Urban Art Destination

If you need a fix of street art but don't want to navigate LA's mean streets, Lab Art is the place to go.

Brother and sister Iskander Lemseffer and Rachel Joelson opened the gallery dedicated to innovative urban art about seven months ago.




Compelling work by about thirty artists from SoCal and New York is currently on display.
Those who follow the scene will recognize some of the notorious artists represented - Alec Monopoly, Cyrcle, Destroy All Design, Kai Aspire, Army of One/JC2, Sean D'Anconia and skateboarding legend Chad Muska.

It's possibly the most comprehensive collection of urban art in a single location.After 23 years working in the fashion industry, Lemseffer was looking for something new to satisfy his creative energy. His sister took him down the road of street art and the two joined forces to open the gallery in a 6,500 sq. ft. former car repair shop on La Brea Avenue. It seems fitting the former pit stop for cars is now a vibrant space for street art.

Lab Art 217 S. La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles.

323-933-1021 http://www.labartgallery.com/

Artist Judy Chicago "Still Here!"

Artist Judy Chicago is a feminist first and foremost. Women's history, her story, have informed Chicago's work for fifty years.
I caught up with her as she was installing an exhibit at the Palm Springs Fine Art Fair. She will be receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award at the event for her remarkable contributions to the world of art in the past half century.

"Rather Rage Than Tears" from 2009.

Modernism Mojo

All things modern will be celebrated during Palm Springs Modernism Week beginning Thursday, Feb. 16.

Many events are already sold out.

The week long schedule includes double-decker architecture bus tours, vintage fashion events, tours of historic Sunnylands-the Annenberg Estate, a modern garden tour, exclusive home tours, mad mod cocktail parties, lectures, a Modernism film festival, and much more.

Check out the schedule at http://www.modernismweek.com/.

One of the free events, and there are some, is Friday's M Modern Gallery Opening Reception celebrating three mid-century inspired exhibits including SHAG Palm Springs. There will be a 40' wall dedicated to Palm Springs specific and other rare prints by Josh Agle (aka SHAG).

The SHAG scene is happening 8pm to 11pm, Friday.

M Modern Gallery is at 2500 N. Palm Canyon Drive.

Also Friday, another free event is happening at Renegade Art Gallery. It's billed as an evening of Art, Music and Drink. The gallery is a great place to find work of emerging artists.Over 15 new artists from around the country will be present to talk about their work. One of my favorites if Nate Geare who is now doing landscapes (above). His portraits and self portraits from last year were beautiful.

The concept of the Renegade Gallery is to bring exciting, fresh, and reasonably priced art to the desert. It's a promise they deliver for the most part.If you're in the market, you might be able to steal an amazing work.

One artist hoping to capitivate you is Peter Mikulak. His installation piece is broken down into works he'll sell separately.

Vintage Plus

Situated in a small alcove on Highway 111 in Palm Desert is a store with a big idea that goes beyond retail merchandising. The Fine Art of Design sells vintage clothing, shoes, books, magazines, and also hosts events, film screenings, and whatever else might pop into the owner's head.

Nicholas Delgado hadn't planned on opening a vintage store. He went to the Parsons School of Design leaning toward art history and interior design. Friends, serendipity and other twists and turns of fate landed him in a storefront next to Casuelas Cafe.
The shop is in a great space, but it's small.
Nicholas is especially interested in vintage clothing and accessories from the Victorian Era to the 70's. Pieces from the 80's and 90's are considered.
One room is set aside for books and other collectibles. There are early editions, rare and obscure books, magazines, and albums. If you don't find what you want, he will try to find it for you.

Since opening last July, the store has generated a little buzz about being a destination for events as well as vintage shopping. Last summer, Nicholas co-hosted a mini-Rainer Werner Fassbinder film festival at the shop. He has no qualms about re-arranging everything to make room for a film screening or party, which is exactly what he was doing when I was there. Preps were underway for a Valentine's Day Party.
Meet Nicholas and friends tomorrow night at the party. Dani and the Scarlet Fevers are performing, plus acoustics by Kenneth C. Bozanich and Jessalea Fleischman. It's at 8pm. There will be champagne bar, appetizers and desserts.
Tickets are ten bucks in advance; $15 at the door. The Fine Art of Design, 73717 Highway 111, Palm Desert. http://www.thefineartofdesign.com/

16 Arrests & Counting

Shepard Fairey admits he was never a good student. He was too into mischief, punk rock and skateboarding to tow the line. Becoming a street artist with guerilla strategies was a natural fit.

Early on he learned about the power of public space, the power of propaganda and the power of counter propaganda.

Life is good for Shepard these days, if you don't count the legal battles, 16 arrests, and accusations he's a sell out. He doesn't shrink from the accusers. He says he's okay with "working for Sprite during the day and liberating billboards at night." He calls it an inside outside strategy - infiltrating the system, working it, so you can "sieze the night."

Since his Obama Hope street poster went viral, his days as an obscure artist are long gone, but his punk sensabilities are still front and center. Not everyone gets his work. Someone took him aside to point out he misspelled military and schools on his "Militerry" poster.

His latest and largest mural is six stories high.

Influences: John Carpenter's movie, "They Live" (image on the left above); artists Barbara Kruger (middle image) and Robbie Conal (image on right).

Lessons Learned: Stop trying for perfection or you'll never do it. If you're mediocre but motivated, you can still make an impact.

Shepard's Bottom Line:
Speak out; be brave. Make everyone mad and have fun doing it.

Shepard Fairey at Idyllwild Arts Academy Today

Shepard Fairey, the artist who created the iconic Obama "Hope" poster, will be at the Idyllwild Arts Academy today.

Fairey is one of several noted alumni artists included in the Visual Art Alumni Show opening tonight at the Academy's Parks Exhibition Center.

Other alumni featured in the show include Greg Jensen who documented the fall and aftermath at Ground Zero, Liang Wang, principal oboist of the New York Philharmonic, Nate Lowman, Paul Waddell, Arianna Sikorski, Jiwon Yoon, Laurel Sparks, and Richelle Gribble.

Fairey will give a presentation at 3:30 p.m. today in the Idyllwild Arts Foundation Theatre on campus. The event is open to the public.

“Past to Present: the Idyllwild Arts Alumni Show” runs through March 3.

A Swank Art & Garden Center

On San Luis Rey off El Paseo in Palm Desert is Desert Art Collection and Sculpture Garden, a gem of a place for art and garden lovers. If you've never been there you might be surprised to hear they've been around since 1996. They're celebrating their 15th anniversary this year.

The structure was built in the early 50's, when architect Herbert W. Burns designed the mid-century modern building. It was originally an apartment/hotel called the Sun & Shadow owned by the Talbot family. Newspapers at the time called the hotel "swank."

It's still swank, a very cool and peaceful place to visit. A couple years ago the Center added the Lotus Garden Center on the site so it's a destination for not only fine art and sculptures, but home and garden items. Artists represented in the galleries include Dan Rider, Virgil Villers, Aida Schneider, and Michael Battaglia. Inside the Lotus Garden Center, shoppers can find beautiful and unique gifts and home accessories. Shoppers can spend a fortune or as little as $3 for vintage matches.

The Evolution of Artist Snake Jagger

Palm Springs Artist Snake Jagger is busy creating new work for an exhibit opening March 17 at IMAGES by Gideon at the Backstreet Art District in Palm Springs.

All of the new work will be abstracts and assemblage sculptures.

"I felt the need to try something different to give me a new shot of inspiration, and to challenge my mind," says Snake. "I've been painting the same thing somewhat for 30 some years now and I was getting a little burned out. Painting abstracts has been very freeing in a way. It's exciting and new to me and I am enjoying the ride."

Guitarists Dick & Jimmy Dale

Meeting Guitarist Dick Dale and his son Jimmy was one of my most memorable afternoons last year. Jimmy is following in his dad's footsteps, and possibly a step ahead. If that's possible. He's also an accomplished drummer, which is his preferred instrument and what he'll be playing in their upcoming tour together.

They have two gigs coming up in Southern California: March 1 - The Canyon Club in Agoura Hills and March 2 - The Brixton in Redondo Beach.

From there, they head to Phoenix, Texas, Louisana and Florida.

Photographer Michael Childers at Work

Photographer Michael Childers at the Palm Springs Riviera Resort shooting a modern-themed fashion spread for Palm Springs Life Magazine. Awesome, eye popping colors!

Flying Remote Control Airplanes at Rancho Palos Verdes

A great place to fly (or just watch) remote control airplanes is in Rancho Palos Verdes.
While I was there, a handful of enthusiasts gathered to fly their homemade machines.

Fabulous Sunnylands

I must have driven by the pink walls of the Walter and Leonore Annenberg Estate in Rancho Mirage a gazillion times through the years, always trying to see beyond the walls to get a glimpse of the estate where the Annenbergs lived part time and where world leaders mingled, played golf and fished the man made lakes.

History buffs and the just plain curious will soon be able to visit the historic site. The estate is opening to the public March 1. Tickets for tours of the estate and golf course are $35 and go on sale online beginning February 15.

If the tour price is too steep for your budget, you can visit the Sunnylands Center and Gardens free of charge. The views when you walk into the Center will take your breathe away. Inside the Center are exhibits, sculptures, a multi-media educational room, a screening room, cafe, and gift shop.

The Gardens are gorgeous. Nine acres to stroll, sit, think, converse and enjoy. For the cost - free! - truly a must visit.

More info at www.sunnylands.org.

Harry Shearer on Impersonations