The holidays are here…whether you are ready or not, so you may as well get into the spirit.

See below for a mix of both art events and holiday events…(two of my bands have gigs today and tonight….so Mama’s gonna be busy!….Come on by to say Hi!

In Venice…

Deus Ex Machina on Venice and Lincoln (the old Conway Flower shop) hosts a hoppin’ party.

The Venice Street Legends invited me to perform with them on this gig…*if it rains, we will be inside.

The Legends will be playing classic country, Johnny Cash, June Carter, Hank Williams, Patsy Cline and more, as well as some blues and holiday music too. Come on down and get your groove on…

What: BBQ, Beer, Vendors, Music
Where: Deux Ex Machina, 1001 Venice Blvd., Venice, CA 90291
When: 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/deuscustoms

SUBLIMINAL PROJECTS is pleased to present its 2014 Holiday Bazaar featuring artwork from Los Angeles’ burgeoning creative network.

The event begins at 2 p.m. with complimentary baked goods, live music, warm cider, and Smokin’ Willie’s food truck serving up savory options in the parking lot.

Exhibiting artists include: Amanda Gordon Dunn, Andrew Holder, Angela Chvarak, Anthony Sneed, Britt Harrison, Casey Ryder, Dale Dreiling, Ernesto Yerena, Francisco Reyes Jr., j.frede, Michael C. Hsiung, MR Herget, Nicholas Bowers, Nil Ultra, Richard David Sigmund, Shepard Fairey, Sterling Bartlett, and Tara Smith.

In addition to unique works, there will also be a selection of prints from the gallery archives on view and available for purchase. These prints offer a diverse range of size, style, and aesthetic by artists such as: Deedee Cheriel, Steve Harrington, Evan Hecox, Monica Canilao, Camille Rose Garcia, Stanley Donwood, and Gary Panter.

On view: December 6 – January 10, 2015

What: Holiay Bazaar
Where: Subliminal Projects, 1331 W Sunset Blvd., LA 90026
When: 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Phone: (213) 213-0078
Website: http://subliminalprojects.com/

Independent Opera Company presents a hilarious science fiction fantasy version of Mozart’s beloved comic opera “Le Nozze di Figaro” (the Marriage of Figaro).

Set in the future on a distant planet (Aguas Frescas), the story will take the guise of a comic book with makeup reminiscent of Roy Lichtenstein’s classic art work and with supertitles and projections in comic book lettering. Directed by Jay Stephenson and fully staged with soloists and chorus.

Today is the final show of only 4 performances. Today’s show starts at 2pm. 

Admission charge: $15 children and students with ID- $25 general admission.

In Santa Monica…Bergamot Station hosts a couple art parties

bG Gallery presents the long-awaited book launch for Simone Gad’s “Molested at the Movies”. Simone Gad is a painter actor and performance artist who became prominent during the LA art scene in the 1970s.

Molested at the movies tells a dark story of Simone’s past that is as much a comedy as a tragedy.

It is an account of the artist’s history as well as American and Jewish-American history. Part literature, part artwork, part performance script, complete with the artist’s handwritten notes against typed text, this book is an utterly unique experience and we’re excited to celebrate its release at the gallery. Come get your copy and get it signed.

What: Opening reception
Where: bG Gallery, 2525 Michigan Avenue, # G8A, Santa Monica, CA 90404
When:  5:00 pm 7:00 pm
Phone: (310) 906 4211
Website: http://www.bGartGalleries.com

Also at Bergamot…

Lora Schlesinger Gallery debuts its December Group Show featuring art work by the following artists: Peter Alexander, Miya Ando, Charles Arnoldi, Laurel Bustamante, Ann Chamberlin, Gershom, Roberto Gil de Montes, Gronk, Bruce Houston, Cindy Kane, Astrid Preston, Peter Shire and Mike Tracy.

In the East Gallery enjoy “Staples,” featuring the art of Carlo Marcucci. I wrote a review of this artist’s work after seeing this interesting series at his studio. See my Westside Today article. 

Staples is a series of wall-mounted sculptures assembled with staples, rope, paper clips, erasers and a variety of commonplace materials.

This body of work presents a minimalist aesthetic and formal design elements that reevaluate our relationship to industry and culture, in the vein of Arte Povera and the Assemblage Art movement.

On view: December 6, 2014 – January 10, 2015

What: Opening reception
Where: Lora Schlesinger Gallery, 2525 Michigan Ave. (T3) Santa Monica, CA 90404
When: 5:00 pm- 7:00 pm
Phone: 310-828-1133
Website: http://www.loraschlesinger.com

Another early opening in Santa Monica…

Gallery 169 is excited to announce and host “Photographs,” a collaboration of two accomplished photographers creating art as one.

The large scale photographic prints in Brüder’s breakout exhibition deal with this very urge to radically decontextualize what has become all too familiar. This line of thinking has inspired a tag team duo down a path of explosive beauty and authentic gratitude for the simple mysteries of life. Hi-speed capture of novelty pyrotechnics, passionate hair growth frozen in full windmill, and the gaze-like study of the body itself invite wonder and awe in what becomes the truly sublime.

On view: December 5 – January 15, 2015

What: Opening Reception
Where: Gallery 169, 169 West Channel Road, Santa Monica, CA 90402
When: 5:00pm – 8:00 pm
Website: http://gallery169.com/

Also in Santa Monica…

The Off their Jingle Bell Rockers ar back performing at the Main Street Holiday Event tonight.

The event begins with a Christmas tree lighting at Ocean Park and Main, (the site of the Sunday Santa Monica Farmers Market) followed by a candlelight walk to an amazing Shopping Cart Christmas Tree at Edgemar Pl (by Ben & Jerry’s and Peet’s Coffee, 90401).

The Shopping Cart Christmas Tree is designed by Santa Monica artist Anthony Schmitt. You gotta check it out.

Photo by Robert E. Thomas

Here, the Off Their Jingle Bell Rockers will sing a short set (six songs) before they move on down Main Street. Most of the stores on Main Street will stay open and the Rockers will stop in to perform holiday classics.

There will be parties up and down the street….don’t forget to stop by UROBORUS for their fabulous HOLIDAY PARTY.

Tonight’s event kicks off a month long sale at the exclusive Santa Monica store. Uroborus will be offering 50% off on selected Styles which includes most items in the store. The store will also offer 20% off on new arrivals…merchandise and Jewelry. While you are there…buy something nice for yourself, you deserve it.

See image: Frenchlace, lipstick red, boustier. Excellent fit, In-house design, by Gigi Clark

Designer Gigi Clark creates original couture designs for today’s modern woman. Like most creative people, inspiration comes in many ways. “I design with my emotions and transform this into function,” said Clark. “It could come from a wave in the ocean or a trip to the museum.”

I happen to be a huge fan of Gigi’s design…yes I am a customer as well. You won’t want to miss their holiday party tonight…it’s a great time to take advantage of the amazing deals and get your holiday shopping done…while enjoying some wine. Gigi and David are wonderful people and longtime locals. They always welcome the community and put out a nice spread at their holiday party.

Uroborus-Mode is located at 2407 Main Street in Santa Monica, 90405. For more info about Gigi Clark and Uroborus, see FB Page.

One more art opening in Santa Monica…

Tara Gallery is pleased to welcome artist Chahab Tayefeh-Mohajer hailing all the way from France.

“Ancient Meets Contemporary” will be his first solo exhibition with the gallery. 

The reception will feature a Q&A with Chahab at 7 p.m., followed by a signing of his self-titled book Chahab. Published in France only, this coffee table book riddled with Chahab’s contemporary masterpieces is available for purchase only at the Tara Gallery.

On view: December 6th 2014 – January 7th, 2015

What: Opening reception
Where: Tara Gallery, 1202 Montana Avenue, Suite B, Santa Monica, CA 90403 (entrance on 12th street)
When: 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Phone: 310.451.2417
Website: http://taragallery.org

In Culver City… from 6-8pm, Western Project (2762 S. La Cienega Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232) hosts its eleven year anniversary exhibition. http://www.western-project.com/

In Miracle Mile…

Couturier Gallery is pleased to present its longstanding holiday exhibition, “Present Art XV,” a group exhibition of twenty-five artists offering a range of affordable works in a variety of techniques and mediums ideal for gift-giving and/or collecting.

Artists include: Gale Antokal, Joseph Corso, Carlos Estevez, Leonard Greco, JETT, Jeff Iorillo, Jay Kvapil, Alexis Lago, Nancy Goodman Lawrence, Echo Lew, Paul Lorenz, Andres Montoya,Antonio Muniz,Gertrud & Otto Natzler, Echiko Ohira, Emilio Rama, Mary Rothman, Danny Scheible, Olga Seem, Alfred Sils, Carol Sils, Keijo Tapanainen, Maritta Tapanainen, James Zver.

What: Opening reception
Where: Couturier Gallery, 166 N. La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036
When: 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Phone: 323-933-5557
Website: www.couturiergallery.com

Flower Pepper Gallery (121 E Union St., Pasadena, CA 91103) hosts a reception from 6-9pm. http://www.flower-pepper.com

The Oceanside Museum of Art will host a Mega Exhibition Reception celebrating five concurrent exhibitions including: “California Dreaming: An International Portrait of Southern California” which just returned from the first destination on its tour, the Palazzo della Provincia di Frosinone in Italy.

See image: By Brooke Harker
Title: “Abbot Kinney 2″ Medium: ink & acrylic on canvas. Dimensions: 24″ x 24”

This exhibit will feature artwork from 50 artists selected worldwide by Peter Frank (Los Angeles based art critic/curator), Drew Oberjuerge (Inland Empire-based museum director), and Daniel Foster (San Diego/Oceanside-based museum director). LA based cityscape artist Brooke Harker, will represent Venice in the exhibit with her depiction of Abbot Kinney.

Admission is free for OMA members and $10 for non-members.

What: Artist Reception
Where: Oceanside Museum of Art, 704 Pier View Way, Oceanside, California 92054
When: 6-8pm
Phone: 760-435-3732
Website: http://www.oma-online.org   http://www.brookeharker.com