NoHoArtsDistrict.com Visual Arts "How to Article" #2

A Battle of Blended Beauty

The battle unfolded at the Lankershim Art Gallery last week with the launch of Schism vs. It’s A Small World II -- An engaging art mêlée of different styles, shapes and sizes.

The “Schism” team features artists with a traditional style battling it out with the “It’s A Small World II” team, featuring a mixture of different styles, sizes and mediums. In essence, this battle is a blend of art from some of Los Angeles’ freshest artists.

Jill Peterson-Abrams is the gallery director who assists Curator Dover Abrams in coordinating the Lankershim Art Gallery (LAG) shows. So I asked Jill how they jury the pieces. They choose “pieces that are visually striking,” which is obvious while walking through this month’s show. For example, John Paul Thornton’s “Circle” (oil on canvas) is a splash of brilliant color intertwined with rich emotion. The embrace of the two figures displays the sensitivity in the piece, while the bright colors of the piece give it an eye-catching quality. Even in the vibrant motion of color and texture, there is a still and calming effect from the painting.

“An edge” is another important factor when choosing artwork. An example of some ingenuitive work is seen in Katy Allgeyer’s pieces – from the It’s a Small World II Team. Katy has two acrylic/paper pieces that really stand out. “Fortunate Saints Series, Untitled 1” and “Fortunate Saints Series, Untitled 2” both feature religious scenes enshrined in gold and surrounded by a harmony of hues-blues and greens and a splash of orange and red. Even though both pieces are small in size, they carry a large visual impact.

Another factor that Jill and Dover consider when choosing pieces for their shows is price. All of the pieces displayed are within a price range that makes owning original artwork accessible for everyone. The LAG Gift Shop is where you'll find smaller, original artwork at affordable prices from the same highly qualified artists who are selected by jury for wall space in the gallery. Artists are encouraged to place work there specifically to help new (or soon-to-be) art collectors get a head start and to give an opportunity for the artists to make sales and begin their journey to being discovered.

As March is Women’s History Month, I paid particular attention to the pieces with women as the focal point. Sergio Enriquez has two amazing pieces showing, “La Damita” and “Il Libro,” featuring women using prismacolor and chalk. The texture of both pieces is brilliant, and the use of white accentuates the movement and shape of the figures. Both pieces are subtle, yet they are so captivating that I found myself returning to them. Alexandra Wolfson’s “Bombing the Innocent” (oil on canvas) is another example. There is a nurturing effect in the woman’s image that appears to be cradling someone in her arms. The woman is painted in blue, which contributes to the calming effect her figure has on the viewer. The background is an explosion of reds, oranges, and yellows, which conveys a sense of pain, which can also been seen in the sliver of the woman’s face.

Every March we take a moment to show our appreciation for those women who are making art happen in NoHo. We salute LAG Gallery Director Jill for her hard work in making sure their monthly shows look great and run smoothly. “Jill-of-all-trades” is also as diverse as an artist, creating wire sculpture horses , doing beadwork, crocheting, knitting and indulging herself in Sumi painting. She combines her administrative expertise and creative talents to make LAG a warm and inviting gallery welcome to all.

As always, I am intrigued to know why people do what they do, so I asked Jill for her raison d'etre. She believes that LAG gives artists the opportunities to break into the gallery scene while helping new art collectors enjoy the fun while avoiding the intimidation factor.

Thank you Jill and the LAG team for keeping the visual arts alive!

Lankershim Art Gallery
5108 Lankershim Blvd.
NoHo Arts District

Schism vs. It’s A Small World II runs through the end of March. http://www.doversart.com

Photos Courtesy of Rony Armas -- Lunaset

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