HOT ANGELENO – Guy Orlando Rose
Never heard of Guy Orlando Rose? Well, if you had been born 100 years ago you would’ve been in the minority. Not only does the town of Rosemead bear his family name, but Mr. Rose (1867-1925), a California impressionist painter born in San Gabriel, is said to have been the very first native Southern Californian to receive international fame. His incredible artistic vision and skill even earned him high standing as a protégé and friend of Monet. No kidding! Click on the thumbnails throughout this post to see larger views of some of his incredibly beautiful paintings of Southern California in the early 20th Century.
EVENT – Shag Swapmeet
(Shag as in the iconic illustrator, not as in this… or this… or this.)
What: The first-ever Shag Swapmeet – art, merchandise and ephemera spanning the illustrator’s entire career
When: Saturday, September 12, Noon
Where: Billy Shire Fine Arts, 5790 Washington Blvd., Culver City (323) 279-0600
Details: “Collectors and connoisseurs of illustrator Shag will have a chance purchase a cache of art, merchandise and ephemera spanning his entire career at the first ever Shag Swapmeet. (Some examples here.) Several important original works will be available for sale ranging from the bamboo-framed “The Perils of Trying Too Hard,” from 1998 to his signature triptych, “Departure Idlewild, Stopover Borneo, Arrival Ape City.” Numerous long out-of-print serigraphs, many dating pre-2004 will also be available for sale alongside a limited number of poly-bagged “Paintings by Shag” from the 2006 “Conspicuous Consumption” exhibition. The Shag Swapmeet will also feature signed casino chips, shot glasses, a very limited edition charm bracelet, bar stools, tiki decanters, mugs, toys, exclusive Disneyland Tiki Room purses, signed prints, discounted books, “Shag With a Twist” merchandise and ephemera and much more Shag Swag.”
For a full preview of the objects and advance purchasing options, contact the gallery.
TONIGHT – Jazz Photography *Icon* Herman Leonard!
What: Mingling with 86-year old legendary jazz photographer Herman Leonard in person. Enjoy art and refreshments along with music provided by Joey Altruda and his Cocktail Crew.
When: Tonight (8/29), 8-11pm
Where: Reserve,
420 North Fairfax
Price: FREEEEE!
Details: AIGA/LA & Reserve present The Photography of Herman Leonard. Meet legendary jazz photographer and coolest guy in the world, Herman Leonard, at his solo exhibition.
“In the late 1940’s, Herman Leonard’s passion for jazz brought him to the swinging clubs of Broadway, 52nd Street and Harlem. With the camera as his free ticket, he photographed and developed friendships with some of the greats of jazz history including Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington and many more.
A year’s apprenticeship with Yasuf Karsh provided invaluable experience photographing the likes of Albert Einstein, Harry S. Truman and Clark Gable. In 1956 Leonard was chosen to be Marlon Brando’s personal photographer for an extensive research trip to the Far East. In the late 1950’s Leonard headed for Paris where he worked in fashion and advertising and served as the European photographer for Playboy Magazine.
CONTEST – The Los Angeles Superhero
Calling all comic geeks! To accompany their upcoming Heroes and Villains show, LACMA is announcing a contest to create your own LA-centric superhero or archnemesis.
REQUIREMENTS:
- 3-5 images of character designs/storyboards
- One-page synopsis of the plot
- Images must be jpegs, sized up to 800 x 1000 pixels
- Image files must not exceed 1 megabyte in size
- Deadline for submissions is Sept. 15th
Can’t draw? That’s okay. *We’d* still like to hear your ideas. Throw ’em in the comments to entertain us.
FOCUS – Me-Tagging the LA River
Chicano artist Leo Limón has been painting the drains of the Los Angeles River for twenty years. In this interview from 2005, he explains what he calls “me-tagging.”
[youtube width=”590″ height=”420″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0gSI6r16dA[/youtube]
“Leo Limón‘s activities date back to the very formative years of the Chicano Art Movement and his work reflects the vision, aspirations and images of his surroundings and roots. For 30 plus years he has being painting the Los Angeles River Cat faces on the storm-drain covers and is involved with groups whose efforts are to revive the river as a historic region, cultural arts enclave and tourist destination.”
ONGOING – The Sketches of Richard Neutra
What: RICHARD NEUTRA, Architect: Sketches and Drawings
When: Until November 1, 2009
Where: Central Library – Getty Gallery, 630 W. 5th Street, Downtown (213) 228-7000
Richard Neutra (1892-1970) was a pioneer of 20th century architecture whose geometric, airy structures helped to instill West Coast modernism across the landscape of Los Angeles. This exhibit at the Main Library downtown features 140 rare drawings spanning most of Neutra’s career.
“Nearly 50 years ago, architect Richard Neutra donated a collection of his drawings and sketches to UCLA. They included illustrations of famous projects he had worked on as well as those he had hoped to begin but could never get off the ground.
But the collection was notable because it also included drawings that have nothing to do with architecture: self-portraits, sketches of family members and landscapes that he created while vacationing in Europe and the U.S.
The drawings are stored in the university’ special collections and, for the most part, they have remained out of public view. Now, a new exhibition at the Central Library in downtown L.A. is offering a glimpse into this little-seen facet of Neutra’s output.” (SOURCE)
If you are more interested in checking out his architecture up close, you can take yourself on a tour of Neutra’s buildings around L.A. His former office in Silver Lake still stands as a registered historic place.
MATINEE – Simon Rodia & The Watts Towers
[youtube width=”590″ height=”420″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9njXNZuASi0[/youtube] 
THE TOWERS (1957; 12 minutes) is a documentary about Simon Rodia (1879-1965) building the Watts Towers.
Details: Born near the Naples, Italy, Simon Rodia emigrated to Pennsylvania at 15. When his brother was killed in a mining accident, Simon moved to the West Coast and eventually settled in Watts in the early 1920s. He began creating the towers in 1921 and finished in 1948. Seven years later, frustrated by vandalism and disputes with his neighbors, he suddenly gave the property to neighbor Luis Sauceda and walked away. He was 75 years of age.
Simon Rodia lived in Martinez, California until his death in 1965. He never viewed his Towers again. (more…)
EVENTS – The Close Up 6/16
EVENT LISTING
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18th
A CONVERSATION WITH PENN & TELLER, presented by Writers Bloc
Where: Writers’ Guild Theater, 135 Doheny Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Time: 7:30 pm Price: One ticket is $20.00. Cash or personal checks accepted at the door. Please no credit cards. Online RSVP required.
“Penn & Teller, known for their magic and performance wizardry, are as fun to listen to as they are to watch. Their art is avant garde, the banter is provocative and funny. And now’s your chance to see Teller talk! In conversation with Eddie Goredetsky, writer for Late Night With David Letterman, SNL, Dharma & Greg, Two and a Half Men, and more. Eddie also wrote for Penn & Teller’s specials, Don’t Try This at Home, as well as Penn & Teller’s Cruel Tricks for Dear Friends.”
SUNDAY, JUNE 21th
FATHER’S DAY WITH CHARLIE CHAPLIN – THE KID
Where: Cinefamily at the Silent Movie Theater, 611 N Fairfax Avenue, Hollywood, CA 90036
Time: 8pm; Price: $12 – Tickets can be reserved online
“In celebration of Father’s Day, The Cinefamily presents one of Chaplin’s most moving and beloved films. The Tramp adopts an abandoned baby he discovers in an alley, and raises him to become his sidekick in a variety of schemes and cons. A moving and hilarious film about paternal love, or as Chaplin’s first title says, “A picture with a smile, and perhaps a tear…” Children under 18 get in half price to this special “kiddie” matinee.” Dir. Charles Chaplin, 1921, 16mm, 68 min
