William Powhida: No One Here Gets Out Alive @ Charlie James

Opening reception for William Powhida's "No One Here Gets Out Alive" at Charlie James Gallery

William Powhida, How to Destroy LA, 2009, graphite, colored pencil, and watercolor on paper, 18 x 15 inches

William Powhida, LA Makeover Chart, 2009, graphite, watercolor, and colored pencil on paper, 22 x 30 inches

William Powhida, The Blue Period, 2009, graphite, colored pencil, and watercolor on paper, 18 x 15 inches

William Powhida, smiling, enjoys the reception.

Charlie James Gallery
975 Chung King Road
Los Angeles, CA 90012

October 24 – December 5, 2009

Twitter Review:
William Powhida: No One Here Gets Out Alive @ Charlie James (*****) Absolutely love the way he uses the crossed out word to convey humor.
7:58 PM Oct 24th from txt

Natural Artifice @ Torrance Art Musuem

Natural Artifice: David French and Seth Kaufman at Torrance Art Museum

David French, Untitled, 2009, Styrofoam, Fiberglass, auto paint, 22 x 20 x 10 inches

David French, Where Are We Going, 2009, Styrofoam, Fiberglass, auto paint, 43 x 14 x 12 inches

David French, Eden, 2009, Styrofoam, Fiberglass, urethane, auto paint, 23 x 28 x 9 inches

David French, I Believe, 2009, Styrofoam, Fiberglass, auto paint, 68 x 9 x 13 inches

David French, Caligo, 2008, Styrofoam, Fiberglass, auto paint, 22 x 15 x 16 inches

Artist, David French (in black), shakes hands with Eric Smail at the opening reception for Natural Artifice at the Torrance Art Museum. Tim Doyle observes with arms crossed.

Seth Kaufman's sculpture in Natural Artifice at the Torrance Art Museum

Seth Kaufman's sculpture in Natural Artifice at the Torrance Art Museum

Seth Kaufman's sculpture in Natural Artifice at the Torrance Art Museum

Seth Kaufman's sculpture in Natural Artifice at the Torrance Art Museum

Torrance Art Museum
3320 Civic Center Drive
Torrance, CA 90503

September 19 – November 7, 2009

Twitter Review:
Natural Artifice @torranceArt (****) I love Seth Kaufman’s & David French’s sculptures–I’m just not convinced they belong together. #artLA
2:06 PM Oct 24th from TweetDeck

Twitter Reviews – October 2009

Blum & Poe’s new space is BIG. Upstairs in still a bit raw. Show is a mixed bag. #artLA
7:35 PM Oct 3rd from txt

Blum & Poe: Didn’t care for much of the art except I liked Takashi Murakami & Mark Grotjahn in a small room together. #artLA
7:39 PM Oct 3rd from txt

Blum & Poe: My favorite work in the show was Dave Muller’s long narrow acrylic on paper paintings of record album edges. #artLA
7:42 PM Oct 3rd from txt

Second Nature @hammer_museum (**) Too bad this will be the nucleus of the Hammer’s sculpture collection. #artLA
5:53 PM Oct 9th from TweetDeck

Guess it’s fitting since “an overwhelming number of the artists in Second Nature are students of UCLA sculpture professor Charles Ray”
5:54 PM Oct 9th from TweetDeck

http://twitpic.com/kwjat – Only piece I found interesting was Paul Sietsema’s miniature Rococo Room & only photo I got before the guard intervened.
5:56 PM Oct 9th from TwitPic

Jennifer Vanderpool: A Pocketful of Posies @ One Colorado (**) Disappointed. Too trashy, not enough eye candy. Doesn’t envelope the space.
7:54 PM Oct 9th from txt

Wayne Thiebaud: Sweets & Treets @nortonsimon (***) Love the pink walls. Too bad there’s no paintings–only prints.
8:13 PM Oct 9th from txt

Wayne Thiebaud: 70 Years of Painting @ PMCA (****) Wow, what lush paint! Food, cityscapes, figures. Love women in swimsuits from 1966.
8:50 PM Oct 9th from txt

Charles Burchfield: Heat Waves in a Swamp @hammer_museum (***) Moody, eerie, gloomy, foreboding. Nature w/ invented embellishments that convey sound, movement or emotion.
7:31 PM Oct 16th from TweetDeck

Burchfield: A few really outstanding early pieces like The Insect Chorus from 1917 in this jam-packed show.
7:34 PM Oct 16th from TweetDeck

Burchfield: I actually found the most interesting work was at the beginning of his point of crisis rather than the late “great” work.
7:38 PM Oct 16th from TweetDeck

Burchfield: One small room contains two similar reworked paintings from 1943–Two Ravines and The Coming of Spring.
7:40 PM Oct 16th from TweetDeck

Burchfield: Both have two streams joining; one in dark shade, the other sunny; one frozen, the other flowing.
7:43 PM Oct 16th from TweetDeck

Burchfield: The two routes depicted at a point where signs of both winter and spring coexist seem to reflect his dilemma.
7:56 PM Oct 16th from TweetDeck

Tools @ACCD (****) Part art, part artifacts, highlights the thingness of tools & man’s ingenuity reaching beyond the limits of his body.
12:56 PM Oct 24th from TweetDeck

Baker’s Dozen @torranceArt (**) Typical Annual–No theme. No thought either–just 13 of Max’s friends that he finds “interesting”.
2:03 PM Oct 24th from TweetDeck

Baker’s Dozen: Reading curator’s essay: 3 maybes, 3 seems, 4 perhaps, 1 not sure, 1 not certain, 7 ? marks. Keeping it “real” or “easy” Max?
2:04 PM Oct 24th from TweetDeck

Natural Artifice @torranceArt (****) I love Seth Kaufman’s & David French’s sculptures–I’m just not convinced they belong together. #artLA
2:06 PM Oct 24th from TweetDeck

Installations Inside/Out @ Armory (****) Even though not all strictly site specific installation, still a great show celebrating 20 years.
3:39 PM Oct 24th from TweetDeck

Armory: Don’t miss Pae White’s tapestries of swirling smoke & crinkled mylar & Sarah Perry’s dark room w/ glowing clouds & floating feathers.
3:40 PM Oct 24th from TweetDeck

William Powhida: No One Gets Out Alive @ Charlie James (*****) Absolutely love the way he uses the crossed out word to convey humor.
7:58 PM Oct 24th from txt

David Allan Peters @ Ruth Bachofner (***) Maximal layering. Prefer wht/blk/metallic monochromes w/ 1 or 2 carvings better than overall cut pieces.
1:27 PM Oct 25th from TweetDeck

April Street @ Ruth Bachofner (**) There’s some potential in the paintings w/ the b&w checked circles and swags. The others just look unfinished.
1:29 PM Oct 25th from TweetDeck

Alejandro Diaz @ Happy Lion (**) I was drawn in by the Marfa sign, but ultimately felt the show was too smarty pants/trite jokes for me.
1:43 PM Oct 25th from TweetDeck

Baker’s Dozen @ Torrance Art Museum

Baker's Dozen at the Torrance Art Museum, installation view

Baker's Dozen at the Torrance Art Museum, installation view

Baker's Dozen at the Torrance Art Museum, installation view

Matthew Picton

Jared Pankin

Jared Pankin

Mark Dutcher

Tia Pulitzer

Chuck Moffit

Chuck Moffit

Keith Walsh

Eric Yahnker

Allison Schulnik

Allison Schulnik

Ann Diener

Aragna Ker

Curator, Max Presneill at Baker's Dozen opening reception

Torrance Art Museum
3320 Civic Center Drive
Torrance, CA 90503

September 19 – November 7, 2009

Twitter Review:
Baker’s Dozen @torranceArt (**) Typical Annual–No theme. No thought either–just 13 of Max’s friends that he finds “interesting”.
2:03 PM Oct 24th from TweetDeck

Baker’s Dozen: Reading curator’s essay: 3 maybes, 3 seems, 4 perhaps, 1 not sure, 1 not certain, 7 ? marks. Keeping it “real” or “easy” Max?
2:04 PM Oct 24th from TweetDeck

Twitter Reviews – September 2009

Karl Benjamin @ CGU (****) Paintings from 1969-71 look as fresh as if painted yesterday. Bright colorful triangles within grids of squares.
8:34 PM Sep 1st from txt

Bruce Nauman: Leave the Land Alone @ Arroyo Seco (****) Really exciting when the planes started puffing smoke and letters appeared. #artLA
5:16 PM Sep 12th from txt

Jeni Spota: Fool’s Small Victory @ Kathryn Brennan (***) Liked small stripe painting best. Show a bit sparse and out of balance. Too soon?
5:20 PM Sep 12th from txt

Roger Herman @ Jancar (***) Architectural exteriors and interiors far superior to the figurative work. Straight lines v. curves?
5:37 PM Sep 12th from txt

Uudam Nguyen: Natural Feelings @ Sabina Lee (**) Too much political mumbo jumbo trying to prop up this work. Doesn’t really mean much.
5:50 PM Sep 12th from txt

Rachel Khedoori @ The Box (****) This work actually means something and presents it in a moving way.
6:03 PM Sep 12th from txt

Libby Black: Timeless @ Charlie James (*****) Great variety of work. Perfectly installed. Love the gouaches of vintage Vogue covers. #artLA
6:06 PM Sep 12th from txt

Ruth Pastine: Limitless @ Edward Cella (****) Best viewed at an angle. Favs are “Excruciating Pleasure” & “Ethics & Desire”. #artLA
7:04 PM Sep 12th from txt

Zoe Sheehan Saldana: Ersatz @ Steve Turner. Not sure I get the “why” but I like the “how.” Will rate later.
7:06 PM Sep 12th from txt

Kevin Appel: Drawings @ ACME (***) Pretty disappointing compared to his Citibank Emerging Artist Award paintings. #artLA
7:24 PM Sep 12th from txt

Seasonal Pictures @ ACME (**) Brad Eberhard is the only bright spot in this otherwise blah painting show.
7:31 PM Sep 12th from txt

Eric Johnson @ William Turner (****) Solid show. Translucent resin wall sculptures-one in red-orange, the other in royal blue-rock. #artLA
9:28 PM Sep 12th from txt

Oliver Sutter: Intention @ 24hr Gallery (***) Mix of cryptic symbols on bright color fields w/ hard-edge stripes & black letterbox bars.
1:12 PM Sep 20th from TweetDeck

Irving Penn: Small Trades @GettyMuseum (*****) Amazingly, the subjects are both individual and typical. #artLA
6:14 PM Sep 25th from TweetDeck

Irving Penn: The plain studio backdrop forces you to see the person instead of a scene, focusing on clothing details and facial expressions.
6:15 PM Sep 25th from TweetDeck

Irving Penn: Some are impressive because of their bravado like the London chef donning a toque & apron, arms crossed, knife in hand.
6:16 PM Sep 25th from TweetDeck

Irving Penn: Others are striking for their humble honesty like the New York groom wearing worn shoes and a sweater full of holes.
6:16 PM Sep 25th from TweetDeck

Joel Kyack: Knife Shop @ Kunsthalle (***) Like set 4 performance that doesn’t happen. Hints @ some ideas, but point left unexpressed. #artLA
6:26 PM Sep 26th from TweetDeck

Inaugural Group Show @ Blum & Poe

Blum & Poe, Inaugural Group Show, opening reception installation view. Foreground: Matt Johnson, The Shape of Time, 2009, bronze, 56 x 52 x 40 inches, Edition of 3.

Jack Black at Blum & Poe

Blum & Poe, Inaugural Group Show, opening reception installation view. Left: Dirk Skreber, Untitled, 2009, car, base plate and pole, approximately 15 x 8 x 7 feet. Right: Dirk Skreber, Untitled, 2009, C-print, 114 x 72 inches, Edition of 3.

Foreground: Dirk Skreber, Untitled, 2009, car, base plate and pole, approximately 15 x 8 x 7 feet. Background: Sam Durant, Look Back, Wall (St.) Text, 2009, enamel on wall, dimensions variable.

Mark Grotjahn, Ruby Needs New Diapers (Thirteen Months of High Stakes Poker 741), 2007-2008, color pencil on paper, 67 x 47 3/4 inches

Lee Ufan, Dialogue, 2009, oil on canvas, 89.4 x 71.7 inches

Chiho Aoshina at Blum and Poe

Dave Muller, (top to bottom) A Rabbit in Your Headlights, QLK, The Great British Punk, VU/^Ω, all 2009, acrylic on paper, 9 3/4 x 108 1/4 inches each

Left: Takashi Murakami, Hiropon, 2009, acrylic and platinum leaf on canvas mounted on board, 48 x 48 inches. Right: Takashi Murakami, Lonesome Cowboy, 2009, acrylic and platinum leaf on canvas mounted on board, 48 x 48 inches

Takashi Murakami, SUPERFLAT, 2009, acrylic on canvas mounted on board, 82.3 x 63 x 2 inches

Takashi Murakami and Mark Grotjahn at Blum and Poe

Blum & Poe
2727 S. La Cienega Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90034

October 3 – November 14, 2009

Twitter Review:
Blum & Poe’s new space is BIG. Upstairs in still a bit raw. Show is a mixed bag. #artLA
7:35 PM Oct 3rd from txt

Blum & Poe: Didn’t care for much of the art except I liked Takashi Murakami & Mark Grotjahn in a small room together. #artLA
7:39 PM Oct 3rd from txt

Blum & Poe: My favorite work in the show was Dave Muller’s long narrow acrylic on paper paintings of record album edges. #artLA
7:42 PM Oct 3rd from txt

Gallery Hopping: Mid-Wilshire – September 12, 2009

Opening Night Crowd at the 6150 Galleries

Matthew Ronay, Installation View at Marc Foxx Gallery

Victoria Gitman at Daniel Weinberg Gallery

Kristin Leachman, 2009, Erector, oil on birch panel, 42 x 60 inches at Peter Mendenhall Gallery

Zoë Sheehan Saldaña: Ersatz at Steve Turner Contemporary, Life Jackets Installation

Zoë Sheehan Saldaña, Life Jacket , 2008-2009. Coated and heat-sealed nylon, polyester webbing, thread, buckle, reflective tape, safety whistle and milkweed fluff, 24 x 18 x 5 inches, Edition of 14, plus 1 AP (adult size)

Zoë Sheehan Saldaña: Ersatz, Installation View

Zoë Sheehan Saldaña, Strike Gently, 2008-2009. Letterpress on cotton paper, sterling silver wire, laminated paper match stems, wax, glue, gelatin, ground glass and flammable chemicals, 2 x 1 1/2 x 3/8 inches, Edition of 50

Ruth Pastine: Limitless @ Edward Cella

Artist Ruth Pastine (left) at the opening of her show Limitless at Edward Cella Art + Architecture

Ruth Pastine, Excruciating Pleasure (Red Green), Limitless Series, 2009, oil on canvas, 48 x 48 inches

Edward Cella Art + Architecture
6018 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90036

September 12 - October 31, 2009

Twitter Review:
Ruth Pastine: Limitless @ Edward Cella (****) Best viewed at an angle. Favs are “Excruciating Pleasure” & “Ethics & Desire”. #artLA
7:04 PM Sep 12th from txt

Gallery Hopping: Chinatown – September 12, 2009

Jeni Spota: Fool's Small Victory at Kathryn Brennan Gallery

Twitter Review:
Jeni Spota: Fool’s Small Victory @ Kathryn Brennan (***) Liked small stripe painting best. Show a bit sparse and out of balance. Too soon?
5:20 PM Sep 12th from txt

Roger Herman at Jancar Gallery

Twitter Review:
Roger Herman @ Jancar (***) Architectural exteriors and interiors far superior to the figurative work. Straight lines v. curves?
5:37 PM Sep 12th from txt

Joel Kyack: The Knife Shop at Kunsthalle Los Angeles

Twitter Review:
Joel Kyack: Knife Shop @ Kunsthalle (***) Like set 4 performance that doesn’t happen. Hints @ some ideas, but point left unexpressed. #artLA
6:26 PM Sep 26th from TweetDeck

Rachel Khedoori, Cave Model at The Box

Rachel Khedoori, Iraq Book Project at The Box

Rachel Khedoori, Iraq Book Project, detail

Twitter Review:
Rachel Khedoori @ The Box (****) This work actually means something and presents it in a moving way.
6:03 PM Sep 12th from txt

Libby Black: Timeless @ Charlie James

Libby Black, You Never Call, You Never Write, 2008, paper, hot glue, acrylic paint, 60 x 21 x 20 inches

Libby Black: Timeless, Installation view

Libby Black: Timeless, Instalation view

Libby Black: Timeless, Installation View

Left: Libby Black, Vogue 1940, 2009, gouache on paper, 11 x 8.5 inches. Center: Libby Black, Vogue Fashion in Living, 2009, gouache on paper, 8 x 10 inches. Right: Libby Black, Vogue Blue Sapphire, 2009, goache on paper, 7 x 9 inches.

Charlie James Gallery
975 Chung King Road
Los Angeles, CA 90012

September 12 – October 17, 2009

Twitter Review:
Libby Black: Timeless @ Charlie James (*****) Great variety of work. Perfectly installed. Love the gouaches of vintage Vogue covers. #artLA
6:06 PM Sep 12th from txt