Start the day early…in Baldwin Hills…

Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF) is running through the weekend. The 23rd annual festival opened with the screening of The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution.

See Sunday’s Events Page for more info and schedule and to find out how to purchase tickets

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In Hollywood…

The 3rd Annual Los Angeles Bacon Festival will take place Feb 7th at Paramount Studios New York Streets back lot. Featuring dozens of restaurants and bakeries, the event will play homage to all things bacon, presented in both sweet and savory dishes.

Admission includes samples of participating businesses’ signature dishes and access, unlimited beer from over 20 breweries, access to custom photo booth, and much more. A percentage of the Bacon Fest will benefit Noah’s B-ark, Inc (tax ID 95-4677862) whose aim is to rescue dogs from shelters and find permanent homes for rescued pets. Proceeds from the event will towards funding food, shelter, and veterinary bills for rescued pets.

Admission is limited and will sell out in advance. Event is 21 and over. There are no refunds available for this event.

Tickets are $65.00 per person. Click here to purchase tix.

What: Festival
Where: Paramount Pictures, 5555 Melrose Ave., LA 90038
When: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Website: http://www.labaconfest.com/

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Another early event….In the Miracle Mile area…

Enjoy a meet and greet with the artists of “HWĪT” at the Loft at Liz’s! See my Huffington Post article about the opening event took place on December 12. Liz Gordon curated a beautiful show featuring work of several talented artists.

The name, (an old English/Germanic word for white), was conceived by gallery director. Randi Kreeft and is a subtle nod to celebrate the season. Curated by gallery owner, Liz Gordon, “HWĪT” features several mediums from seven artists paying homage to the color white. I am a big fan of Liz Gordon and her gallery. She is a warm and generous soul, which is not always synonymous with being a gallery owner.

As part of the exhibit, artist J.J. L’Heureux offers a nine-foot photograph taken on one of her Antarctic expeditions as well as four paintings from her Bergy Bit series. See photo below: J.J. L’Heureux

Since 2000, L’Heureux has been crisscrossing the globe on many photography expeditions. She recently returned from Alaska: Barrow and the Pribilof Islands in the Bering Sea. L’Heureux was unable to attend the opening reception as she was on her fourteenth journey to Antarctica. Her Bergy Bits (as she has dubbed the paintings from her Bergy Bit series) are inspired by her travels. “I have memories of how the ocean looked and felt.” Her memories of the beauty of the glaciers inspired her paintings.

Additional artists included in the group show are: Natalie Arnoldi, Carlos Grasso, Eric Johnson, Stuart Kusher, Elizabeth Orleans, Diane Silver, Zadik Zadikian as well as guest artists from Art 1307: Marco Abbamondi, and Amedeo Sanzone.

On view: through February 9

What: Closing reception “HWĪT”
Where: The Loft at Liz’s, 453 S. La Brea Ave, above Liz’s Antique Hardware, 90036
When: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Phone: (323) 939-4403
Website: http://www.theloftatlizs.com/

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In Santa Monica…There are a couple events taking place at Bergamot station…

TAG Galley hosts an art talk with Vicky Hoffman, Joan Wynn, and Joan Horsfall Young, in conjunction with its current exhibitions.

Hoffman’s aim with this body of work is to explore and renew the unexpected and sometimes unwelcomed transitions.

In her exhibit, “Reality,” Joan Wynn features sculptures that are inspired by her own life and by universal experience. Distilling memories from her past, Wynn creates figures and symbols that reflect isolation and longing.

And finally, With her latest body of work, artist Joan Horsfall Young contemplates the qualities that render something pretty.

On view: January 27 – February 21, 2015

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Also at Bergamot…

bG Gallery presents a group exhibit of artists that have the ability to spark our imagination and create spectacular worlds without the use of overt color.

Artist Gay Summer Rick has painted a small number of black and white iconic coastal images for the upcoming exhibition. Using palette knives and oil paint, she has created her own interpretation of a winter day in Los Angeles.

Artists include: Shaun Berke, Yvette Brown, Elizabeth Gilson, Mark Hanauer, Jim Holyoak, Maiko Kitagawa, Mizuho Koyama, Charles Malinsky, Melissa Meier, Christopher Mudgett, Karrie Ross, Catherine Ruane, Mike Saijo, Kate Samworth, Nick Veasey and more.

What: Artist reception
Where: bG Gallery, 2525 Michigan Avenue, # G8A, Santa Monica, CA 90404
When: 5:30 pm –  8:00 pm
Phone: (310) 906 4211
Website: http://www.bGartGalleries.com

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One more…

dnj is pleased to announce its upcoming exhibition of “Her | Self: Women In Their Own Words.” Photographs by Jennifer Bermon, writing by several women.

Jennifer Bermon, Untitled, 2014, Silver Gelatin Print, 11″ x 14″

Jennifer Bermon presents photographs of women, and the writings of these women describing, in their own words, how they feel about the way they look in the pictures. In the United States, we grow up feeling as if our bodies are manifestations of our inner selves, and perhaps because of the power of such beliefs we offer these sometime negative comments about ourselves.

On view: February 7 – April 4

What: Opening reception
Where: dnj Gallery, Bergamot Station, (J-1) 2525 Michigan Ave, SM,  90404
When: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Phone: 310.315.3551
Website: http://www.dnjgallery.net/

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In Santa Monica…support the PICO YOUTH AND FAMILY CENTER (PYFC) fundraiser, Arts for Hearts, which takes place at the Jeanie Madsen Gallery in Santa Monica.

PYFC is a Santa Monica non-profit organization founded in 2002, which has served hundreds of at-risk youth on the Westside by providing much needed case management, counseling, tutoring, computer training, job readiness preparation, and music production training. PYFC targets youth ages 16-24 that are most at risk – including those who are failing academically, not in school, or on probation. Faced with a tough economic funding climate, PYFC is counting on the success of its 6Th annual fundraising effort, ART FOR HEARTS, to help meet the costs associated with serving at-risk youth.

ART FOR HEARTS will include a silent auction of uniquely-crafted hearts and art by youth artists and established artists (over 30 artist), Jazz band, food, wine tasting, and free valet! Here is some more info about the event from my Huffington Post article below:

…Mirzaei will be lending her talents to help raise funds for the Pico Youth & Family Center, a Santa Monica nonprofit committed to preventing youth violence. For the past twelve years, PYFC has provided teens and young adults (16-24) with counseling, tutoring, job readiness training, leadership development, music, art, and computer training.

See image: Sona Mirzaei, My heart flutters for you – 16×24 – 2015 – 3d wooden heart, butterflies, acrylic,  mixed media on canvas.

Mirzaei has been asked to paint a wooden heart to be auctioned off at PYFC’s 6th annual benefit on Saturday, February 7. The artist remarked, “I am delighted to participate in the Art for Hearts event to help promote the act of kindness and love by designing a heart to help prevent youth violence.” The Valentine-inspired charity event will feature wooden hearts painted by accomplished artists along with live music, local cuisine, and wine.

See website to purchase tickets: $25 per person / $40 per couple www.picoyouth.org

What: ART FOR HEARTS to benefit Pico Youth & Family Center
Where: Jeanie Madsen Gallery 1431 Ocean Avenue St. Santa Monica, CA 90401
When: 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Phone: 310-396-7101
Website: www.picoyouth.org

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C.A.V.E GALLERY (1108 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice) debuts a new exhibit from 6-9pm. http://cavegallery.net/

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In Culver City…there’s a new gallery in town, a Santa Monica gallery previously known as Obsolete has re-located to Culver City. Newly dubbed Slete Gallery, the new location is 11270 Washington Blvd., Culver City, 90230. The opening reception of its inaugural exhibit runs from 6-8 pm and features the art of Ethan Murrow. 310 399-0024;  http://www.sletegallery.com/

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In West Hollywood…

Leica Gallery Los Angeles celebrate the photography of Daniel Arsham and James Law.

See image: Daniel Arsham Glacial Rock Eroded Leica M3, 2015

For his latest exhibition, Daniel Arsham has been given access to Leica Camera archive for a special project on view at the Leica Gallery Los Angeles.

Leica’s most historic camera models such as the original Leica III from the late 1930s, the Leica CL, Digilux 2, M3 and M8 models are cast in geological materials such as obsidian, steel, and volcanic ash; reimagined as relics of a time past.

Arsham’s work will be accompanied by an exhibition of 20 black and white photographs by James Law documenting the behind the scenes images from Arsham’s upcoming film project “Future Relic.” 

On view: February 7 – February 28

What: Artist reception
Where: Leica Gallery Los Angeles is located at 8783 Beverly Blvd. West Hollywood
When: 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Phone: 424.777.0341
Website: http://www.leicagalleryla.com/

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In the Miracle Mile area…In the same space as the event below is taking place at KP Projects/MKG,…LAUNCH LA, (located just upstairs at 170 S La Brea Ave, LA, 90036) hosts an opening from 6-9pm. http://www.launchla.org/

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Just downstairs…

KP Projects/MKG hosts a solo exhibition by Johnny “KMDNZ” Rodriguez entitled “I’d Rather Love You.” This exhibition romantically pairs the sorrow and misfortunes of lessons learned with solace, optimism and love.

See image: Johnny ‘KMNDZ’ Rodriguez, Sanctuary, 2014, Acrylic and mixed media on wood, 20×10″

Artist Nicola Verlato will also be debuting a solo exhibition titled “Conquest of the West.”

On view: February 7th – March 7th

What: Opening reception
Where:  KP Projects/MKG, 170 South La Brea Ave.
When: 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Phone: (323) 933-4408
Website: www.mkgallery.com

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In Pasadena…Flower Pepper Gallery (121 E Union St., Pasadena, CA 91103) offers an artist reception from 6:30 – 9:30pm. http://www.flower-pepper.com

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Here are a couple in the Valley…Gallery 319, (19720 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills, 91364) hosts an event from 6-9pm. www.gallery-319.com  11:11 A Creative Collective (18343 Sherman Way Reseda, Ca 91335) features an art reception from 7-11pm. http://www.1111acc.org