In Venice…

Garifuna International Indigenous Film Festival continues today offering documentaries from all over the world highlighting the wisdom, the plight and the beauty of indigenous cultures and supporting their preservation.

Nine films will be screened today (Saturday), plus International Discussion Symposium on “Human Rights violations against indigenous cultures” including the worldwide premiere of “West Papua: A journey to Freedom” “Rebirth: Call of our Mother to Renewal” and LA premiere of “Kung Fu Pho” with film makers present to discuss their inner thoughts and answer questions about their movies.

Visit the website and view trailers of the films to be screened at this inspiring event.

Be aware the event runs from Friday, May 27th through Tuesday, June 1, 2016

Admission charge: $8 – 15.00; Parking options: Valet and street parking

What: Garifuna International Indigenous Film Festival
Where: Electric Lodge; 1416 Electric Avenue, Venice, CA 90291
When: 10:00am to 10:15pm – Saturday, May 28, 2016
Phone: 310-663-5813
Website: http://www.GarifunaFilmFestival.com

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Head to Bergamot Station (2525 Michigan Ave, SM, 90404) for several art openings….

Craig Krull debuts three exhibitions. John Humble began photographing the “paradoxes and ironies of Los Angeles” in 1979.

He is a keen observer of this city of boundless asphalt, stucco, signage and mismatched patchworks of graffiti paint-overs. His current exhibition focuses on the contrasting architecture and the squeezing, wedging and overlapping of cultures in downtown Los Angeles (DTLA).

Concurrently, the gallery will present its fifth exhibition of Dan McCleary, who is regarded by Christopher Knight at the LA TIMES as “one of the finest figure painters working today.” McCleary employs classical methodologies and devices like the golden mean, as well as traditional building blocks of design: cube sphere, cylinder and cone. The new works are small paintings of quietly centered fruit, classic frontal portraits, and etchings of florals made recently in Oaxaca.

On view at an adjoining gallery, enjoy linoleum-cut prints made by Javier Carillo, Roberto Ortiz and Jairo Perez from the print department of Art Division, a non-profit art school for young adults in the Rampart District of LA, founded and directed by Dan McCleary.

What: Opening reception
Where: Craig Krull Gallery (B-3) Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Ave, Santa Monica, 90404
When: 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm.
Phone: 310.828.6410
Website: http://www.craigkrullgallery.com

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bG Gallery presents “Looking Glass,” a group exhibition. Gallerist Om Bleicher said he was subliminally inspired by the release of the new Tim Burton film and wanted to celebrate surrealism in his next exhibition.

“I had the idea for a surreal show and the words Looking Glass popped into my head,” said Om Bleicher, gallery director and co-owner of bG Ballery. “Driving home after the show had formed I noticed a billboard for the new Tim Burton Alice and Wonderland Through the Looking Glass movie and realized it must have subconsciously slipped in.”

See image: The Place?! – oil & latex on wood, 24″ x 18,” 2007

One of the artists participating is Ty Cummings (who will be featuring four works in the show). “I’ve noticed changes in my work recently and over time; there are always new things I want to incorporate into the work. The concepts build off of each other and the story keeps moving,” said the artist.

Artists include: Shiri Mordechay, Cory Sewelson, Gay Summer Rick, Bob Branaman, Nathan Cartwright, Brian Cooper, Ty Cummings, Jerry Uelsmann, Ed Freeman, Dan Busta, Marcus Durkheim, Jim Holyoak, The Love Armada, Gregory W. Horndeski, Ariom, and more.

On view: May 28 – June 5, 2016

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

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Latin American Masters features Fernando de Szyszlo in “Sombras y Sueños” from 6-8pm.

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In Hollywood…Tif Sigfrids (1507 Wilcox Ave., LA 90028), holds an art party for a group show from 4-6pm.

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In West LA…

GR2 presents “Repose” featuring the art of Mike Lee.

This body of work is themed around emotion and exploration. There were many realizations that came to light when working with mediums other than pencil. I was able to achieve rich blacks, but more importantly the speed I was able to finish a piece allowed me to execute far more ideas. I focused in on figures and had them represent emotions i often felt from people closest to me as well as ones I observed from the world around me.

On view: May 28 – June 15

What: Opening reception
Where: GR2, 2062 Sawtelle Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90025
When: 6:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Phone: (310) 445-9276; 424.2GOROBO
Website: http://www.giantrobot.com/

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In West Hollywood…Stone Malone Gallery hosts a group exhibition titled “WHERE ELSE BUT THE STREETS” featuring Shepard Fairey, Free Humanity. Morley, Plastic Jesus, Sabo, Toolz, Teachr, PSA Crew, etc. 7619 1/2 Melrose Ave;  7-10 pm

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In Culver City…The Whole 9 Gallery (3830 Main Street, Culver City, CA 90232), hosts a group show from 6-10pm.

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Also in Culver City…head East to La Cienega

Paul Loya Gallery is proud to present Tom Fruin’s FRESH PRODUCE.

Tom Fruin’s WATERTOWER has become synonymous with the Brooklyn skyline and his Kolonihavehus that took up residence in Brooklyn Bridge park last year became an icon in social media for park goers.

Working from project to project and just finishing his new Greenpoint WATERTOWER, Tom wanted to do something fun, spontinaeous and a bit avante-garde with these new pieces that has been creating in his studio on the side.

On view: May 28 – July 2, 2016

What: Opening reception
Where: P A U L L O Y A G A L L E R Y, 2677 S. La Cienega Blvd., LA 90034
When: 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Phone: 310 876 1410

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Thinkspace celebrates three new exhibitions.Each artist will be taking part in the RFK Mural Festival put together by Branded Arts leading up to the opening. Look for more details and sneak peeks from the mural festival to be shared soon.

Enjoy new works by Curiot in Warped Passage. Michoacán artist Favio Martinez, known by his pseudonym Curiot, currently lives and works in Mexico City.

Concurrently on view in the Thinkspace project room is Breaking Point, featuring new works by American, Berlin-based, artist James Bullough.

On view in the gallery’s office space is Destroy’ed and Rebuilt, a special presentation of works by UR New York: Fernando Romero and Mike Baca, a graffiti duo from New York City.

On view: May 28 – June 18

What: Opening Reception
Where: Thinkspace, 6009 Washington Blvd. Culver City, 90232
When: 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Phone: 310 403.8549
Website: http://www.thinkspacegallery.com

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DAC Gallery (431 S. Broadway, LA 90013) features a group exhibition from 6:00pm – 8:00pm.

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In Hollywood…

The Artist’s Corner Gallery hosts an opening reception celebrate the art of Joanne Chase-Mattillo in “Popsicle Fantasies.”

At the place where object trouve’s vintage photography meets camp, photo artist Joanne Chase-Mattillo has staked out  new   territory that somehow seems sweetly nostalgic, boldly innovative and is good post feminist fun.

What: Opening reception
When: Artist Corner Gallery, 6585 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, 90038
When: 7:00pm – 10:00pm – May 28, 2016
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In Chinatown there are several art parties…Coagula Curatorial (Los Angeles) is pleased to present new works by Los Angeles painter JILL EMERY.  974 Chung King Road; 7-11pm;

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The success of Helen Rae provides an inspiring example of how a prolific artist can emerge late in life with no connection to – and little awareness of – the conventional art world.

See Image: Helen Rae “March 24, 2016”  colored pencil and graphite on paper, 24 x 18 inches, 2016

Her drawings, in pencil and crayon, are immediately striking for their vivid imagery, resonant use of color and innovative reworking of source material. Using fashion advertisements as a point of departure for otherworldly journeys into the subconscious, Helen transforms the original images into something uniquely expressive that possesses a strange beauty and power. The refashioned figures of willowy models often seem to be emerging out of or disappearing into a luxuriant abstraction created by a complex interweaving of fabric and foliage.

On view: May 28 – July 2

What: Opening reception
Where: The Good Luck Gallery, 945 Chung King Road, LA 90012
When: 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

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Additional opening take place on Chung King Road at Gregorio Escalante Gallery (978 Chung King Rd, LA, 90012), from 7-11pm. Aeterna Gallery, Los Angeles (949 Chung King Rd, LA, 90012) and Project Gallery (961 Chung King Rd, LA, 90012) 

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Downtown…Art Share LA (801 E 4th Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90013) hosts an opening for a group exhibition from 7-10pm. 

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Also Downtown…

Wilding Cran Gallery hosts an art talk in conjunction with “Two Chimneys”… at 2pm with artist Catherine Fairbanks in conversation with David Zuttermeister.

Then from 4 – 6pm enjoy a closing reception for “Two Chimneys”  and “Tri (…ed) Revisiting Tri Gallery.”

TRI(…ed)-Revisiting TRI Gallery, a group show organized by Rory Devine. TRI Gallery was founded in 1992 by artist Rory Devine in his home at 1140 S. Hayworth Ave in Los Angeles. It was created as a response to the lack of exhibition opportunities for emerging artists—similar to artist-run spaces such as FoodHouse, Bliss, Nomadic Sites and Three Day Weekend that were opening at the same time.

On view: April 30 – May 28

What: Opening reception
Where: Wilding Cran Gallery (unit B) , 939 S. Santa Fe Ave., LA 90021
When: 2pm walk through; 4:00pm – 6:00pm (closing) – Saturday, May 28, 2016
Website: http://www.wildingcran.com

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Night Gallery (2276 East 16th St., LA 90021) throws an art party from 7-10pm.

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The legendary 90’s San Francisco dance party comes to LA, featuring the original SF LUSH DJs, as well as new DJ legends from LA.

Unforgettable cabaret performances and live projections on:  MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND – SAT, MAY 28th, 2016.
$10 cover, Doors 9pm, until the wee hours…

From 1995 to 2000, the legendary club LUSH held sway over the San Francisco nightlife scene with a pansexual soirée every Saturday night that welcomed boys, girls and everything in between and beyond, in a seductive basement boîte that always swung until the wee hours…

Now, the long-awaited moment came last autumn as Andrew Ableson, the original creator, decided to open up the doors of LUSH once more, now in Los Angeles at HM157, bringing the original DJs and creative team and made us shimmy, shake & swoon all over again…

This re-born LUSH will only be happening twice yearly: Autumn/Winter and Spring/Summer, just like the fashion collections, and as ever, features a sexy midnight cabaret hosted by the soigné Mr Ableson

In it’s 90’s heyday LUSH was regularly voted Best Saturday Night Dance Club by the SF Weekly and the Bay Guardian.

The LUSH sound encompasses dance music from early 50’s Italo-twist and Exotica, Far-out 60’s Frug-a-delic Soul, Psychedelia, Bubble-Gum and Go-Go, with a chaser of Filthy 70’s porno-disco and early Robo-synthetica,…truly a heady mix!

$10 cover, Doors 9pm, until the wee hours..

What: Art Party
Where: HM157, 3110 N Broadway, LA,  90031
When: 9:00pm to 3:00am
Website: http://www.hm157.com/