In Santa Monica, Bergamot Station’s got it going on this weekend…There are several taking place early….starting with an artist talk at TAG Gallery at 3:00 pm

Enjoy an artist talk today at 3 p.m. at TAG Gallery, featuring Artists: Anne M Bray, Katie Crown, Jane Peterson.

On the Edge: US, Anne M Bray
In her latest series, artist Anne M Bray provides a visual documentation of the perimeter of the 48 contiguous U.S. states. Bray presents the images as continuous strips, much like how she experienced the landscape as it rolled by her car windows.

See image: Katie Crown, Dancers Over LA, Watercolor on paper, 38 x 29 in., 2014

Crown uses stiff oil-paint brushes to dryly apply watercolor paint, scratching back and forth to create an essence of movement. Crown’s work radiates with a bold sense of color that matches the musical quality of her playfully surreal compositions.

an.i.mal, Jane Peterson
In mixed media artist Jane Peterson’s latest series, she further explores the spectrum of human emotion with particular attention to anxiety, passion, and fear. Cartoon-like characters make their way through Peterson’s fanciful compositions, ranging from grotesque insects and other worldly creatures to abstracted human forms that exist in an environment not entirely foreign from her viewers.

On view: June 17 – Sat. July 12, 2014

What: Artist Talk
Where: TAG Gallery, Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Avenue D3, SM 90404
When: 3:00 – 5:00 pm
Phone: (310) 829-9556
Website: http://www.taggallery.net/

Also at Bergamot, there are a few more…

The Frostig Collection Gallery is holding a month long fundraising exhibition of paintings, sculptures, and mixed media artworks are all devoted to the subject of “man’s best friend.”

See image: David Trulli, Night Spot, 2014, Ink, clay, varnish on masonite, 8 x 10 inches

Artists include: Julie Arnoff, Ned Evans, Helen Garber, Bruce Gray, Brad Howe, Johnny Lane, Dave Lovejoy, Jordan Morris, Gwynn Murrill, Tony Pinto, Robb Putnam, Bradford J. Salamon, Daniel San Souchi, Mike Stilkey, Eric Minh Swenson, Moye Thompson, David Trulli, and Kent Twitchell.

There will be an additional reception on Sunday  – Sunday, June 29th, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

The Sunday reception will have the Mutt Scouts Adoptable Dogs, plus fabulous art, a food truck and more!

What: Opening reception
Where: The Frostig Collection (B-5) Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Ave., SM
When: 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Phone: 310-828-3535

At FIG…expressionist Martin Lubner will be exhibiting new paintings in his upcoming exhibition “Doubts and Fears.”

See image: Martin Lubner, Dread Dreamed, 2012-14, oil on canvas, 59 x 84″

Lubner’s paintings are populated with the surroundings of his life: friends, family, lost loved ones, artists, studio clutter and everyday objects. But, as the viewer examines deeper it quickly becomes obvious that these often banal themes are really a narrative based on personal iconography. Martin Lubner’s work is filled with dark humor and nostalgia stemming from a longing to make sense of our existence and all its absurdities.

What: Opening reception
Where: FIG Gallery, 2525 Michigan ave., G-6 Bergamot Station, SM 90404
When: 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Phone: (310) 829-0345

Richard Heller (B-5A) also offers an opening tonight from 5-8pm. http://richardhellergallery.com/

One more at Bergamot…

Lora Schlesinger is pleased to announce Richard Bruland’s third solo-exhibition with the gallery. Continuum features new abstract paintings by the artist. Richard Bruland’s panels of shifting colors create impressions of hazy atmospheric landscapes when viewed from afar. From a distance, content completely dissolves into form with faint horizons and tones reminiscent of Earth and Sky. At close range, they are surprisingly complex revealing strands of multicolored acrylic paint that form nebulous vein-like structures.

The East Gallery presents Sophia Dixon Dillo’s “Emergence.” Sophia is fascinated with how light can be both visible and invisible at the same time.

On view: June 28th – August 2nd

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

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In Westchester from 4-6 pm…Bolsky Gallery at Otis College of Art and Design, Bronya and Andy Galef Center for Fine Arts, 1st flr, 9045 Lincoln Blvd., LA 90045).

Back in Santa Monica…

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Santa Monica College’s Celebrate America – the annual outdoor festival and spectacular fireworks show returns to Corsair Field for the 32nd Year.

The festival, held in honor of Independence Day, will include live entertainment, picnicking, community service booths, beach balls and food. New this year will be a live auction from the stage with prizes donated by Santa Monica area businesses.

5 PM: Gates Open, Picnic, Global Food Fare
6:30 PM: Entertainment begins
9:00 PM: Pyro Spectaculars’ fireworks go off at dusk

Tickets for events with an admission charge may be purchased HERE or by phone at (310) 434-3005​, or in person at the SMC Theatre Arts Box Office (Theatre Arts Complex, SMC Main Campus; limited hours). A modest service charge applies.

Admission ranges from $10 – $40

What: 4th of July Celebration
Where: Santa Monica College’s Corsair Field, 1900 Pico Blvd., SM, 90405
When: 5:00pm – 9:00 pm

Tara Gallery invites you to the opening reception of “Blue” – a starry-eyed exhibition unmasking the vulnerability, resilience and mystery of human nature in contemporary strokes.

Blue features the works of Mehri Dadgar, Neda Dastgheib, and Daniela Schweitzer.

Enjoy Wine and light refreshments while celebrating the launch of this incredible testament of the human spirit on canvas.

On view: June 28 – July 30

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

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In Venice…ArtCrashers hosts an opening at Venice Arts (1702 Lincoln Blvd.), from 7-11pm. http://artcrasher.com/

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In West Hollywood…

Thomas Duncan Gallery holds an opening reception for its new exhibition “Jesse Willenbring: Observation Location.”

On view: June 28th – August 16th

What: Opening Reception
Where: Thomas Duncan Gallery, 6109 Melrose Ave., LA, CA 90038
When: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Phone: 310 494 1177
Website: http://thomasduncangallery.com/

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Head towards La Cienega…

Los Angeles Art Association (LAAA) presents “Cultural Excavation,” an all-media group show at Gallery 825. Cultural Excavation explores cultural reference points for 2014 and beyond.

Emerging artists of all media reflect on and respond to cultural, topical and aesthetic influences.

Artists include: Kelly Berg, Kelly Brumfield-Woods, Andree Carter, Chenhung Chen, Ching Ching Cheng, Joy Curtis, Lola Del Fresno, Katrina Desmond, Betsy Enzensberger, Laurie Freitag, Tanner Goldbeck, Brandon Hudson, Jaret Johnston, Scott Davis Jones, Colleen Kelly, Isabella Kelly-Ramirez, Jim Keville, Leslie Lanxinger, Ahree Lee, Joshua Levine, Shana Mabari, Arlene Mead, Robert Nelson, Osceola Refetoff, Tonya Rice, Daksh Sahni, Richard Slechta, Susan Swihart, Jane Szabo, Devin Thor, Valerie Wilcox, Joan Wulf, and Elyse Wyman.

On view: June 28th – July 18th

What: Opening reception
Where: Gallery 825 – 825 N. La Cienega Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90069
When: 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Phone: 310.652.8272
Website: http://laaa.org

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In Culver City…

Von Lintel Gallery introduces the entirety of its program in one summer group show,  “Ambitious.”

The work, while spanning a variety of mediums and employing an array of technique and points of view are all linked by an ambitious element be it scale, process, subject or context.

See image: Wendy Small Queen Wasp (from the series Micro Managed) 2006, Photogram on Luminos Charcoal paper, 35 3/4 x 28 inches (90.8 x 71.1 cm) Unique

Artists include: Pierre Cordier, Stephen Ellis, Gundi Falk, Rosemarie Fiore, Roland Fischer, Catherine Howe, Valerie Jaudon, Izima Kaoru, Farrah Karapetian, Tim Maguire, Klea McKenna, Antonio Murado, Floris Neusüss, Mark Sheinkman, Wendy Small, Joseph Stashkevetch, Canan Tolon and Melanie Willhide.

On view: June 28 – August 23

What: Opening reception
Where: Von Lintel Gallery, 2685 S. La Cienega Blvd., LA 90034
When: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Phone: 310.559.5700
Website: www.vonlintel.com

GREENE EXHIBITIONS (2654 La Cienega Ave.), offers a reception from 6-8pm. 

Head to Washington Blvd…

Mark Moore Gallery presents “Chain Reaction,” a solo exhibition of mixed-media sculpture, photography, video, and installation by Chicago-based artist Cheryl Pope.

See image: Cheryl Pope / Chain Reaction FOUR, 2014 / Ilford Pearl inkjet print / 24 x 18.7 inches / edition of 3 + 2 AP

This latest body of work is a continuation of the research conducted for her “Just Yell” exhibition in 2013, which investigates segregation, youth violence, power, and privilege as relating specifically to the bodily identity.

The artist has invited Britteney Black Rose Kapri, a teaching artist and author of WINONA AND WINTHROP. Kapri will perform a selection of her poetry at the opening at 6:30pm. Also performing at at 7:30pm are Street Poets Inc., a non-profit organization that provides poetic license and oulets to at-risk youth.

Concurrently in Gallery Two, the gallery presents “The New Suburbs,” a solo exhibition of painted wood carvings by Japanese artist Kenichi Yokono.

What: Opening reception
Where: Mark Moore Gallery, 5790 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232
When: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Phone: 310 453-3031
Website: http://www.markmooregallery.com

A couple more….Koplin Del Rio Gallery (6031 Washington Blvd) holds a reception from 5-7pm. http://www.koplindelrio.com/  Klowden Mann (6023 Washington Blvd.), holds an opening from 6-8pm. http://klowdenmann.com

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In Downtown LA…

Enjoy a night of art, comedy, magic, science, music, and roller derby! This event is an essential fundraiser for the Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles (DSALA).

All proceeds benefit individuals born with Down syndrome living in the greater Los Angeles area.

The 5th Annual TWENTYWONDER event will feature performances and attractions by: Los Angeles Derby Dolls – Tough Cookies vs. Fight Crew, Dengue Fever, Two Bit Circus, Lucha VaVOOM, Rudely Interrupted (from Australia), Val McCallum, Joey Cheezhee, The Lampshades, Way 2 Much Cirque Pavilion, Creature Features, Eban Schletter, Lucent Dossier, Two Headed Dog, Tim Biskup and Ego Killers, FriendsWithYou, Acts from Cirque Berzerk, Jamie Brewer, Brad Oldham, H.R. Pufnstuf, Moth Story GrandSLAM champion Vikki Kelleher, Art by Thomas Lanigan-Schmidt, Astronomers from iPLEX, Matt Hoffman, ’66 Batmobile, Mobley Labs Neuroscience, Dr. Richard Kaae’s Insects, Craft Beer from Golden Road Brewing, Food Trucks and MORE!

Admission: $50 or $150 for VIP.

Save 20% on Tickets! Use Code: ELPJ20

What: Fundraiser
Where: The Doll Factory, 1910 W. Temple St., LA 90026
When: 6:00 pm – Midnight

Also Downtown…

Celebrate “Realize the Real Lies,” an exhibit and launch party for artist Ricardo Garcia.

The exhibition will feature a collection of new works from Garcia, who has been a fixture in the underground Los Angeles art scene for more than 15 years. But it will also serve as the introduction of his new 2,800 square-foot creative space, aptly called The Downtown Playground.

It was Garcia’s punk-rock ethic that led to The Downtown Playground which is an industrial-grade art gallery and performance space tucked into a non-descript corner of the Warehouse District in Downtown LA.

The event will include live music and surprise guests.

What: Opening reception
When: 6:00 pm to 10:00 p.m
Where: The Downtown Playground, 1720 E. 14th Street, LA 90021
Phone: 818.795.4776 
Website: www.garciaricardo.com

Also Downtown…Art Share LA and Do Art Foundation host a special event at 7pm. There is an admission charge…ranging from $40-$100.  http://artsharela.org/

Human Resources (410 Cottage Home St.), offers a performance from 9-11pm. http://humanresourcesla.com/  Then another opening takes place nearby at Coagula Curatorial  (974 Chung King Rd.) a bit later from 7-11pm.

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In Glendate…Brand Library Art Galleries (1601 W. Mountain St. Glendale, CA 91201), presents a group show from 6-10pm.

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In Pasadena…

Flower Pepper Gallery offers an opening reception for a group exhibition entited “Summer Flies,” curated by Walt Hall.

“Summer Flies” is a small collection of works by 18 diverse and compelling artists, who have come together to pay tribute to the warmest of the four temperate seasons, summer.

Artists include: Alex Schaeffer, Annie Terrazzo, Carl Lozada, Carol Powell, Doug Alvarez, Jacqueline Alderete, Jeff Claassen, Jon Measures, Kelly Thompson, Lacey Bryant, Max Neutra, Mike Street, Neil Breton, Patrick Haemmerlein, Randy Kono, Stephen Holman, Terri Berman, Walt Hall.

On view: June 28th – August 1st

What: Opening reception
Where: Flower Pepper Gallery, 121 E Union St., Pasadena, CA 91103
When: 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Phone: 626-795-1895
Website: www.flower-pepper.com

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