Parents. Got to Love Them

So not quite photographic, but amazing nonetheless.

This is a series of short videos by Lernert Engelberts & Sander Plug featuring artists discussing their work and attempting to "explain" their art to their parents. I think we can all sympathize on some level. You can check out a compilation of selections from each of the nine artists that participated here and watch the full episode of Arno Coenen and his father here.

And if you're brave enough (and happen to speak Dutch), you can see all the episodes here.



And let us not forget about Shannon Ebner's book release at the Mandrake this coming Wednesday.

The Shan Shan

I know, I know. It's been way too fucking long since the last post. And I'm sure everyone has been waiting ever so patiently.

But I just can't keep this event to myself. Shannon Ebner, an amazing artist/photographer/professor/human being, recently had her book THE SUN AS ERROR published with the support of LACMA. Her explanation of the book would do much more justice than anything I can say about it, so I'll leave it to her. And on September 2nd there is going to be a book release at the Mandrake which, according to my inside source, is already shaping up to be quite the party. It's going from about 7:00 to 10:00, but wouldn't be surprised if it went well over.

So brace yourself for an evening of schmoozing with Los Angeles' elite artistic community and the most fashionable hipsters alike.

Happy Birthday to Me!

And by me, I mean blog.

No joke.

It's been one year since we attempted to think. Let's keep up hard work and kill some more brain cells this years.

Round Deux

Given the success of the last one, Long Beach City College is holding its second Photo Fest.

Starting tomorrow and going til the 4th they're going to hold a series of lectures, workshops, and portfolio reviews on a wide range of topics. If you want in on any of them you should sign up on the school site (though some are already filled, there are still plenty with availability).

And most importantly, tomorrow at 1:00 there will be a lecture on toy cameras. So if you're in the area, definitely be sure to check it out. And then report back to me since I won't be able to make it.

Los Angeles, I'm Yours

Things are looking good for photography here in Los Angeles. Super stoked about our meet-up on the 4th which is promising a solid turn out. And now come to find out the April is the Month of Photography in the Non-City.

MOPLA (Month of Photography - Los Angeles) is going to be organizing a month of events surrounding the photographic community. Here's what they have to say about it:
"In April 2009, the inaugural Month of Photography Los Angeles (MOPLA) will showcase the enormous photography community, inclusive of commercial, fine art and photojournalism. As the second largest photography community in the United States, Los Angeles will provide a distinctive backdrop to the celebration of the photographic image.

MOPLA was established and exists to advance the celebration of Photography, through a variety of events and programs designed to inspire and invigorate the photography professional, enthusiast, emerging professional and collector.

MOPLA's two-fold mission is to advance dynamic programming designed to engage and stimulate the photography community, as well as to present a comprehensive resource of exhibitions and events in April 2009."

You can check out the full schedule to see everything that's going on and I'll definitely keep you posted on any events of particular appeal.

T-minus 7 days until 4/4

4/4

Fellow Travelers! Here it it, the next LA Lomo meet-up:

We're meeting on Saturday April 4th at 10:00 a.m. at my apartment. There's a tram sign on the sidewalk so we'll probably be congregating there, or just keep an eye out for a bunch of people with cameras in hand. From there we're going to head over to the closest DASH pick-up (don't worry it's just a couple blocks aways) and taking the F Line on into the heart of downtown. It's just twenty-five cents each way, so make sure to bring quarters. Then it's an all out Lomo escapade the likes Los Angeles has never seen before. There's plenty of spots to check out and districts to get lost in. So make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes and bring tons of film. And really we'll just be exploring until our trigger fingers go numb or film runs out.

And for those who still have energy enough to soldier on, that evening is the opening of USC's Senior Seminar show "What From White" over in Culver City at the H. Kazan Gallery. Definitely worth checking that out and any other potential openings going on in the neighborhood. We should be able to work out transportation, and who doesn't enjoy carpooling?

So grab your cameras, load up some film, and get ready to conquer Los Angeles one frame at a time.

Shut Up and Listen

Or not. Your choice.



This Tuesday night at LACMA contemporary artist Barbara Kasten will be speaking with Charlotte Cotton (head of the photography department) at 7:00 in the Brown Auditorium. Best part is it's free, though you just need to pick up a ticket from the front box office.

This should be of some interest to all you fellow Lomo travellers out there because the topic of the evening is Kasten's renewed interest in photographic abstraction and its role in the medium as a whole. Though I've personally never heard her speak before, I've been told she has some pretty interesting ideas. So if you have the time you should definitely come join in on the fun.

AIn't No Fools

April 4th.

Be prepared for the next Lomo meet-up.

Await our signal for more info.

Anonymous

So my former professor/personal hero/amazing artist Shannon Ebner (head of the photography department here at USC) is curating a group show at the Helen Lindhurst Gallery this coming week and there's an open call for work to be included. Interested?

The show's being call "Anonymous" and will be up from the 24th to the 30th. Pretty much it's a salon style exhibition where anyone can come and participate, and as the title suggests, it'll be done anonymously. There will be an actual "hanging party" on the 25th from 5:00 to 7:00 when you can come in an put your work up, grab something to eat, and hang out with the rest of the contributors. And if you can't make it to that, there will be a ladder, levels, tacks, and tape in the gallery all week for you to use.

And even if you don't have any photographs to hang, definitely come and take some of everyone else so next time this happens you won't have the same problem.

Art "Swap Meet"

So I just got an e-mail out of the blue from Phantom Galleries about an art swap meet going down this weekend over in Long Beach. Since attempting to explain this may very well end in me failing, I'll give you what I was told, straight from the source:

"Bring along a small art work in the afternoon between 2-7pm to be hung then and there. Then find another work by another artist, and swap the work by the end of the night. This can be done as many times as you like throughout the evening until close at 9pm. It is all up to the two artists involved and no one is obligated to swap at all. Meet other artists in the community and exchange art, idea's and maybe make some new friends. This project was developed in honor of Raid Projects Swap Meet."

This is all going down at 390 E 3rd Street in Long Beach at the gallery and sounds like it'll be pretty interesting. Though this one was announced on such a short notice they said in the e-mail that they hope to make it a monthly event. Time shall tell I suppose.

But I definitely plan on checking it out and if you are so inclined to join in on the fun you should RSVP (liza@phantomgalleriesla.com) and stop by sometime.