Beyond Eden: A Look at Los Angeles Contemporary Art

Annual multi-gallery event at Barndall Art Park - Photos: Jack Burke
Annual multi-gallery event at Barndall Art Park – Photos: Jack Burke

Held October 3rd and 4th at the LA Municipal Art Gallery at Barnsdall Park, Beyond Eden showcased some stellar examples of LA’s burgeoning contemporary art scene. The weekend-only exhibit filled the sprawling exhibition space, a perfect setting for an uniquely LA scene. Looking directly up at the jeweled miniature of Griffith Park Observatory from the balcony of the gallery, viewers got the buzz: of art in a quintessentially LA format.

F23C3143

Noticed that Los Angeles continues to grow as an art capital? That there are more and more amazing artists and cutting edge exhibitions in town? You’re not alone. This packed exhibition hummed on a summer-warm October night, with a wide variety of artists showcased from some top area galleries.

F23C3144

Andrew Hosner, co-owner / curator at Thinkspace curated the event,  the 5th annual exhibition of Beyond Eden. Showcased were the works of five galleries:  C.A.V.E. Gallery, Copro Gallery, Spoke Art, Hashimoto Contempoary, and of course, Thinkspace.

F23C3147

F23C3174

F23C3192

Solo mini-shows from artists Meggs and Mear One, and live painting demos were also a part of the event, which drew over 5000 visitors over the weekend.

F23C3157

F23C3158

F23C3161

F23C3164

Mear One, above, discusses his work. “I’m trying to connect what is beyond our understanding, and bring it into a more tangible place. There are a lot of things I see on the street that maybe others don’t see. You have to paint it, and hammer home the message they’re missing a little harder.”

F23C3171

 

Other artists included Jeff Ho, Vinz, Jim Darling, Matt Dangler, Candice Tripp, Brett Amory, Eric Jones, Mike Stillkey, Jessica Hess, Amy Sil, Liz Brizzi, Ken Ellyn, and many more.

F23C3175

F23C3151

 

 

F23C3153

F23C3138

F23C3194

 

 

F23C3196

F23C3199

F23C3202

F23C3205

F23C3186

While this will be the last year Beyond Eden exhibits, these artists – like the LA art scene itself – are here to stay.