Beautiful things happening at the tarpits.

I've been having stronger than usual feelings lately that I want to be enveloped by beautiful art and beautiful sounds and beautiful people. How lucky for me that Tarfest is happening tomorrow at the La Brea Tarpits and all of the above will be in plentiful supply. And for free. One can't beat beautiful things for no money at all.

I'm excited for:

Sounds by Saint Motel and Everest

Live art curated by the Merry Karnowky Gallery and featuring Deedee Cheriel, Edward Walton Wilcox, and Vox Humana artists Augustine Kofie and Shark Toof.

Oh my goodness, oh my goodness, some of my favorites.

Coveting: Death and the Maiden

Perhaps it is not every girl's desire to hang a 34" portrait of a skeleton in full embrace with a svelte blonde above her desk. But something's got to fill the space left by the removal of what was once a 5' tall upside-down Jesus which proudly and with great Jesus-like stoicism graced my now barren wall panel for nearly 4 years. And what better to replace one painted icon which made people incredibly uncomfortable than with another--equally awkward, if not sacrilegious--piece of art.

I want this print by Edward Walton Wilcox. I want it now. I want it framed and wrapped in a black bow that offers just a hint of the gothic nature of the subject inside. I want to enter my studio and fall asleep each night with the image of undying--or already dead as the case may be--love reminding me of life and living.

Death and The Maiden
giclée on canvas
edition quantity: 25
28” x 34”

Available at the Merry Karnowsky Gallery.

My red dot at Mercedes Helnwein.

Last night was the opening reception for Mercedes Helnwein's new show, Temptation to be Good, at the Merry Karnowsky Gallery (yes, I know this information would have been more helpful to you yesterday as opposed to quarter to eight on the day after--sorry).

I was a fan of this for a few reasons.

* More galleries should be as close to my home as the Merry Karnowsky Gallery is. To heck with Culver City. Let's build an art scene [around me] in Koreatown and Mid-City!

* Mercedes Helnwein is a favorite local artist of mine. Her drawings are incredible. And her new, larger format work is equally exciting, though a departure in ways of style as well as scope.

* My darling friend Elizabeth Ai was hosting (alongside a mysterious Beck who my friend and I never did spot). You may recall a while back I shared that Mercedes was doing some collaborative work with the Ai sisters for their awesome clothing line, Ai for Ai.

* I am a compulsive shopper and it's best that at least I have something worthwhile to toss my hard-earned money away for.

* Damien Hirst bought out Helnwein's last show in London. And it it's good enough for Hirst, it's better for me.

This was last night's guilty pleasure that's soon to be mine...

And this is my red dot. I just love when I can claim a red dot to be mine (says the art collector wannabe)...

I might make some snarky quip about reading it and weeping. But then again, it's my pocketbook I've hit and I feel if anyone should be weeping it might actually be me and not you.

Catch the show while it's still up.

MERCEDES HELNWEIN: TEMPTATION TO BE GOOD
November 13 - December 11, 2010

Merry Karnowsky Gallery
170 S. La Brea Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036

And while you're at it, read my March 2010 interview with Mercedes Helnwein here.

Camille Rose Garcia Interprets Alice. [art in LA]

Want to turn an old children’s book into a nationwide sensation? Apparently all one needs to do is ask Tim Burton to step in. The 3-D theatrical release of Alice in Wonderland--out now--has created such a frenzy that you’d suspect we’d all gone down the rabbit hole ourselves and lost our bloody minds. From Alice inspired marketing campaigns to games and toys, it’s all of a sudden all about Alice.

Out of all the recent Alice hype, one interpretation of the iconic story (originally created by Lewis Carroll in 1865) has emerged as a clear and beautiful winner. Camille Rose Garcia, the LA based artist known for her work in the lowbrow art scene, was asked in 2009 to illustrate a new Alice in Wonderland book by Harper Collins. The result is a gorgeous, watercolor masterpiece.

Watch a behind the scenes of Garcia’s creation.

Garcia's exhibit of her work will be on display at the Merry Karnowsky Gallery in LA starting tomorrow. Don't miss a look at this new Alice.

March 6 - March 27, 2010
Opening Reception: Saturday, March 6, 8-11pm

Merry Karnowsky Gallery
170 S. La Brea Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is available now on Amazon.com.