The Pick of the Week starts at noon….but there are also some St Paddy’s Day Celebrations taking place early….like at Sonny McLean’s Irish Pub in Santa Monica

Sonny McLean’s Pub (2615 Wilshire Blvd., SM) open at 8:00 am BOTH DAYS….See Sunday’s page for more info on the menu.

For today’s music, enjoy Peter Quinn,Paddy’s Day Rockers live band, Karaoke and The Girls from Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey too.

No admission here….yeah!

Sonny’s will be offering a classic St Patrick’s day menu that will include Wagyu Corned Beef and Cabbage, Wagyu Corned Beef Sandwich, Bangers and Mash and way more.

Get your party on with a $4 Fireball shots, $6 Jameson or Bushmill Shots and special priced Irish Submarines and lots of Guinness as part of our 40 tap selection and full bar now.  310.449.1811; http://http://www.sonnymcleans.com/

Continue the party and take in some art at Topanga Canyon Gallery.

“Paradise Found” Opens At Topanga Canyon Gallery on Saturday March 16th.

See image: right, by Fae Horowitz

The Merriam Webster dictionary defines Paradise as “an often imaginary place or state of utter perfection and happiness.”

What (or where) is Paradise? Is it a place on earth or a place in your mind?  Is it far away or close to home?  Is it relative or absolute?  Real or imagined?  What does it look like? How would you describe it? Is there an app for it?

The exploration of this theme, “Paradise Found”, the sixth collaboration between artists Robyn Feeley and Fae Horowitz will be on view at the Topanga Canyon Gallery from March 6 through March 31.

Pastel Artist Robyn Feeley’s work may be found at www.bungalowart.com and the work of Artographer Fae Horowitz may be viewed at www.faehorowitz.com.

See image: Left, Robyn Feeley

“The mind is its own place and in itself can make a Heaven of Hell or Hell in Heaven…” John Milton

On view: March 6th – March 31st

What: Opening reception
Where: Topanga Canyon Gallery, 120 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Suite 109, Topanga, CA 90290
When: Saturday, March 16,  4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
www.topangacanyongallery.com

 
At Bergamot Station, (2525 Michigan Ave in Santa Monica) offers several openings. FIG hosts an early reception from 5-7 pm. http://figgallery.com

TAG Gallery hosts an artist talk and conversation about the current exhibition featuring artists Don Adler, Alain Rogier, and Betty Sheinbaum.   

See image: Alain Rogier, Red, Black, Blue and White Diptych #3  Acrylic on canvas, 2012

On view: February 26 – March 23

What: Artist Talk
Where:  TAG Gallery, Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Avenue D3, Santa Monica CA 90404
When: 5:00 pm- 8:00 pm
Phone: (310) 829-9556
Website: www.taggallery.net

Patrick Painter Inc. holds an opening reception for “Selected Sculptures” featuring the work of Won Ju Lim. This exhibition will feature a series of eight sculptures from Patrick Painter’s personal collection.

On view: March 16, 2013 – April 20, 2013

What: Opening reception
Where: Patrick Painter, Bergamot Station, A8 & B2 2525 Michigan Ave. Santa Monica, CA 90404
When: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Phone: 310 264 5988
Website: http://www.patrickpainter.com/

One more at Bergamot…

Be sure to pop into the Lois Lambert Gallery, who celebrates the work of Martiros Adalian, Tom Eckert and Vivian Maier.

See image: Martiros Adalian

“In Shadows,” features the work of Martiros Adalian.  Also on view is exhibit, “Thirty Years of Deception” showcasing a collection of deceivingly realistic sculptures of everyday objects formed in wood by artist Tom Eckert.

In the project room, don’t miss, “Out from the Shadows.” This exhibition features the work of my all time FAVORITE photographer, Vivian Maier.

I have written about her before. She has a compelling story…for more info, click here.  I was researching late one night for the best events as I often do…Tuesday night before my post is due on Wed. It was literally almost 2:00 am and I started to read about Vivian Maier and with tears in my eyes chose her opening as My Pick of the Week. Her story touched me so, as her work will touch you too. Be sure to stop in.

See image: Vivian Maier

On view: March 16th – May 12th

What: Opening reception
Where: Lois Lambert Gallery, Bergamot Station, E-3, 2525 Michigan Ave. Santa Monica, CA 90404
When: 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Website: http://www.loislambertgallery.com/

Also in Santa Monica….

Bleicher Golightly Gallery presents “The Still Life.” Curated by Stuart Rapeport, the group show features an assembly of many objects combined to become one subject as it’s viewed by multiple artists.

Artists include: Margaret Adachi, Anna Stump, Margaret Garcia, Linda Jacobson, Barry Markowitz, Tuan Phan, Warren Long, and Stuart Rapeport.

On view: March 16th – March 22nd

What: Opening reception
Where: Bleicher Golightly Gallery, 1431 Ocean Blvd., Santa Monica, 90401
When: 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Phone: 310 237 6423
Website: http://caporalebleicher.com/

Garboushian Gallery celebrates the work by acclaimed Korean artist BurnSoo Song in his inaugural exhibition with the gallery.

Song’s visual work has been the focus of several prominent museum exhibitions in both France and Korea. Working in a wide variety of materials including acrylic coloring on Korean handmade Mulberry paper, lithography, sculpture, graphite and large-scale tapestries.

Also nearby M+B presents Mike Brodie’s second solo exhibition, “A Period of Juvenile Prosperity.”

The exhibition of thirty new color photographs will be Brodie’s first solo exhibition in six years and opens in conjunction with the publication of Brodie’s first monograph bearing the same name, published by Twin Palms.

The exhibition will be shown simultaneously in New York at Yossi Milo Gallery and run at M+B in Los Angeles.

On view: March 16th – May 11th

What:Opening reception
Where: M+B, 612 N. Almont Dr., LA 90069
When: 6:00pm- 8:00pm
Phone: 310.550.0050
Website:http://www.mbart.com

In the Miracle Mile area…

Jack Rutberg Fine Arts continues to feature the works of renowned artists with “LETTERS FROM LOS ANGELES PART II.” This re-envisioned exhibition features more than seventy works by forty artists.
 
Artists include: Lita Albuquerque, Bill Barminski, Wallace Berman, Hans Burkhardt, Mark X Farina, Jud Fine, Eve Fowler, Raul Guerrero. Lynn Hanson, George Herms. Dennis Hopper, Ed Kienholz. Barbara Kruger, Charles LaBelle, Mark Licari, Ed Moses, Paulin Paris, Raymond Pettibon, Ken Price, Bruce Richards, Ed Ruscha, Tom Wudl and more.

On view: March 9th – April 30th

What: Opening reception

Where: Jack Rutberg Fine Arts, 357 N. La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90036

When: 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Phone: 323 938-5222

Website: http://www.jackrutbergfinearts.com/

Also in the hood….

Edward Cella Art+Architecture presents new work by Los Angeles based artist Steve Schmidt. Schmidt’s sculptural practice is informed by a process based interest in the collection and assemblage of found objects.

See image: Steve Schmidt, Gyre #4, 2013, Plastic containers, zip ties over metal structure, 39″ x 39″

Also on view is Los Angeles based artist Claire Baker. Baker is an abstract painter who strives to harness the spontaneity of gesture through the deliberation of strategy.

What: Opening reception 
Where: Edward Cella Art + Architecture, 6018 Wilshire Blvd., LA 90036
When: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Phone: (323) 525-0053
Website: www.edwardcella.com

Nearby in Hollywood…

Diane Rosenstein Fine Art offers “John M. Miller: All Or Nothing (At All),” an exhibition of paintings by the Los Angeles-based artist. The exhibit includes eight recent paintings as well as several important works from the artist’s personal collection, dating from the 1990s and not previously shown.

See image: John M. Miller, Revelation (B-2D),  2000, Acrylic resin on canvas, 90 x 138 inches

On view: March 16th – April 13th

Be aware this is a new location (they moved in January)

What: Opening reception
Where: Diane Rosenstein Fine Art, 831 North Highland Ave., LA 90038
When: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Phone: 323.397.9225
Website: http://www.dianerosenstein.com

Also nearby…

Alchemy + Entity celebrates new work from 16 emerging photographers in conjunction with the Julia Dean Photo Workshops. The process of transformation; an idea, a feeling, a theme or a person inspired each artist. The show provides viewers with an eclectic array of stunning imagery above and below the surface.

On view:  March 16th – April 12th

What: Opening reception
Where: Julia Dean Gallery, 755 Seward Street, Los Angeles, CA 90038
When: 7 pm – 11 pm
Phone: 323-464-0909
Website: www.juliadean.com

Or in Culver City…

The George Lawson Gallery holds an opening reception for “Stephen Beal: Whites and Linens.”

The exhibition will include selections from two series of Stephen Beal’s work, paintings on wooden panels and stretched linen that predominately engage white

On view: March 15 – April 27th