Art Galleries

Main Gallery Exhibitions

Edward Ruscha, Made in California, 1971, 20 x 28 in. (50.8 x 71.12 cm), lithograph
California Art: Selections from the Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation
January 30 - March 11
Reception: February 4, 3-5pm

Since the 1960s, California has evolved as a center for contemporary art that rivals New York in its accomplishments and innovation. This exhibition highlights the distinct idiosyncratic styles of California artists inspired by their daily lives and surroundings. The local terrain, vibrant sun, beautiful sunsets, blue skies, surfboards, and fast, flashy cars gave wave to new Art movements such as Light and Space and Finish Fetish. Frederick R. Weisman began collecting art during this time and strongly believed in collecting artists in his own community, as well as his interest in international art. In doing so, he became a supporter of California's first original style in contemporary art.

The art on view represents a number of different approaches to express the influence of the California environment and the new wave of artists. Artists such as Ron Davis, John McCracken, and Vasa used resins and acrylics to create slick surfaces, much like surfboards. While Craig Kauffman used vacuform acrylics to create his work, more recently, Gisela Colon used molded acrylic to create her glowing amoeba forms, and Casper Brindle used acrylic sheets to create his glowing wall-mounted boxes. Several of the Los Angeles artists participated in a fundraising project for the Venice Family Clinic by creating their art directly onto the surface of surfboards, as shown here by Ed and Andy Moses.

The Light and Space artists such as Mary Corse created — minimal and experiential artworks unique to California that reflect the broad glow of our environment using micro glass beads in her paint. Others persuade by the simplicity of form, such as Peter Lodato, Scott Heywood, and Charles Christopher Hill. Lita Albuquerque takes her queues from the earth and spirituality while Ed Ruscha, Joe Goode, Andy Moses, and Ruth Pastine reflect the atmosphere, sunsets, and blue skies. Joel Morrison shows social consciousness through recycled materials bundled with industrial tape and Tony Berlant with his collages made from discarded tin. Northern California artist Bruce Conner's assemblages would shock, disturb, and mirror the dystopian post-war America of the Beat generation.

Additional artists featured in the exhibit include Charles Arnoldi, John Baldessari, Billy Al Bengston, Beau Bradford, Laddie John Dill, Doug Edge, Ned Evans, Sam Francis, Jack Goldstein, Channing Hansen, Tim Hawkinson, David Hockney, Gary Lang, Manfred Müller, Evan Nesbit, Eric Orr, Kaz Oshiro, RETNA, Kamol Tassananchalee, Robert Therrien, and Tom Wudl.

This exhibition was made possible with the generous support of Helene and Bob Schacter.

Curated by Billie Milam Weisman

Lunch Time Talk: March 9th, 11am-1pm

Kyiv to LA presents a screening of recent works by Ukrainian filmmakers Roman Khimei and Yarema Malashchuk, followed by a lunchtime Q+A with the artists and the curator of the project, Asha Bukojemsky. The artists will discuss how their creative practice has been affected by the war in Ukraine, and the unique projects they have produced to counter its effects.

About the Artists:

Collaborating at the edge of visual art and cinema since 2013, Kyiv-based artists and filmmakers Roman Khimei and Yarema Malashchuk graduated as cinematographers from the Institute of Screen Arts in Kyiv, Ukraine. They were awarded the main award of the PinchukArtCentre Prize (2020), VISIO Young Talent Acquisition Prize (2021), as well as the Grand Prix at the Young Ukrainian Artists Award (MUHi 2019). Their debut documentary feature “New Jerusalem” premiered at Docudays UA International Film Festival 2020. The film received the Special Mention Award at Kharkiv MeetDocs and the duo also participated at the Future Generation Art Prize 2021. Their video works are in collections of Frac Bretagne, Fondazione In Between Art Film, and Seven Gravity Collection. Yarema and Roman are members of the Prykarpattian Theater art collective.

About the Project:

Kyiv to LA brings six Ukrainian artists and art historians working across film, video and alternative modes of research to participate in a Los Angeles-based residency, culminating in a public program of talks, screenings and dinners. Spearheaded and organized by Marathon Screenings independent curator Asha Bukojemsky, the project marks a unique and timely collaboration with several LA-based organizations, including 18th Street Arts Center; Institute of Contemporary Arts, Los Angeles; GRI Scholars Program; Villa Aurora Thomas Mann House; and Art at the Rendon.

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