August 3 – September 2
Opening Reception: Friday, August 3rd, 8-11 pm
José Rodolfo Loaiza Ontiveros “Disasterland”
Disasterland is Mexican artist Rodolfo Loaiza’s tribute to pop culture, fashion, animation, horror films and the undeniable attraction of celebrity. The stage is set for fantasy to collapse and surrender to the inevitable apocalypse of 21st century Hollywood. Fairytale characters continue to dominate his latest project –this time caught in the headlines of our favorite tabloid stars.
Continuing his penchant for cleverly depicting the “uncouth” customs of our dichotomous society, Rodolfo explores what would happen to our fables if they were flesh and blood and confronted with the frenetic and excessive world of fame. Who among them would prove susceptible to the excesses of drugs, alcohol, harassment or vanity?
With his sharp and characteristic black humor Loaiza captures images once morbidly circulated by the media, and proposes a novel way of reviewing them. In Disasterland, heterosexual happy endings have been discarded; outdated. In this story, discriminated minorities will finally achieve the resolution they’ve yearned for, beyond any bias or phobia.
Behold an apple infused with truth; behold a mirror in which we can truly see our reflection. This is our magical world of disaster.
What are we waiting for? Let’s enjoy it!
Sizes listed are for the surfaces only, and in most cases do not take into consideration the framed dimensions.
Christopher Bales “Arc of Time”
The process involved in assemblage art forces Christopher Bales to make unexpected connections between objects and images, helping to root out what seems to be hidden in the undisclosed corners of his subconscious mind. There is always a mystery to be discovered as he finds the meaning while the art work is being constructed. The pieces he has created for “Arc of Time” seem to be reaching across time and space, as well as touching on more earthbound and personal issues. The artist hopes that the viewer will be moved, intrigued, or at least curious about what his process yields and make some sort of individual connection to the art.
Anthony Purcell “The Sepia Show”
In The Sepia Show, the collected works of Anthony Purcell (hereby presented for your visual pleasure) are the culmination of an enduring artistic exploit into an industrial yesteryear. This series of portraits endeavors in the glamour of old, informed by the appearance of aged photography prints. The subjects of the paintings, whether infamous or anonymous in their time, are portrayed amidst a suspension of surreal, absurd, and realistic elements whilst symbolic motifs recur throughout series. As per Victorian decree that one “leave no space unfilled,” the crisply detailed wallpaper patterns which adorn each painted room, embody the lauded virtue of a life which is busied, yet orderly. In ornate and formal couture, these figures pose for their moment of preservation, staring eternally through yellowing years to a mechanized modernity. These pieces, the words for which are a lesser currency than the visual delights to be obtained from their viewing, await you!
Richard Meyer “Animals”
While the animal portrait has a time-honored, symbolic resonance, Richard Meyer conceives each dog, cat, and monkey as a fully articulated individual. Under the fur, idiosyncraciess are drawn from found and life models. The image of the anomalous critter presents a sympathetic identification both fearful and compassionate.
Ave Rose “Watchbot City 2”
Only a few years ago, Ave Rose was known mainly for her horror persona. As an author, actress, and vocalist, this scream queen represented all that was dark and macabre. In the Fall of 2010 against a backdrop of traumatizing events, she distracted herself by making clockwork miniature robots (called watchbots) and produced a series of mechanical environments to house them as well. The amount of concentration and patience required to create these exquisite, delicate pieces became a form of meditation and therapy. Creating her first watchbot collections helped Ave to cope with the chaos of her situation that year, bur now that the storm has passed, Miss Rose continues in her artistic endeavors, honing her craftsmanship and skill to create fantastical, miniature worlds of order and peace. Watchbot World is the physical representation of Ave’s fast-paced, mind-reaching moments of stability and harmony among the decay and disarray.
With her multiple career tracks, and with so much time spent in the company of other creative people, this former muse has developed an inspiration of her own with an attention to detail that is both impressive and enduring. She recently produced a custom Watchbot Metropolis for Israeli jewelry designer Maor Cohen, and her list of important patrons grows further with her first feature exhibition at La Luz de Jesus Gallery.
Click Mort “Nonstalgia”
Nostalgia is little more than confabulation pasted into a scrapbook. Our attraction to the past rests primarily on inaccurate memories and near-total fabrications: more accurate but less appealing recollections are either buffed to an unnaturally high gloss or discarded in favor of some more appealing fiction.
Click Mort’s current show, Nonstalgia, reflects his fascination with creating the material equivalents to these reconstructed memories. His pieces combine elements of authentic vintage porcelain figurines, painstakingly disassembled and reassembled to produce an artifice where incoherent objectivities are made to appear not only coherent, but familiar. They are souvenirs of a time and place that never existed and nothing more than nonstalgia.
Mr. Mort is a Los Angeles native with a lifelong enthusiasm for things that delight the senses and scramble the brain. His formal training consists of a high school ceramics class during which his pieces had a tendency to explode in the kiln. Given this unfortunate history with raw clay, he has since opted to work only with pre-fired materials.
Porcelain and epoxy, Size TBD, Price TBD
D.W. Marino “Bombardment”
D.W. Marino has elaborated on the theme he tackled earlier this year in Laluzapalooza via his ongoing series titled Bombardment which uses bombs to deliver messages about culture, theology, consumerism and the military industrial complex. These are mounted in display boxes which give further context to the themes of the bombs. Derek spares no venom for gross polluters, global warming naysayers, and future Super Fund alumni who put profit over environmental catastrophe then try to explain it all away as their legal obligation to the company, either. It sounds bleak and sullen but the end results tend to look light-hearted and comical –especially considering issues that are no laughing matter at all.
Byung Min “Animal Militaristic”
Byung is a retired officer who served over twenty years in the U.S. Army. He creates art based on his military experiences. Rather than produce a show statement, Byung has produced statements for the individual piece, which (where available) can be accessed by clicking the image in each box.
Heather O’Shaughnessy “Oh Sorrows”
Heather O’Shaughnessy’s new collection “Oh Sorrows” is inspired by fables and cautionary folk tales that speak of vigilance, atonement and vengeance. The wax vignettes could be considered labor intensive. Drawing upon techniques used by 18th century Italian anatomical sculptors, her pieces are first rendered in clay, a plaster mold is made and then a casting in beeswax. Each piece is then re-carved, painted in oils, gold leaf and Mop & Glo.
Contact Gallery Director Matthew Gardocki for purchase info:
info@laluzdejesus.com (323)666-7667