Art, art everywhere…
…in museums, on the street and even in the most unexpected places
By Tracy Spicer 08/10/2006
When it comes to art, the San Gabriel Valley is truly blessed. Works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet and Andy Warhol are practically in your backyard at the Norton Simon Museum. Cutting-edge, contemporary artwork can be found in intimate galleries tucked in between cafes and shops throughout the streets of Old Pasadena. The city is a creative flagship not only for local artists showcasing their works, but also for renowned international visionaries.
Art is truly accessible for those in Pasadena as Monica Bonvicini’s “Not for You” exhibit hits the Shops on Lake Avenue in a retail space previously occupied by Organized Living. This one-of-a-kind, site-specific installation (on view until Oct. 1) features Bonvicini’s extensive and impressive series of work. The Italian-born, Berlin-based artist addresses issues of space, gender and power through mixed media, drawings, collages and video installations. “Not for You” is the second installment of Emi Fontana’s “West of Rome” series, which takes artists’ projects outside the physical location of her gallery in Milan. Just be sure to keep an eye out for the sporadically but purposely placed holes in the drywall floor while perusing the unusual display of construction harnesses and provocative language on the walls.
The Pacific Asia Museum is currently housing an exhibit that puts a contemporary twist on an ancient art form with “From Heart to Hand: Japanese Modern Prints From the George and Marcia Good Collection,” which runs through Nov. 12. The 15 post-World War II-era prints represent a variety of styles and techniques, from the vibrant, psychedelic Ay-O “Untitled” piece to Joichi Hoshi’s scenic wood engraving “Three Trees and Red Sky.”
“From Heart to Hand” also features a smaller selection of works by the founding members of the Sosaku Hanga (Creative Japanese Print Movement), such as Unichi Hiratsuka and Kanae Yamamoto. This helps guide visitors through the ever-changing artistic spirit in Japan.
The Pacific Asia Museum will also unveil its new Gallery of Japanese Art on Sept. 8. Besides displaying the museum’s renowned Japanese art collection, the permanent space will also include some unique touches, including a traditional tatami mat area with a tokonoma (alcove), art and floral displays, and a 15th-century Buddhist temple ceiling. The gallery’s first rotation, “Splendor and Simplicity: An Introduction to Japanese Artistic Style,” presents visitors with principal Japanese aesthetics, from simple tea bowls to decorative kimonos.
Situated in a 1925 Pasadena home, HAUS is known as one of the area’s most innovative alternative galleries by contemporary art aficionados. It will truly live up to its reputation as it kicks off its fourth year of exhibitions with a solo show from artist Gegam Kacherian. Though he has participated in a number of group shows around the globe, Kacherian’s stint at HAUS from Sept. 14 through Oct. 7 is only his third solo exhibition in a commercial gallery. This self-taught Armenian artist uses a vibrant palette with an ability to merge both tranquil and chaotic elements in each of his dreamlike paintings.
Amidst the works of Rembrandt, Rivera and Rauschenberg found at the Norton Simon Museum lies “The Collectible Moment: Photographs in the Norton Simon Museum,” on view from Oct. 13 through Feb. 26. This exhibit is the first survey of the museum’s extensive photography collection, which was originally gathered by the Pasadena Art Museum, its institutional predecessor. The installation showcases 163 photographs by 104 artists, including Ansel Adams, Imogen Cunningham, Judy Dater, Arthur Siegel and Minor White. The photographs — ranging from captivating portraits and landscapes to abstract, experimental images — are displayed chronologically and include sections that delve into non-silver and mixed-media processes and monographic concentrations. A series of public programs such as lectures, exhibition walkthroughs, adult education courses and activities for families are also offered.
After checking out “The Collectible Moment,” you may ask, “What are some of the artists in the exhibit doing now?” The Pasadena Museum of California helps answer that question by pairing with the Norton Simon for “Advancing the Moment: Recent Work by California Photographers,” which features current works by 12 artists in “The Collectible Moment,” including Donald Blumberg, Anthony Hernandez and John Spence Weir. This exhibit, which will be held from Oct. 13 to Jan. 21, helps further map the evolution of contemporary photography in California.
Pasadena Art Weekend will definitely be the artistic crescendo this fall and is already creating quite a buzz throughout the arts community. The three-day event begins Oct. 13 with ArtNight, where cultural institutions such as the Armory Center for the Arts, the Pacific Asia Museum and the Norton Simon Museum welcome the public free of charge to explore art, artifacts and music.
On Oct. 14, the Pasadena Playhouse District debuts ArtWalk, an eight-hour outdoor event in the heart of Pasadena with hundreds of artists’ works on display, as well as food and entertainment.
One Colorado’s Design Open ArtMarket ends the artist-friendly weekend on Oct. 15. The event focuses on work exclusively from Art Center College of Design, Pasadena City College and the Armory Center for the Arts. ArtMarket gives patrons an exclusive opportunity to witness innovative works by up-and-coming artists, illustrators, ceramicists and environmental and industrial designers.
Believe it or not, that’s only a taste of what’s going on in the area. Take a look at our listings to truly grasp a sense of how much artistic activity is occurring this fall. Whether it’s in a museum, on the street or in a mall, art is everywhere you turn.
It’s just up to you to take the time to discover it.
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