhood, flavors of which linger in his work as a quality of colorful imperfection that has wit, style, and irresistible charm. Bob once said, “If I could paint I would paint like Jim, with controlled abandon.

What: Opening reception
Where: Hamilton Galleries, 1431 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401
When: 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Phone: (310) 451-9983
Website: http://www.hamiltongalleries.com/

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Cherry and Martin is pleased to present Try again. Fail again. Fail better” featuring Katy Cowan, Takuro Kuwata, William J. O’Brien, and Adam Silverman.

This exhibition examines four artists’ explorations of ceramics and the inherent nature of its process, contributing authentic voices to the conversation surrounding clay. Artists working today are continually embracing modes of the medium, often freeing it from the rooted sense of tradition and functionality, but ever interested in the physical ‘making’ of art. The show title, taken from Samuel Beckett’s 1983 prose Worstword Ho, emphasizes the chance driven process that is often part of working with clay. Multiple attempts are made, fired, re-fired, glazed, glazed again, assembled, re-assembled, and so forth. The unfolding of this progression is ultimately what draws us to the final objects.

August 22 – September 19, 2015

What: Opening reception
When: August 22, 6-8 pm
Where: Cherry and Martin, 2732 S. La Cienega Blvd.
Website: http://www.cherryandmartin.com/

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In the Miracle Mile area…Couturier Gallery, 166 N. La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036) hosts a closing reception  from 4-6pm. http://www.couturiergallery.com
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How about some music?

The Mint hosts an all-ages early show and record release party with 19-year-old LA-based singer-songwriter Nina Shallman & band on Saturday, August 22, 7:30 sharp!

Dinner/drinks for purchase.

Admission: $8 in advance  – Click here. Admission is $12 at door, cash only. www.ninashallman.com