Oh My God I Have a Blog & Paris Photo LA is Coming Up! Get Your Tix!

Bourdin Guy's on exhibit at Paris Photo LA, 2015 (from Foam in Amsterdam)

I seriously know know know this is such a good place for me to have an outlet. I always forget it's here. Yes, like I said in my last post, I've been writing. This blog is supposed to be about my recommendations about cool stuff in LA but because I've been consumed with another creative endeavor, I've not had a chance to do that. I miss it! I wish there were more hours in the day.

But what I am planning on doing I'm extremely excited about. I have this goal to shoot what I've been writing in May, on my own dime, so you know, it will literally be a dime. So terrified. So happy people want to work on it with me. So hopeful about it. And yet I'm not one of the young kids who are like "No big deal! I shoot shit in my sleep." Not me. Still it's so much fun and I happen to really love the characters and the world. Maybe I'll even post the outcome here. I don't know. Who knows what the future holds?

Paris Photo, LA

That being said, I'm distracted, big time. It's always a good sign when the house is messy. Means I'm in the zone (or mentally ill). And listen, there's other big stuff too, but the web series is one of the bigger projects that's taken me out of this hobby - this blog - my sweet Opine LA!

Thomas Joshua Cooper, Snake River from the Ingleby Gallery will be on exhibit

And the anniversary of it's birth is coming up. My first post was about my adventure hitting Paris Photo LA with my good friends, Max & Nicole.

Paris Photo LA, me, Max & Nic

I'm so sad I'll miss being there with them this year (and I believe my cutie pants friend Heather is going as well). Oh Paris Photo LA! It is so spectacular. So much fun. SO WORTH IT.

Paris Photo will be in May. May 1-3 on The Paramount Lot to be specific. They'll be hosting 80 leading galleries and be showcasing art from 17 countries. It is so cool to be on the lot, seeing art in the stages and backlot. And they always have food trucks (though if you're in a crunch starving and need something before or after, get a veggie burger with zucchini fries at Astro Burger on the corner of Gower and Melrose. Oh, and ask for extra dipping sauce for the zucchini fries. You won't regret it).

If I wasn't going to Portland to see the maternal side of the fam, trust me, nothing would keep me away. Oh how I will miss it!

ENJOY!

xoxo

Paris Photo's Link for Tix & Info: http://www.parisphoto.com/losangeles
Astro Burger is at 5601 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Here's the link: http://www.astroburger.com/


Paris Photo at Paramount April 27, 2013 - the first pic on my blog.

Larry Sultan LACMA Oxygen

I fucking love art and I love my friends. On a sunny day, when you should be doing this and you should be doing that, the reality is you're not doing this and you're not doing that and it's not good lying around, perusing social media and basically NOT GETTING SHIT DONE. So, the first order of business is to LEAVE YOUR HOUSE. The next is to realize you live in an incredible city with incredible people and incredible beauty and insight. The next? Breathe....

Beautiful Stephanie, with Oxygen (which by the way, cured her migraine!)

This Sunday, a friend of mine, Heather, invited some girls over for a Valentine's Brunch at her place near LACMA where she prepared quiches, coffee and pulled out an oxygen tank.

Heather practically air guitaring her oxygen tank

I love oxygen. I just had no idea how sexy it could make someone look but seriously, my friends look hot with oxygen masks on! Anyway, it was fun to hang out, catch up, have girl talk and use her oxygen mask (and her massage chair which is not like the massage chair at the nail places. It's really good).

Afterwards I had THE BEST TIME because like an addict, I went to nearby LACMA for yet another hit of Larry Sultan.

Sharon Wild, by Larry Sultan

Larry Sultan is AMAZING. He grew up in The Valley and took these outstanding photographs to interpret, reimagine, and make good of his upbringing, environment and family. Some of the most unnerving, comical, disturbing and provoking photos are the ones he took of porn stars and porn production. I've never seen anything like it. Like this one above of Sharon Wild. The bare mattress, the weird pink gauze-y sheet, the suitcase. Her face with anger, acceptance, sadness? Her pose of protectiveness, like "I'm off the clock, Larry, you don't get this when I'm off the clock, you get me." 

But it's the photos of his parents that sell it. So uncomfortable, so comical. And I love the quote on the wall that he took these photographs, motivated by this desire to stop time; that he wanted his parents to live forever:

There's something so vulnerable, so sweet, so human, so bare and this feeling like They're just trying. They're just people. They're just giving it their best shot with what they have at the moment in time, in their generation. Oh my God, the photos of his parents just killed me.

LACMA is seriously one of the best museums on earth. I'm sure of this. And it's right here, right in our backyard. Right real close to Heather's house. I mean she could walk there. And what is so cool was on Sunday after Heather's, my husband met me there. First I showed him Larry Sultan but then we went to the top floor of the Broad Contemporary Bldg. to the Abstract show, which, by the way, he had made some cracks about because I think it's called "Conversations In and Around Abstract Painting." I mean that is pretty fun to make fun of but then, of course, the show won us over AND we stumbled upon an amazing fact: a friend of my husband's is in the show!

Terry, my husband, beside HIS FRIEND'S ART: Love Forever (Cave) for MW by Mary Weatherford

Yeah, we're gonna talk about that shit now, right? We were so pleasantly surprised. I mean so much so that when he looked at Mary's piece, appropo of nothing, he said, "I like that one." And then we got up close and realized it was Mary's! Of course when I realized this, I told anyone who would listen, Yeah, we know the artist. Yeah, she's a local. A good friend of my husband's. Uh huh. So fucking cool! 

Abstract Art at LACMA in one of those PAN photos which I'm not sure is a good or a bad iPhone feature

So if you go to LACMA, and if you're smart you will, go check that out. And while you're on that floor, check out the movie(s) entitled Touch Parade in the room behind Mary's. There's a piece there featuring this guy wearing a white sneaker rolling around a pickle until he crushes it with his foot. I know that might not sound entertaining but for some reason it's EXTREMELY entertaining.

But really, the big thing is to make sure you see Larry Sultan's show.

Collaboration with Mike Mandel - billboards they had put all around LA

Incredible re-imagining of Larry Sultan's upbringing by extracting stills from home movies

Off Sepulveda, 2001 (creepy porn moment - but amazing shot)

LACMA IS OXYGEN.

LACMA is at 5905 Wilshire Boulevard, LA, CA 90036. Hours are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 11-5. Friday 11-8. Saturday and Sunday 11-7. Daily "children" under 17 can go for free, as long as they're accompanied by at least one adult (reminds me how I used to get into Danceteria in NYC). After 3p on Mondays and Fridays, LACMA is free to LA residents, but bring proof of residency like your license. Also the 2nd Tuesday of each month LACMA is free to all. YAY! If you're going on a weekday, parking on Wilshire is not allowed after 4pm. So park on 6th for metered parking and walk through the back. It's nice to enter that way anyway. You get to walk by the Tar Pits that always look lame to me but if you have a kid with you, they might think that's cool.

ENJOY!

Why is a guy crushing a pickle with a white sneaker so freakin hypnotic?

The Rolling Stones at The Taschen Gallery -- Get What You Need

I had SOOOOOO much fun yesterday. Oh my God. It was one of those freedom days. One of those alive days. And unexpected. Completely unplanned. Which is always the best.

Sexy hot and unfair, Photo by Ethan Russell, 1972. The Official name of this photograph is "Lips."

I had to go to the WGA and because of that, I ended up seeing my friend, Adco, at Joan's on 3rd for an impromptu friend date. I have to do a real post for Joan's on 3rd but I will say this, as hoighty toighty as it is, it's also incredibly relaxed and it has a DAMN good cup of coffee (and super good crispy bacon. I didn't even know they served breakfast and you  know  how into breakfast I am these days). I also want to say seeing Adam reminds me of all that is good: cars, music, art, New York, our mutual friend, Dina and The Rolling Stones.

So it made good sense that on my way home I stopped by the Taschen Gallery to see The Stones show. Earlier in the morning I drove by and remembered Ad had attended the opening night for the exhibit. I remembered the pictures and it looked like fun but forgot. And then boom, I saw this...

...on the corner of Beverly and Crescent Heights. 

When I was growing up I was obsessed with/scared by/attracted to The Rolling Stones. But it was in NYC with my Tall Friend Jen that I became completely, irrationally obsessed. To date, Mick is the only rock star I've ever had a sex dream about and I gotta admit the truth, I'm pretty proud of that.

My boyfriend, Mick Jagger. Photo by Jean-Marie Perier, Paris, 1966

You probably know about Taschen because of their famous Dian Hanson books.

You've seen them for years. They're known as the "sexy books." And there's a great article I recently read about Dian Hanson in Believer Mag. Check it out.

But this exhibit is Taschen's first here in LA. They opened mid-December and way to open! With The Stones! Nice! Because it's been such a success, they've extended the photographic exhibit - which has close to 100 photos throughout the years - to February 15th. And you know, you think Taschen, you think books. So of course, there's a huge and luscious Stones book with the pics from the exhibit on sale for $150. And because it's Taschen, there's also a mega 5k book with all The Stones signatures...

Yari from Taschen displaying their Sumo Rolling Stones Book with The Fella's Signatures

I'm thrilled a piece of history, culture, England, New York -- home -- is in LA. The exhibit is curated by Reuel Golden and the photographers are iconic. You'll see the works of masters such as David Bailey, Anton Corbijn, Gered Mankowitz, Terry Richardson, Dominique Tarle, and Albert Watson here. AND it's all for sale. 

The Taschen Gallery

Knowing they've extended it, I'm sure to go back. And listen, they have The Stones playing continuously while you're there. What's not to like?

Speaking of, driving home, I put on the radio and "Miss You" came on. A sunny day, in LA. Seeing one of my best friends, getting an eyefull of Mick, Keith, Brian, Charlie, Ronnie, Bill. Then driving home on the freeway to "Miss You"? 

Brian Jones by Bent Rej taken in 1965 in London at Brian's home.

You gotta love LA.

Joan's on 3rd is at 8530 West 3rd. There's another location at 12059 Ventura Boulevard in Studio city. Street Parking available. Always check your meter. It gets vicious around here.

The Taschen Gallery is at 8070 Beverly Boulevard. LA, CA 90048. 323.852.9098. Hours of Operation is Tuesday thru Saturday 11-6PM and Sunday 12 to 5PM. And by Appointment. PS: Don't be afraid. It's free!

ENJOY!

This Weekend in Los Angeles

Amongst the two billion things you could do in LA this weekend...

The Spring Edition of The Beverly Hills artSHOW is happening this Saturday and Sunday from 10am-6pm.

Located at The Beverly Hills Gardens Park, this is a really fun way to spend a day.

FREE and happening outside, I'm already inclined. It features 250 artists - and all sorts of art: mixed media, painting, sculpture, photography....

AND there'll be a bunch of food trucks AND a beer garden. Check here for the deets on all THAT sordid goodness.

I think always, in LA, the most stressful thing is parking but in BH it's usually a lot more mellow. 

Just park in one of the BH parking structures and walk on over.

Now before I knew which food trucks would be there, I checked to see if my all-time favorite food truck, the Kogi truck, was going to plant itself at this shindig in BH. That's when I found out it would be in Venice this Saturday.

Photo courtesy of Eric Shin

Photo courtesy of Eric Shin

Parked here from 12 to 2:30, if you've never tried Kogi, I strongly recommend you get on that immediately.

But I digress.

In my search for Kogi I found out about the The Venice Art Walk & Auctions. This is a great event which happens to raise money for a wonderful cause, the Venice Family Clinic. There are bike tours, gallery shows, special exhibitions, live entertainment... FOOD TRUCKS...

If you're interested in the Venice Art Walk & Auctions, I urge you to check the site ahead of time. General Admission, which starts at 1pm, is FREE but limited to registered bidders and tour participants. Now if you want to and can afford a more hassle-free experience - and it goes to charity - for $150 you can purchase what they call a Venture Pass. With that you get early admission, entry into their silent auction at noon, $50.00 off $500.00 plus art purchases and their art walk collectible t-shirt. For $50 (more my speed) you can get a ticket for the art walk (which covers about 20 sites) and the auction.

I know. It all sounds a little complicate-y but it's about art and charity and Kogi. What could go wrong?

Parking. That I can't attest to. I don't like parking in Venice and got a parking ticket last night in the Valley so the whole parking thing has me in a real deal bad mood this a.m. That being said, just do some investigation ahead of time and check here for parking details from the event organizers themselves. Maybe it won't be bad at all and the Kogi truck will be in the vicinity. So either go for art and charity or go for Korean BBQ but whatever you do, get outside! It's going to be a great weekend.

Enjoy!

Please LA, Please More of This!

Yesterday was a perfect example of why it's important to leave the house. Trust me when I say, at times such a task is impossible. Only an act of superhuman courage, strength and a wobbly belief in the tenet 'fresh air will do me good," lead me to such feats. And what a feat yesterday was.

Paris Photo at Paramount April 27, 2013

Paris Photo is an art fair that was created in the 90's. It happens in both Paris and LA. Here, taking place for one short weekend at the Paramount Lot in Hollywood, it's generally a place for art collectors to buy art, art fans to drool over amazing images, and regular people like me to stare at EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING. Frankly I never heard of Paris Photo until my friend Nicole emailed me asking if I'd like to go. I have a few friends - and a husband - who like art as much as I do. Nicole is definitely one of them. As is Max, a great photographer in her own right, who rounded out our little trio. The truth is, thank God for all these people. Because while I may say I love art, I don't see it nearly as much as I'd like and a friend's call to extricate me from my cave is the best chance I get to see it.

Me, Nicole & Maxalina at Paris Photo, Parmount Lot

I'd like to go in the other room right now and grab my keys and get my Paris Photo Book out of the car but my husband is allowing a friend to shoot a scene from a movie in our living room today and I don't want to walk into a shot. Frankly, the whole thing is unnerving. I don't think they're really shooting yet, I think they're just rehearsing. But this guy keeps shouting, "Let's throw her off the building!" and it's making my heart race and I don't think it's helping my dog's gas problem too much. Back to art:

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Car No. 4, Andy 

Thank God for Andy. This is literally the first piece of art I saw at the fair. I walked into Stage 32 on the Paramount Lot and there it was. I almost died, texted my friend Adco immediately, and then carried on and started walking through the space. As we walked by all these photographs I had no idea how truly fascinating photography has become. Photographs move now. I saw a piece by Leenam Lee. The movie I shot isn't good enough to post. It was the very moving (in many ways) "Mountain Villa and Lofty Recluse." Nevertheless, just so you can get the idea, here's what I found by him on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKtnPOB0VoY

One other thing that stopped me (and many others) in our tracks were the pieces from the Chicago Gallery Catherine Edelman. This gallery showcased more hypnotic mixed media of HD Video, painting and photography - this time by Gregory Scott. They also had these wild smoking girls:

This is the only photo that came out halfway decent. But this Frieke chick is hilarious and I loved these!

But I think aside from the ridiculously cool photography that was EVERYWHERE

By Fred Herzog (a big hit with my little trio, entitled "Foot of Main." This print runs for 8gs)

These are photos not paintings. Yay!

black & white silver gelatin prints

This little chick had beads for hair. Yep, those are BEADS. Loved Loved Loved.

There were also cool people everywhere. I'm talking about the people who go to the party I don't even know I'm not invited to. They were almost as stimulating as the photographs: models who like art, actors who like models, and artists who wear funny clothes. Their toddlers are more fashion-forward than I ever was or ever will be.

Dayglo Shoes are in (apparently)

We obsessed over this couple. I tried to sneak a shot pretending I was interested in whatever was behind them. I wasn't.

This is a facade on the lot. Inside is a gallery.

It was all very exciting. Photography was being bought, people were wearing GOOD clothes and if they weren't good, at least they were interesting looking, and loads of industry peeps were chatting up a storm. I had NO idea who most of them were of course, but I spotted Tyra Banks, Rob Reiner, and I might have walked by Michael Pitt. I'm sure he wondered if I was Tina Fey. In fact, I'm positive. As I write this about him, he is most likely writing about me. I mean, right?

Sadly by the time this is published, there may be 3 hours left to see it. I'm so sorry! Paris Photo is at 5555 Melrose Ave., LA, CA 90038. It costs 28 bucks to get in and there is parking on Gower at the parking structure but it costs $12.00. Street parking is available - because seriously, who needs to spend 12 bucks to park their car?

And do know that with this blog, I plan on giving you far more notice about what to do in town. In the meanwhile, if you hear of an event I should attend, let me know. Let's paint this town red! Wow, when I first wrote that I wrote, "Let's pain this town red." I feel typos are so insightful.