Color, color, color. Like spring flowers, carnival rides, and kaleidoscopes, colors are popping from the gallery walls at MASH Gallery in downtown Los Angeles. Opening this Saturday is Radiant Spectrum, a group show of 16 contemporary artists working in a wide range of mediums including sculpture, painting, and drawing. Curated by designer Mark Murphy, the show’s exhibiting artists include: Michelle A. Benoit, Jud Bergeron, Kelsey Brookes, Jill Carlock, Christian Clayton, Nate Harris, Terry Hoff, Shaelin Jornigan, Tasha Kusama, Kevin Long – aka – Spanky, Joe Roberts – aka – LSD Worldpeace, David Shillinglaw, Bonnie Marie Smith, Tricia Strickfaden, Kellesimone Waits, Marco Zamora. The opening March 9th is just the beginning for the exhibition, which will also feature an appearance by color psychic Sarah Potter on March 23rd.
According to Murphy, “Radiant Spectrum establishes color as a central character.” Whether abstract or cubist, the work here has all been created specifically for the installation, which he terms “salon-inspired.”
LA-based Christian Clayton, above, offers ten mixed media works that utilize a wide range of textures and patterns; the works are part of “Emotion,” a series of textures and patterns utilized to shape portraits that evoke the spirit of Picasso.
The work of Nate Harris, above, is sleek and dynamic, a piece that reminds the viewer of an optical illusion of sorts; while a single miniature painting packs a powerful punch from San Diego artist and former biologist Kelsey Brookes in his “Untitled Molecular Study,” below. In the latter work, tiny jeweled bits of color form a kind of universe in a wheel-like shape.
Below, the work of Terry Huff is candy-coated psychedlia, a vibrant rainbow of color that looks good enough to eat, or at least to sink the viewer into a devouring dream.
Tricia Strickfaden’s “Nobody Walks in LA,” below, brings to life a surreal and abstract version of stop lights and caution signs, a lively puzzle piece that has elements of throw-back moderne style.
Surealism is the undercurrent for Kevin Spanky’s “Long,” below. Large red head, small blue car; highly dimensional checkered platform for the driver and vehicle.
With the color palette the main conversation in this intense and vivid exhibition, the lush LA sunset depicted in “Milennial Blood, Sweat, and Tears,” below, sets even the bones in this piece by Tasha Kusama on fire.
Murphy says the entire show is a “reflection of artistic radiance.” He adds that the theme of the exhibition was truly an outgrowth of his own design work in books and catalogs over the years and the recognittion that “color really provides a pathway or imprint upon the work itself. “
Color of course adds a riveting dimension to the entire exhibition, but there are many sculptural works, including Bonnie Marie Smith’s lustrous work, below, that are dimensional in their own right. Smith’s piece here is a gorgeous crayon-box of color.
After the opening, on March 23rd a tarot reading is in the cards when New York-based color psychic Sarah Potter celebrates the power of color in a unique presentation from 6 to 9 p.m. March 23rd at MASH. Potter will present an exciting free event that should bring the color spectrum into even more vivid perspective. As she says, “Each color has its own vibration and has the ability to stimulate powerful feelings. I can’t wait to share how this works and how you can apply it to your own life right away.”
In the meantime, experience all the color in the world in one gallery, this Saturday, when the exhibition opens at 7 p.m. Mash is located at 1325 Palmetto Street in DTLA.
- Genie Davis; photos provided by curator