I concede! I don’t really have the time or resources to commit to this blog to do the local arts justice. The fact of the matter is that there is so much good stuff that is going on in Southern California that it would take a big net to collect it all up; not that that is a factor in why this site lays dormant for weeks. Here is the deal. I am not a teenage girl. I have a day job that literally sucks the life and vitality out of my being ¹ (footnote: melodrama) and I don’t keep up an adventurous routine of urban exploration that can unearth the local gems. I WANT to but it just isn’t possible right now. Between juggling fatherhood and my responsibilities there remains a couple one liners(i got jokes)…some basic half starts, heaps of the conceptual, maybe some solid ideas that get filed. What is possible is to maintain the process. Build in this direction. Continue the conversation no matter how hushed of starved or disinterested it becomes. Along the route divergent trails will lead to moments of grand enlightenment and wonderful connections. Or not. The point is that to continue this tiny sliver is to hold onto a dream. So this site matters… to me.

So now to the real topic. I have proof that Michael Jackson is still alive. He is in hiding.

The debt, the drugs, the kids, the cameras...

You might be able to find him at:

Beerotica 2 - The Hive - Group Show

Show Runs: July 4th-25th

Opening: Saturday, July 4th, 8pm-12:30am

Art Walk Show: Thursday, July 9th

Closing Show: July 25th, 8pm

at The Hive Gallery

$8 Door/$5 Bee Costume on Opening

Curated by Nathan Cartwright

729 S. Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA

Hive Gallery on the cut

Flight of the Reindeer

“Nine Lives: Visionary Artists from L.A. is the fifth in the Hammer’s biannual invitational exhibition series highlighting work created in greater Los Angeles. Nine Lives features over 125 works, much of it new, by nine artists spanning four generations —Lisa Anne Auerbach, Julie Becker, Llyn Foulkes, Charles Irvin, Hirsch Perlman, Victoria Reynolds, Kaari Upson, Jeffrey Vallance, and Charlie White. The works include video, paintings, drawings, photography, textiles, and two new sculptural installations. As all of the artists live and work in L.A., Nine Lives embodies many of the psychic complexities and paradoxes of the city – it is at once beautiful and frightening, refined and unruly. The reinvention of oneself is central to several of these artists’ practices. These mesmerizing artists create characters and tell stories of fantasy and science fiction, building alternate worlds grounded on their obsessions. Popular culture and mythology are common themes, as are alternative lifestyles, and subcultures. The luxury of space and privacy that Los Angeles affords allows them the freedom to tinker, research, and explore their obsessions which often parallel Hollywood’s dream factory. ”

Goto: 10899 Wilshire Blvd., L.A

If: before May30

Then: Pay 5 to 7 dollars or free on Thursday

Send: 310-443.7000

end: www.hammer.ucla.edu

On March 13, join Organic Yogart for  “Mass-a-Cure”, an evening that will surely stir your soul.

As for the light switch… be physically illuminated by the fire dance of  Sirena Serpentina, enlightened by the Dharma Shakti, inspired by the artwork of , Ranmalee Perera and moved by the beats of dj sonic dread.

There will be a wine bar, henna, fuzzy vibes and good times. Then stretch out with Lonne Lioness for a late nite session of meditative yoga set to a woven tapestry of sitar and drums.

If that’s not enough to light the pathways to a clear and expanded consciousness, keep in mind that its all for a very worthwhile cause. Familiarize yourself with the mission of St. Baldricks Foundation.

I know what your thinking… but rather than engage in a discussion about the credibility of the graffiti artist, why not just dive in at least waist deep as Culver City’s Honor Fraser Gallery brings vandalism to the next level.   Saturday night visit their group show “I Can’t Feel My Face”. Then on Sunday at Royal/T, also in Culver City, see more Kaws (Brian Donnely).  Kaws has been hitting billboard and bus stop advertisements for years, hawking his wares and brand building - standard fare these days.  Recently Kanye West had him “vandalize” his “808 and heartbreak” album cover (side note: autotuner be gone please).

Kaws Draws

I come from a tradition of thought that would critique the inclusion of street expression onto a corporate identity (ultimately the end game?) as a snake feeding on its own tail and the billboard below is no doubt a mounted invitation.

To do list: 1. obtain ladder. 2. Subvert the Kanye/Kaws ad. 3. email picture to artcompactor.com. 4. grab tail and prepare to feast

New York advertisement

For those of you that follow the daily posts of the site, you may have noticed a lull in activity lately. Recently the Artcompactor has been forced to make some very difficult decisions and as a result I had to lay myself off. Its nothing personal, in fact it is entirely based upon the economics of this institution. In the best interest of the company, I was forced to look at the areas that are the biggest drain on this institution and it turned out it was me.The decision was not made without careful consideration. Not only have I been with Artcompactor since the beginning, but I am the sole contributor. The loss will be felt across all departments and, nondisclosure agreements aside, there is a wealth of information and ideas that will never be reconciled or brought to light as a result of the recent action.

In light of the recent lay-offs, artcompactor has devised a strategy to get the company back into the black by short selling stock, defaulting on a number of loans, embarking upon an aggressive lending scheme targeting returning war verterans whom find themselves in debt and upside down on their mortgage, submitting a request for a bailout, filing taxes twice… possibly a third time with a deceased persons social security number (this requires a small upfront investment) and creating a brand new position for an intern (which I intend to apply for myself - crossing my fingers).

Construction on hold

Check back often for updates on the company’s outlook. Until then… content is not a durable good and is subject to whimsical variation at this phase of obscurity. Also if you feel so inclined, register your email with us. Its simple, spam free and possesses all the power of potential.

Look forward to the upcoming “GIS of the urban landscape - the mapping of urban expression in Greater Los Angeles”

I went on a retreat with some friends when I was younger… a couple girls, a few guys just spending some time together for a little celebration of life.  We had rented a cabin with a spectacular view of a lake. We consumed beer (some more than others), things became sloppy, some paired up and disappeared to engage in illicit sexual activity, others argued on the deck just at the edge of darkness. Long story short, the trip ended up a fiasco because some man with a chip on his shoulder hacked most of us up with axes and butcher knives. As I recall, one of the guys arguing was skewered with an archer’s arrow through his eye socket. I lost my favorite swimming trunks on that trip.

The reason I dredge this memory for you is so that this Friday the 13th you do something worthwhile that ignites the soul…  rather than spend it being chased  in your underwear through a thicket only to escape, find a policeman who obviously doesn’t believe your story, handcuffs you (a serious liability) so he can go to check everything out and ends up impaled with a boat oar.

Love YogArt: A Night of Making Art

FreeSpirit Yoga, 3910 Atlantic Ave, long Beach, CA 90807
(562) 833-8563
Friday the 13th, 2009 Anno Domini
Organic YogArt’s premier event
8:00pm - 9:00pm
Art Preview & Organic Bar
Featured Artist: Jude Vela Diallo (Public Sketch)
9:00pm - 12:00am
LOVE YOGART…Live Art, Photo Booth, DJ, Henna, Fire Dancing and more
12:00am Valentine’s Day
YOGA LIVE
A midnight yoga class led by Lonne Lioness with DVine 1 on Sitar and DVine Child on Drums
$10 Cover (Buy a piece of art & get $10 off)
*A portion of proceeds will go to IDF SCID Initiative
Sponsored by Steaz Energy, Trader Joe’s and FreeSpirit Yoga
www.OrganicYogArt.com, www.myspace.com/nycpublicsketch and www.thedvine.com
“Bring a date or come single ready to mingle plus get your jingle on. Off the Wall Art Sales all night!”

Show starts Feb. 7

Crewest Gallery

Store Hours:
Tues-Thur: noon-7pm;
Fri-Sat: Noon-8pm;
Sun: Noon-6pm,
By appointment, closed Mondays!

Address:
110 Winston St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 627-8272 phone
(213) 559-0525 fax

Pukac Safari - Bailey Gallery - Solo Show

Runs: Feb 12th - March 29 2009

Opening Reception: Thursday February 12th

6-10pm

Bailey Gallery

564 Main Street, Los Angeles California

Coincides with the Downtown Art Walk

New Works are underway! Come celebrate Pukac’s Birthday at his Solo Show at Bailey Gallery!

Group Show opens Feb 7

These days its tough to break away from all the drama, unless you happen to be a bee, in which case you can visit the Hive and receive a discount at the door, buzz around the creative process and its products, gather some pollen and go make some honey. If you happen to be human and you dress up like a bee you can get the discount too. Regular homo sapien? Prepare to fork out the cash (not really) knowing its worthwhile and nourishing.

February Show - The Hive - Group Show

Show Runs: February 7-28th

Opening: Saturday, February 7th 8pm

Closing Show: February 28th 8pm

at The Hive Gallery

$8 Door/$5 Bee Costume

Curated by Nathan Cartwright

729 S. Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA