Blooming in the Whirlwind Whirls Away

Posted on by Diversions LA
Photo credit of installation artists, Dani Dodge

Durden and Ray together in collaboration with Level Ground have brought a brilliant mix of art, video, and poetry into being as a collision of light, color, sculpture, immersive experience and astonishing fun. The Blooming in the Whirlwind exhibition closes with an artist’s talk on December 5th.

It’s a riveting show at the Bendix building gallery, one that seems fraught with rich meaning and emotion. This whirlwind is a cavalcade of dreams, desire, and collaboration.

The conversation between collectives began with poems that inspired films, that led to visual art installations. Poets were paired with filmmakers, filmmakers with installation artists.

The title is fitting, referring to a classic poem by Gwendolyn Brooks written in 1968, another chaotic time here in the land of out of control hopes and dreams. But the exhibition itself took that chaos and made of it a thing of beauty and poignance, of fallen leaves and satin kitchens, of gilt edged tears and strangely alien sculptural “life forms.”

Curated by Level Ground’s Andy Motz, Rebekah Neel, Samantha Curley, and Simone Tetrault, poetry and filmmaker pairings included poets Christina Brown, Daniel Binkoski, DeiSelah, Jireh Deng, Karly Kuntz, Madeleine St. John, Noor Jamal, Simone Tetrault, and Tamisha A Tyler and filmmakers Andrés Vazquez, Anthony D. Frederick, Andrew Neel & Alex C. Smith, Ilgın G. Korugan, Labkhand Olfatmanesh, Leila Jarman, Meredith Adelaide, Rich Johnson, and Taree Vargas.

Curated by Durden and Ray‘s team of Arezoo Bharthania, Ismael de Anda III, and Sean Noyce were installation artists Bharthania, de Anda III, and Noyce, Dani Dodge, Kiyomi Fukui, Sean Noyce, Tina Linville, Reed Van Brunschot, Flora Kao, and Ricardo Harris-Fuentes. Artworks and many of the artists in the gallery with their work, shown below.

From Kao’s glorious autumnal forest to Fukui’s leaf-imprinted chair, de Anda III’s rocking, glowing drum kit, and Dodge’s tear-stained shower of TikTok images and gold leaf tear drops, to Bharthania’s photographic nightscape, Noyce’s towering layered sculpture, and lush tactile work by Van Brunschot, the harmony and kinetic connection between writers/filmmakers/and installation visual creators was vibrantly alive.

As with many exhibitions held at the D & R space, this collab effort was as fresh and compelling as it was entirely enjoyable. Collectives that make cutting edge cool and accessible? A resounding affirmative.

This exhibition was both response to the pandemic isolation and a glorious assault on the senses – power to the people arising from the pandemic and ponderous times.

Durden and Ray is located on the 8th floor of the Bendix Building in DTLA at 1206 Maple in the fashion district.

  • Genie Davis; photos: Genie Davis

Skirball Cultural Center Goes Where No Man Has Gone Before

Posted on by Diversions LA

Star Trek Exploring New Worlds is a delightful exhibition that explores the quite relevant themes the series – in all its iterations – sought to explore. A history of the sci fi show’s production – we can thank Lucille Ball in part, for her belief in the project when others found it too costly or unappealing; costumes; culture; and various characters are all a part of a thoroughly engaging collection.

Costuming art
Commercial conquests
Props of all kinds

Props and artifacts, the storyline of each series and spin-off, and production models are all there. Delightfully well-curated, the exhibition treats the series and both its message and artistic design with both reverence and humor. Pose in the Captain’s chair or try out your prop phasers and get beamed up in a variety of video scenes you can watch enfold via Blue Screen magic.

As much fun as the exhibition is, it is the unfolding of its cultural impact, its messages of inclusiveness and kindness that both the Skirball, and the series itself, explores to purpose. To say that Star Trek the series went where no series had gone before is entirely true. It introduced many of the concepts we now discuss in daily life, as well as some classic catch phrases. It took an early look at the issues and understandings we now strive to reach, or at least attempt to do so, including equality between cultures and races as well as between men and women. One of the reasons for both the original series’ appeal and that of the iterations that came after it, is that the tenets it holds most dear, of learning to accept one another and our differences, never gets old.

Interactive Fun

Thematically, tolerance, reverent history, championship for those who need championing, and a willingness to explore are all inherent in the Skirball’s own mission, adding further resonance to the exhibition.

Both charming and informative, with savvy insider production knowledge and an intelligent look at the series’ impact on viewers and the entertainment industry, Exploring New Worlds offers a smart look at a pop-culture phenomena viewed through a lens of appreciation and the hope for a better tomorrow.

Heartily wishing the Skirball Cultural Center’s deeply enjoyable exploration of Star Trek will live long and prosper. The exhibition runs through February 20th, 2022, a space trip for all ages.

Check In Soon at the Madcap Motel

Posted on by Diversions LA

Looking for a place to spend the night? Well, you can’t stay overnight – at least not yet – although that may be in future plans, but you can, and should, spend the evening Elsewhere at The Madcap Motel.

Located in DTLA’s arts district, the immersive mix of walk-through theater and clever art installation might remind you a bit of Meow Wolf’s immersive offerings, and also reminded me, at least, of the 2019 film Bad Times at the El Royale, but it’s entirely unique.

Motel “guests” check-in at a comfortable lobby and wait their turn to enter, entertained by an improv-prolific maid who serves as de-facto leader of small groups of motel guests into another waiting room, a motel-suite.

From there, you’ll meet a mad, or semi-mad, scientist, various walking shrubbery, mysterious maids and other staff, and explore a wide range of surreal and super fun room installations.

You’ll travel into a storyline that is all about time travel, alternate dimensions, and the mysterious disappearance of one J.D. Sando, the motel’s original owner. You’ll uncover weird worlds and a variety of possibly illicit relationships in the bargain.

There are plenty of photographable moments for your social media sharing of choice, as well as lively improvisational performances, super cool miniatures, and a clever path through one door into another room and into another time.

Along with the elements of a missing person and assignations – noir aspects that brought to my mind the Jeff Bridges-starring El Royale film, there is of course a distinct hip art vibe coupled with Alice in Wonderland.

From the minute dioramas…

…to the oversized, step-inside TV and giant chair, guests enter one White Rabbit hole after another.

It’s a lot of fun and has a more intimate feel than other installation experiences, involving its “travellers” interactively with character encounters as well as experiential rooms.

Yes, a smoke effect may transport you into space, a beam of light lure you down a distant corridor, and a visit to the very “alive” greenery-filled courtyard encourage you to sit awhile.

You’ll also be privy to false doors and magical mirrors, an enormous blue/green coral reef, vehicles trapped inside walls and others filled with a jungle of plants.

There’s groan-worthy broad humor, lively performances, and abundant art and design, but above all else, your stay comes with a special kind of room service – a willing transcendance of disbelief into a magical throwback of pure fun.

You’ll find rooms at a slant and floating furniture; strange emerald green plants alight in terrariums; miniature desserts and towns and undersea life caught inside incandescent portholes, and more.

The experience takes somewhere around 90 minutes, and guests of all ages will enjoy their mini-vacation. We sure did!

Like any good traveler, if you want to bring home a souvenir from your trip, you can do that, too.

Tickets are $40 for adults; $30 for kids; 3 and under are free. Purchase in advance online.

  • Genie Davis; photos: Genie Davis and Jack Burke

This is Halloween – High Beams Art Collectives Offer Rooftop Fun

Posted on by Diversions LA

Saturday and Sunday Halloween weekend, the Bendix building rooftop became an awesome party spot with High Beams #5 Night Moves.

Exciting and radiant against a backdrop of DTLA skyline, exhibiting artists showcased art that glowed, moved, spun, or simply dazzled in its own right.

Exhibiting artists included: Eugene Ahn, Ismael de Anda III, Ilona Berger, Chelsea Boxwell, Nicolas Cienfuegos, Elizabeth Folk, Leslie Foster, Ricardo Harris-Fuentes, Iva Gueorguieva, Jamie Hamilton, Ariel Huang, Ben Jackel, Kellan Barnebey King, Sharon Levy, Kim Marra, Justin Michell, Robert Moya, Jorge Mujica, Hagop Najarian, Larissa Nickel, Liz Nurenberg, Laura Ricci, Molly Schulman, Karim Shuquem, Christina Shurts, Mitch Temple, Josh Vasquez, Andrew Wingler, and Surge Witrön. Curators Carl Baratta and Katya Usvitsky of TSALA and Dani Dodge and Sean Noyce of Durden and Ray brought together artists from their collectives, as well as from 515, CACtTUS, Last Ditch, LAST Projects, Monte Vista Projects, Museum Adjacent, and San Francisco Artists Alumni

There were kinetic sculptures, projected images, sculptures – including a climbable and thrilling net hammock, banners, paintings, and audio work. If you missed it, you snoozed. Plus, attendees came in costume and the city glittered, as well as the red neon Bendix sign towering not-that-high above.

There was drone and interactive computer magic from Eugene Ahn, Ismael de Anda III…

Jorge Mujica and Gerardo Romero offered a deep blue blaze of glory aligned with the skyline, below.

Light danced on a mirrored city by Nicolas Cienfuegos…

Justin Mitchell and Kellan Barnebey King spun revolving, riveting color.

Karim Shuquem created the black-box magic of the motion of atoms (per the artist) in his glowing sculptural installation, below.

It’s a bird, it’s not really a plane but a wonderful, playfully curated sculpture from Ben Jackel, below.

Jamie Hamilton’s nylon and steel climbable “Net.”

Robert Moya’s beautifully detailed wood panels survived winds at installation…

Chelsea Boxwell delighted with a glittery textile passageway, above and below.

Pulsating with light, the cocoon of Laura Ricci’s “Ones Left Behind,” images below.

Elizabeth Folk and Mark Brobo offered “A Desert Spritz” of fun performance art and projected image.

Ariel Wang, below; above, collaborative magic from Last Projects by artists including Ilona Berger, above.

Black light made this gorgeous piece vibrate from Ricardo Harris-Fuentes.

Ephemeral work from Iva Gueorguieva, below, suspended on wire.

Golden work from Mitch Temple, bathed in red light, above.

A collaboration of artists connecting through “Zoom Connecting.” Among the creators were Hagop Najarian and Leslie Foster, above and below.

May be art

Auditory sculptural experience from Liz Nurenberg, below.

Each artist and the event curators created stellar work and a costumed art party that served the perfect blend of spirits for All Hallows Eve.

  • Genie Davis; photos: Genie Davis