Pretty Kitties: Think Tank Gallery

Posted on by Diversions LA

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Think Tank Gallery was the cat’s meow last Thursday through Sunday, with lines stretching around the block for the opening of “Cat Art Show LA: The Sequel.”

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It seems there are plenty of feline fanciers in town, there to enjoy the photography, sculptures, paintings, and mixed media on display and for sale. A portion of the proceeds, including those from prints of several pieces of art from the event also went to support Kitty Rescue, the charitable beneficiary of the event.

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“We’re just getting ready to open a kitten nursery at our sanctuary in Atwater Village,” says Sue Romaine, a spokesperson for the program. “It’s designed for kittens that would otherwise be euthanized. Our goal is to take in 500 this year, and a thousand by 2017. The kitten nursery will double our capacity and operating budget.”

The piece below was purchased by Ms. Romaine.

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According to Kitten Rescue development director Sandra Harrison, the organization’s early neuter and spay programs began in 1997, and are a mainstay of responsible cat culture in the Southland. “Currently, Kitten Rescue adopts out about a thousand cats a year.”

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That’s a meow-arvelous number. Think Tank’s tribute to cat art and cat companions themselves was a purr-fect mix of the cutting edge and the classic.

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Art and cat lovers combined enjoyed a stellar evening featuring artists such as Adam Wallacavage Chandeliers, Adriana Gásperi, Alexandra Troitskaya, Alexei Sovertkov, Annie Terrazzo, Brandi Milne, Brandon Boyd, Britt Ehringer, Cara Long, Charlie Becker, Cyrcle, Daniel Maidman, Dawn Bowery Photography, Diane Cooper Hoeptner, Don Pendleton, Edwin Ushiro, Emma Mount, Fedele Spadafora, Suara, Heather Mattoon of Cats in Clothes, Horitomo, Ingrid Allen, James Seward, Jamie Fales, Jason Edward Davis, Jean Pierre Arboleda, Jeff Haynie fine art, Jeff Nentrup, Jenny Parks Illustration, Joann Biondi, Johannah O’Donnell, JoKa Artwork, Kat Von D, Katsunori Miyagi, Kerri Hobba, Koichiro Takagi, Kozyndan, Laura Keenados Art & Bad Haikus, Leslie Kirchhoff, Lucia Heffernan, Luke Chueh, Lyn Winter, Lynn Jones, Marc Dennis, Marie M. Vlasic Art (Vlasic Studio), Marion Peck, The Art of Mark Ryden, Martin Hsu, Marcats, Michael Caines, Michael Lindsay-Hogg, Mick Rock, Midori Furuhashi, Natalia Fabia, Noah Eaton, The Walking Dead‘s Norman Reedus, Nuria Riaza Ilustración, Paul Koudounaris, Rachel K Schlueter, RAE COOK, Ravi Amar Zupa, Rebecca Rose, Rebecca Artemisa, Rich Hardcastle – who took a wonderfully staged photograph of animal rights activist and comedian Ricky Gervais, Rick Morris, Rob Reger, Rudi Hurzlmeier, The Art of Scott Hove, Scott Zaragoza, Silvio Porretta, Simon Tofield, Simone Legno (tokidoki), Stephanie Han, Sugar Fueled, Sonya Palencia, Thiago Goms, Tim Biskup Art (official), Travis Lampe, Tobias Keene, Walter Chandoha: The Cat Photographer, and Zane York.

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If you missed the show at Think Tank and want to support Kitten Rescue, check out their website for donation and volunteer opportunities at www.kittenrescue.org

  • Genie “Kitten Chow” Davis, all photos by Jack “9Lives” Burke

Think Tank Gallery: Break Bread

Posted on by Diversions LA

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At “Break Bread” a not-quite-edible art installation located in the 7,000-square-foot Think Tank Gallery on the edge of the garment district, “let them eat cake” is a misnomer. Rather, taking in the vast cake maze and candied light fixtures, the finely wrought food paintings, and life-size cardboard truck – the work of artists Scott Hove and Baker’s Son – the proper phrase would be “let them SEE cake.”

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There’s a mirrored fun house of a maze with elaborate pink “cake” walls, crafted from paint and spackle and actual candy, which is the work of Hove,which also includes projected fire and rain in one portion of the maze.

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And at the opposite end of the maze, a creepy bone cave – that utilizes real bones.

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In another gallery space, there’s an urban street scene by Baker’s Son, a.k.a. Keith Magruder, who found inspiration in the treats of his youth and the loss of life on urban streets.

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Opening night also included Lagunitas brews, a vast array of delicious breads from chocolate mint to raspberry from Challah Hub, gourmet gummies from Sugarfina, and Brigs, short for brigadeiro, the rich Brazilian candy designed to represent a variety of celebrations.

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Don’t forget to look up!

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With machine guns, teeth, and high heels that look as lethal as any weapon, the exhibition expresses the dark underbelly of sugar coated American life.

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Break Bread runs through March 14th, and tickets are free on Eventbrite. Specific additional events from dinners to comedy nights are also available on Eventbrite for purchase. The exhibit itself is a must-see for both its kitschy appeal and dark underbelly, as well as its drool worthy art, and its sensual heft. When you walk into the installation, the first thing you’ll see is a glowing bed.

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Perhaps you can have your cake, and eat it too. (puns intended)

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  • Genie Davis, all photos by Jack Burke