Click here to read the recent cover story I wrote for the May edition of Citizen on Lilli Muller.

Then, see the film After Hours (Griffin Dunn plays himself basically, but a really great one) and let me know what you think about the cast figure and the latent German/Nazi/Ghetto images and references.

New works by Jersey Joe at GhettoGloss opens tonight.

Also, a group show at La Luz de Jesus curated by Billy Shire, ‘Everything but the kitchen syn’ also opens this evening.  Leave room for your poppy sweet tooth. [Image above by Melanie Stimmell]

I’m sure I’m late in the discussion, but I had to mention my experience two weekends ago at the opening preview at BCAM. I went there primarily to see a new performance by the Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Company, choreographed by Michael Crotty and inspired by some of the artwork inside the BCAM. Often splayed and baking on the concrete, the company performed three times a day for three days [I believe]. While waiting in line, guests were treated to a very nice treat that began with the dancers slowly creeping through the lampposts. It was a very nice preview of how the company works, though I don’t think there was much improvisation [which was aplenty at the first show I saw of theirs, Pinky Swear]. Their next local performance is in April. Buy tickets.

Speaking of dance and fine art in town, Pharmaka has been exhibiting collaborative dance projects at its space that are complex and remind me of some of our upcoming projects.

Oh, and there was art in the buildings too, a survey that smacked of the 80s and art textbooks from high school. As I’m not as aware of what’s happening on the museum circuits, I was surprised to be thoroughly familiar with all the artists, which was more of a letdown. Here’s who was represented.

Old favorites: Robert Rauschenburg, Cy Twombly, Jasper Johns, David Salle, Andy Warhol, Basquiat, Jeff Koons, Leon Golub, Susan Rothenberg, Jenny Holzer, Chris Burden, Damien Hirst, Robert Therrien, Richard Serra, Ed Ruscha, John Baldessari, Mike Kelley, Barbara Kruger, Cindy Sherman, Roy Lichtenstein, Ellsworth Kelly

It seems, again, that LA is playing catch up. The Mike Kelley room was incredibly eerie to me, and the Serra pieces seem to be a big favorite. I’m sure children would enjoy this exhibit, but children also eat paste. Come on LA, where’s something as exciting as the New Museum here, where both the structure and art inside seem to be boldly going where leftovers from the 80s and early 90s cease to strive? I’m not sure.

Painter/filmmaker/teddy bear Julian Schnabel unveils his newest body of work, ‘Christ’s Last Days,’ as the annual Oscar show at Gagosian, Beverly Hills. This will be the first time that one of the artists is nominated for an Oscar himself. Schnabel joins the ranks of such heavies as Damien Hirst, Richard Artschwager, Richard Prince, Andy Warhol, and Cecily Brown to be the solo show that opens bombastically before the Oscars. His new paintings use old X-Rays as references. Opens tonight; info here.

Have an art project you’ve been dying to fund? The California Community Foundation has announced requests for proposals for over $260,000 in fellowships for fourteen (14) Los Angeles based artists. There are ten fellowships of $20,000 each (for mid-career artists) and an additional four fellowships of $15,000 each (for emerging artists).

To be eligible, artists must pratice their craft in one of the following mediums: painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, sculpture, installation, experimental film and video, interdisciplinary/mixed media. Sorry folks, filmmakers, animators, musicians, and actors need not apply.

The deadline for submissions is March 7, 2008 at 5pm. There are three fellowship workshops still open (it is strongly suggested that you attend a workshop before applying (Dates: 02/22/08 – Downtown Los Angeles, 02/15/08 – South Los Angeles, 02/13/08 – South Bay / Harbor Area). In order to attend, you must RSVP.

To apply, visit the California Community Foundation Visual Arts Fellowship, read the guidelines, or fill out the application. Best of luck!

Circus Gallery continues its fascination and integration with national politics.  This weekend candidate Mike Gravel spoke at the gallery.  Tonight, Circus acts as the Wangs to your Super Bowl, screening coverage of MEGA OMNI TUESDAY with drinks and light flirting.  Oh, and Rachel Mason’s debut Los Angeles solo exhibition “The Candidate” is on the walls until February 16.  Starts at 7:30pm tonight.

German artist Andreas Hofer presents another exercise in appropriation and reinvention of existing locations with “Phantom Gallery,” which opened simultaneously in Zurich and Hollywood on January 26. The “Gallery,” situated east of the Sunset Strip between a bagel shop and a tattoo parlor, exhibits another iteration of Hofer’s interest in afterspace and the traces of life that remain when a space is abandoned and/or re-appropriated. The exhibition is empty; only faint outlines of unfaded wall evidence the paintings, furniture and fixtures that seemingly had populated the space over a number of years–but now have been removed–leaving behind the subtle phantoms of their former existence.

26 January - 8 March 2008

Phantom Gallery
7556 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90046

Lots of recommended openings/receptions/viewing possibilities this weekend.

Friday, Feb. 1

UCLA MFA Open Studios [7-9 Sat. & Sun.] - link
Estevan Oriol is celebrating the release of his book ‘1979′ at 125 E. 6th St. Downtown L.A. 90021 [7:30-10:30]

Saturday, Feb. 2

Nick Walker’s ‘Pretty Decorating’ at Carmichael Gallery

Luke Whitlatch’s ‘The Goodstein Incidents’ at Bandini [6-8]

Caitlin Parker reveals new work in Los Feliz at Garage Gallery [8-midnight]

[Untitled, oil, ink, pencil on canvas, 64 x 72″, 2007 by Brian Novatny]

I finally made it to the LA Show for this first time this past Friday.  Despite feeling a bit dizzy in the Santa Monica’s Barker Hangar, I enjoyed this event a little more than I expected.

Frey Norris Gallery [San Francisco] and George Billis Gallery [L.A./N.Y.] made strong impressions on us.  Frey Norris had some really colorful, detailed work by contemporary Chinese artists.  George Billis also had a very colorful collection of works, in particular a couple of pieces left over from Brian Novatny’s recent show [pictured above].  Check out these galleries’ programs & upcoming events.

We really enjoyed seeing pieces by V. Koshlyakov, Marnie Spencer, Ryan McGinness, Marcus Jansen, and James Lahey.  Unfortunately, we didn’t make it to artLA.  Too much art in LA in January to keep up.

Found Gallery ally Creative Commons is turning five this December and to celebrate they are hosting a community-wide party at Terra Gallery in San Francisco Saturday, December 15 from 10pm - 2am. The evening will feature words by Joi Ito and Lawrence Lessig, a live acoustic performance by Gilberto Gil, video remixing by Phi Phenomenon, and music provided by DJ Spooky. Space is limited so please RSVP to party@creativecommons.org. CC is also throwing parties in New York, Germany, Australia, Korea, and now, Los Angeles.

Details and more information are listed on CC’s birthday flyer and the wiki page.

UPDATE: Found Gallery is proud to announce that it will be hosting the Los Angeles Edition of the the Creative Commons Surprise Birthday Bash on Saturday, December 15. Doors open at 8pm. We’d better see you there! (More at the official Creative Commons party listing)