Printed Matter’s LA Art Book Fair kicked off this past Thursday with a preview and will run through Sunday.

The annual book fair is a unique event for artists’ books, art catalogs, monographs, periodicals, and zines presented by over 250 international presses, booksellers, antiquarians, artists, and independent publishers.

Printed Matter’s LA Art Book Fair 2015 saw over 34,700 visitors over the course of three and a half days.

LA Louver will be particpating in the event. You can find them at booth S4.

This year’s fair features SPAIN FOCUS Curated by Libros Mutantes & La Casa Encendida. Supported by Acción Cultural Española A/CE.  Participants: Bandiz Studio, Belleza Infinita, Dalpine
Kitschic, Libros Mutantes, Terranova, TUNICA.

Free Admission

What: LA Art Book Fair
Where: The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, 152 North Central Ave., LA 90012
When: 11:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Phone: (213) 626-6222
Website: moca.org; www.laartbookfair.net

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Enjoy the 117th Chinese New Year’s Day parade here in L.A. As always the event will feature dancing dragons, lions, thousands of red firecrackers, food and festivities!

FREE to the public. The festival is easily accessed via Metro Gold Line rail from the Chinatown Station. Be sure to check the website to find o ut about street closures. All types of Artisans will participate.

Here’s the Central Plaza Main Stage Schedule 
12pm Traditional Southern Style Dragon and Lion Dance by East Wind Foundation For Youth
12:30pm Chinese Acrobatics (Mongolian Contortion, Foot Juggling, Rolla Bolla, Juggling)
1pm-3pm DARK (Parade)
3pm Connie Lim    
3:45pm Traditional Southern Style Dragon and Lion Dance by East Wind Foundation For Youth
4pm Martial Arts by Shaolin Yanxu Gongfa School
4:30pm Chinese Acrobatics (Face Changing, Mongolian Contortion, Teapot Juggling, Foot Juggling, Rolla Bolla, Juggling)
5:15pm Performance by Larrisa Lam and Only Won
6pm Traditional Southern Style Dragon and Lion Dance by East Wind Foundation For Youth
6:15pm Martial Arts by Shaolin Yanxu Gongfa School
6:45pm Chinese Acrobatics (Face Changing, Mongolian Contortion, Teapot Juggling, Foot Juggling, Rolla Bolla, Juggling)
7:30pm Monkey King and Metal Fan Princess (Opera Scene) with support from California Institute for Chinese Performing Arts

What: Chinese New Year
Where: Chinese New Year Festival, Central Plaza Stage (New Chinatown), 943-951 N. Broadway
When: 12pm-8pm
Website: http://chinatownla.com/

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Maloney Fine Arts hosts a book signing with Kim McCarty, Lauren P. Della Monica and Mona Kuhn.

Bodies of Work Contemporary Figurative Painting: by Lauren P. Della Monica; Cover: Kim McCarty; $50.

Human forms can be intensely intimate or broadly universal. Here, figurative artists use the human form as a tool to express varied content and contemporary issues. These paintings depict our feelings and sentiments, our sense of belonging to a larger community in the contemporary world, while capturing the impulses behind the range of figuration presented by today’s contemporary international artists. Portraitist Marlene Dumas presents figures in a gritty, unsentimental manner, evoking the essence of the human condition, while Kerry James Marshall paints the life of African-Americans in the twentieth-century, employing recent historical review to document the social challenges. British artist Jenny Saville paints the figure in massive scale, combined with an overt, never-ending interest in the pure rendering of human flesh. Hope Gangloff paints her figures as characters, intimate friends, and acquaintances, narrating a drama from their canvases. An important resource for those interested in contemporary figurative painting.

Mona Kuhn: Bordeaux Series: $50

In a remote landscape near Bordeaux, Mona Kuhn owns a little house: simple, bare and even without electricity. Kuhn travels here each year to entertain family and friends as they drop by. Bordeaux Seriescontains portraits of these people dear to Kuhn made over the last four years, as well as landscape photographs. Kuhn photographs her subjects in the same room with a red fabric backdrop and a chair, so that the nudity of each sitter is the only indication of his or her idiosyncrasies. A sequel to Kuhn’s Native (2009), Bordeaux Series is a sensual exploration of the contemporary nude.

What: Opening reception

Where: Maloney Fine Arts, 2680 South La Cienega Blvd., LA 90034

When: 11:00am – 1:00pm

Phone: 310.570.6420

Website: http://www.maloneyfineart.com

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In Echo Park…

Subliminal Projects hosts an all day closing reception (12-6pm) for “Modular Synthesis,” a solo exhibition featuring work by Brooklyn-based artist Steve Keene. The works included in this exhibition are heavily influenced and inspired by influential bands and musicians. The artist pays tribute to some of the most important album art of all time including pieces in honor of The Rolling Stones, The Clash, Bob Dylan, Joy Division and many others.

Here are a few words from our founder Shepard Fairey about Steve Keene’s work and upcoming show here at Subliminal: “When I discovered the work of Steve Keene in the 90’s I was fascinated by his process of working quickly to create multiple versions of paintings that would allow him to keep the prices low, yet make each painting an original.  I soon realized that he was addressing a lot of the coolest indie scene subject matter and that from any of my diverse interests there was probably some connection only a few degrees of separation from Keene.  I’m really excited about the work he’s doing for “Modular Synthesis,” his show opening at our gallery Subliminal Projects later this month.  The exhibition will feature his interpretations of classic album covers and hip Los Angeles landmarks, as well as the debut of his Tattooed Plywood pieces.  This guy must be the most prolific artist of all time and his process is fascinating; it’s a must-see show! Hope to see you on January 16th!” – Shepard Fairey

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Downtown LA…

Rosamund Felsen Gallery is pleased to present Marcia Roberts’ eighth solo exhibition with the gallery. The exhibition features a new series of her illusive, nuanced paintings – this time charged with vivid pinks, green and teal.

Parking: Lot immediately South of gallery entrance. Street parking on 11th St & 15th St, west of Santa Fe Ave.

On view: February 13 – March 12

What: Opening reception
Where: Rosamund Felsen Gallery 1923 S Santa Fe #100, LA CA 90021
When: 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Phone: 310-828-8488
Website: http://www.rosamundfelsen.com

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Head to Hollywood…

The Craft in America Center presents “Anatomy of a Lion Dance.” Enjoy an artist talk with Chris Low.

For a final festive weekend of Chinese New Year, lion head builder and dancer, Chris Low, visits the Center to explain the origins, symbolism and techniques of this ancient art form. Dating back to the Han Dynasty, lion head patterns and decorations synthesize many traditions, such as Buddhism, Feng Shui, and Cantonese opera. Today, the art form continues to evolve and reflect its dispersion to Chinese communities across the globe.
 
Low first began studying the lion dance as a young boy growing up in San Francisco’s Chinatown. He is one of few artists who have mastered both the martial arts based choreography, as well as the craftsmanship and restoration of these cultural artifacts. Since apprenticing with acclaimed lion head artist, Corey Chan, through the Alliance for California Traditional Arts in 2011, Low has dedicated himself to the advancement of the tradition in Southern California through his teaching, writing, and practice.

What: Art Talk
Where: The Craft in America Center, 8415 West Third Street, 2 blocks East of La Cienega)
When: 4:00pm
Phone: (323) 951-0610
Website: http://www.craftinamerica.org

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In Venice…Beyond Baroque celebrates artists Bob Branaman and Raphael Cohen-Bacry with an opening reception starting at 4pm.

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In Los Feliz

Although the Los Angeles Zoo is best known as one of Southern California’s most family-friendly destinations, adults take their turn with a wild Valentine’s Day celebration at SEX AND THE CITY ZOO dedicated to romance in the animal kingdom tonight from 5 to 7 pm, in the Zoo’s Witherbee Auditorium. 

The lighthearted affair for ages 21 and up begins with a reception from 5 to 6 pm featuring decadent refreshments, tempting desserts, alluring wines and “animal walk-abouts,” which include chats with keepers and the chance to observe small animals up close. At the heart of the evening is a provocative “birds and bees” presentation and Q & A from 6 to 7 pm about animal dating, mating and cohabitating by L.A. Zoo General Curator Beth Schaefer, and the event climaxes with an intimate three-course dinner (from 7 to 9 pm for an additional fee) at Reggie’s Bistro inside the Zoo. 

On the dinner menu is choice of Kabocha Squash Soup or Octopus Carpaccio; Mache Salad with Strawberries, Balsamic, Golden Beet, Hazelnuts, Basil and Snap Peas; choice of Ribeye Filet with Wild Mushrooms, Pea Shoots, Marrow Butter and Cauliflower or Lobster Tortellini with Peas, Favas, Fine Herbs and Pancetta; Beet & Goat Cheese Risotto; and Blood Orange Meringue dessert. E. & J. Gallo Winery is a sponsor of Sex and the City Zoo.

Tickets range from 42.99 to $137.49; CLICK HERE to purchase tickets.

What: SEX AND THE CITY ZOO
Where: Witherbee Auditorium, The Los Angeles Zoo, 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027
When: 5:00pm – 7pm; Q&A 6-7pm; Dinner 7-9pm 
Phone: (323) 644-6001
Website: www.lazoo.org/sexandthecityzoo/

In Santa Monica, at Bergamot Station…

There will be a closing reception on February 13. Don’t miss it – its a fabulous show.  A group show curated by Om Bleicher, the artists have been pushed to uncover alternative realities through images devoid of color.

This will be the 2nd incarnation of the gray scale exhibit featuring over fifteen artists. For the exhibition Bleicher has chosen two surrealistic black and white works from artist Scott Horton. “His black and white digital works combine a cool early Mac classic clip art work in interesting complex surreal ways,” explained Bleicher. Horton in turn said he was looking forward to showing at Bergamot Station and at bG Gallery. “I’m excited to show to an audience that has a love and appreciation for the many facets of grayscale works,” said Horton, who was inspired to create by his college professor.

See image: By Scott Horton, Dreamcathers 06, 48″ x 48″ Archival ink on gloss canvas, 2015, Digital Surrealism

He has spent years honing his craft, and working with various media. “One of my first experiences with an art medium was illustrative (or scratch) board. I gained a great respect for the “Old World” method of illustration, but wanted to create larger, more profound work. So I combined 30 years of experience in etching, digital photo editing and illustration, and looked for inspiration from other artists: the works of Dali, Escher, Magritte and others. From that, I created this illustrative-style of digital surrealism.” A time consuming process, the artist spends about a year collecting images for these works then roughly three months creating the illustration. “The goal of Dreamcatchers,” explained Horton, “is to draw you into its world; both by the sheer size and by the lines and forms.” Find out more about Scott Horton and his work by visiting his website at http://dreamscolor.com/

Additional artists include: Huss Hardan, Terry Marks-Tarlow, Johny Naked, Andrea Castillo, DOSSHAUS, Yaron Dotan, Pascaline Doucin-Dahlke, David Dumo, Domenico Foschi, Kim Kimbro, Barbara Kolo, Mary McGill, Susan Moss, Johnny Naked, Peta Orbach, Steve Paulsen, Allan Peach, Mick Phelan, Jeehye Shin, Daggi Wallace, Thomas Whittaker Kidd, Melissa Wilkinson, Harry Wilson, Marion Wood, Robert Zagorski, etc.

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The Jill Joy Gallery presents “Emotion – Recent Paintings” by Jill Joy. This series of large, impasto oil paintings addresses the power of emotions to transform. Ms. Joy founded the Jill Joy Gallery to showcase spiritually based contemporary art.

In Consciousness – New Paintings, Jill Joy explores the interplay of the unseen worlds of spiritual and emotional energy as an individual soul evolves towards a higher state of consciousness. Her paintings evolve from dark to light, representing the movement from unconscious to conscious awareness. The sky and sea are referenced as metaphors for universal consciousness experienced by the individual. Joy’s paintings are snapshots of her mental and emotional experiences of self-awareness in a field of universal love. They are executed in a meditative trance and thus become meditative objects, akin to contemporary mandalas.

To find out more about this exhibition or the Jill Joy Gallery, visit our Upcoming Events Page.

Free Parking at The Athena Lot west of the gallery after 5pm

On view: February 20 – March 19, 2016

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Keep heading East….2426 SET (2426 West Washington Blvd., LA 90018) offers an architecture show opening from 5-8pm.

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One more early one takes place in the valley…Gallery 800 (5108 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, 91601) throws an art party from 5-8pm.

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In West Hollywood…

Stone Malone presents a solo exhibition titled “Happy No Fear” featuring the art of Chase. The artist is known for his quirky and humorous paintings that create disruption in our day to day lives.

After moving to Los Angeles from Belgium in the 1990s he began his foray into the graffiti world on a large scale, seeing a raw city open to creation, offering a new mode of communication through imagery and quirky text. His determination, fueled by his mantra “where there’s a wall, there’s a way,” has given rise to international opportunities and over 300 murals worldwide.

The psychedelic, graphic, and positive aesthetic of his work add to the urban landscape, but also seek to create a dialogue between city inhabitants and within ourselves.

On view: February 12 – February 27

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