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LA Art Show Brings Out the Stars

February 14, 2020 Maintenance

Charlize Theron with artist Kazu Hiro at the LA Art Show: 2020.

The LA Art Show, which is always a fun, exciting event, wrapped last week, running from February 5 to Sunday the 9th.

As the 25th Annual LA Art Show came to its conclusion, the producers stated they are proud to announce the dates of next year’s fair. The LA Art Show, recognized as one of the most comprehensive international contemporary art fairs in America, will return to the LA Convention Center from February 10 – 14, 2021, coinciding with Frieze LA.

“LA is one of the most creative cities in the world, and it has been my dream for us to be recognized as a true arts capital, not just the center of the entertainment industry,” says LA Art Show Founder and Executive Director Kim Martindale, adding, “When I created the LA Art Show 25 years ago, there weren’t any big art fairs here. My intention has always been to use this fair as a platform to grow the LA art market into one that people are proud to buy from. It’s truly rewarding to see that mission accomplished on the 25th anniversary of the LA Art Show.”

The 2020 LA Art Show featured exhibitions by over 130 international galleries, museums, and non-profit organizations from 23 different countries. More than reportedly 55,000 attendees experienced the four day event.

Exhibitions included that by Kazu Hiro, who was nominated for an Oscar for his special effects makeup work on “Bombshell,” who unveiled two new ICONOCLASTS sculptures of Audrey Hepburn at this year’s fair, presented by Copro Gallery. His photorealistic recreations of Abraham Lincoln, Salvador Dali, Frida Kahlo, and Jimi Hendrix drew admirers before they even entered the show, including Charlize Theron, pictured with the artist above.

Diverse Art LA, curated by Marisa Ciachiolo, featured an impressive floor-to-ceiling MOLAA Pride Flag created by artists Leo Chiachio and Daniel Giannone. Next to this was Viktor Freso’s “The Birth of the Niemand,” featuring 16 larger than life statues that patrons could walk amongst and pose for photos with.

The Japanese American National Museum booth drew patrons in with Taiji Terasaki’s “Transcendients: Heroes at Borders” exhibition, an immersive meditation on the atrocities of the Japanese-American concentration camps during World War II, and a celebration of the heroes who fight for equality and democracy today.

The Broad Museum presented “I See You, I Am Seen: On the Impact of Diversity” to shine a spotlight on efforts to incorporate more diversity into art museum staff.

The gallery work was equally varied including showcases by CORE, a dedicated space for galleries from around the world, MODERN + CONTEMPORARY, representing the vast spectrum of contemporary painting, illustration, sculpture and other artforms from around the world, ROOTS, honoring the voices and art movements of the past that continue to be informative of modern and contemporary art, INK, showcasing the continually evolving movement of East Asian ink painting, WORKS ON PAPER, exhibiting photographs and other pieces not on traditional canvas, DESIGN LA ART, showcasing high concept furniture and functional art, and PROJECT SPACE, dedicating exhibitions to specific artists from leading galleries.

The European Pavilion gallery section featured over a dozen galleries from Spain, Italy, the UK and beyond, in celebration of the profound influence that European art has had on the world.

Jane Kahn Gallery was back, with their beautiful tapestries of masters including Chagall and Picasso. K Contemporary had a notable work “Sisters in Fur Coats with Birds” by Daisy Patton, and Mizuma Art Gallery had a nice piece by Amano Yoshitaka, “Lady Blue.”

“The Swimmer” is a well crafted sculpture represented by L’Arcada Galeria D’Art from Spain by Coderch & Malavia, and BG Gallery was back again with a nice work by Fred Tieken titled “Brainstorm Series–Number Fourteen,” referencing one of my favorites; Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Bruce Lurie Gallery was back, and Conde Contemporary featured Darian Mederos’ work, which must be seen in person to be properly appreciated, including the attention grabbing “Bohemia,” (oil on canvas). Daphne Alazraki Fine Art was back, with the outstanding work of Jean-Pierre Cassigneul; “Rendez Vous.”

General Investment Group was present with works by Renoir, among more. K+Y featured Jeff Rob’s noticeable “Apperture 16,” and Melissa Morgan Fine Art was back with the always popular infinity mirrored portal pieces by Anthony James that we featured last year. Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery was back with Phil Shaw’s “The Life Aquatic,” and LA based Rebecca Molayem Gallery featured her own work including a piece titled “Sabrina.”

Hayden & Fandetta from LA featured “De La Walse au Tango” (1920) by Jacques Boulenger. M.S. Rau was back, which as usual, dominated with some of the best works by masters including Monet, Rockwell, and more. Rehs Galleries also was back with equally impressive works by Daniel Ridgeway Knight (Maria Among the Poppies) among more. Gallerie Brun Massa from France represented a nice piece by Olivier Lavorel titled “1901-Venise” made in 2019 by the artist.

Despite the virus scare freaking out some, China was well represented, and the LA Art Show was as usual–packed. A tiny percent of the occasional person worse a face mask, with one guy I saw wearing one around his neck. With a few people walking around coughing, I was thankful of how fortunate we are to be in the U.S. at this time. Pray for our beautiful comrades in China. May they soon have victory over the virus, peace, and FREEDOM.

–Bruce Edwin

Be sure to check out the 2021 LA Art Show next year at the LA Convention Center from February 10 – 14, 2021.

Fashion Model Report

New York Fashion Week 2020

February 11, 2020 Maintenance

Luli Fama introduces their sexy 2020 Spring / Summer Swimwear and Resort Wear Collection including feminine floral prints, vibrant hues, retro-inspired pieces, and lace trim swimwear.

Offering the brand’s signature ruched back bottom, high waisted and Brazilian tie-side briefs, reversible pieces, bandeaus, plunging necklines, halter tops, triangle tops, and one-piece bodysuits, the company states that these latest suits embody the cosmopolitan culture and Latin influence the brand is known for. The Spring / Summer resort-wear selection includes rompers, jumpsuits and mini/maxi dresses that can be worn day or night.

New York Fashion Week is in full swing, having started Monday, February 3, and going through until Wednesday, Feb 12, 2020. With top designers’ fashion shows in the city, and models strutting around town and between shows in some of the latest fashions, NYFW is always an exciting time.

Backstage Hollywood

Renee Zellweger’s Triumphant Return

February 11, 2020 Maintenance

One of the most charming, lovely, and talented stars of our time; Renne Zellweger is back, and hotter than ever with her Oscar winning part with Actress in a Leading Role for “Judy,” about the legendary and iconic Judy Garland.

Directed by Rupert Goold
Screenplay by Tom Edge
Starring Renée Zellweger, Jessie Buckley, Finn Wittrock, Rufus Sewell, and Michael Gambon

Winter 1968 and showbiz legend Judy Garland arrives in Swinging London to perform a five-week sold-out run at The Talk of the Town. It is 30 years since she shot to global stardom in “The Wizard of Oz,” but if her voice has weakened, its dramatic intensity has only grown. As she prepares for the show, battles with management, charms musicians and reminisces with friends and adoring fans, her wit and warmth shine through. Even her dreams of love seem undimmed as she embarks on a whirlwind romance with Mickey Deans, her soon-to-be fifth husband. Featuring some of her best-known songs, the film celebrates the voice, the capacity for love, and the sheer pizzazz of “the world’s greatest entertainer.

Renée-Zellweger-as-Judy-Garland-in-the-upcoming-film-JUDY-Photo-Credit-David-Hindley-Courtesy-of-LD-Entertainment-and-Roadside-Attraction.

Acclaimed director, Rupert Goold, a 2019 Tony Award nominee, commented: “I had always wanted to make a film that explores great performance and its cost. The most fertile ground for such exploration seemed to be at the end of a lifetime of performance. For over 40 years Judy Garland had laughed and loved and entertained no matter what life threw at her, and her public adored her for it. But she paid a price in a childhood lost to Hollywood, an emotional exhaustion and a yearning for a “normal” life beyond the rainbow. It is a powerful and moving story that I hope will inspire new audiences to discover Judy Garland’s joyous legacy.

I felt Renee was uniquely qualified to play Judy. First, because she is a great, Oscar-winning dramatic actress. Second, she is a wonderful comedienne. And third, I knew from CHICAGO that she could sing. I made it clear to Renee that I wasn’t looking for an impersonation of Judy Garland’s inimitable voice, but what I wanted was for Renee to make the songs her own and this she did to thrilling effect.”

Director Rupert-Goold-and-Renée-Zellweger-on-the-set-of-JUDY-Photo-credit-David-Hindley-Courtesy-of-LD-Entertainment-and-Roadside-Attractions.

Renne Zelleweger answered interviewers questions Backstage at the Oscars last night, with kindness, and charm. An excerpt follows here:

Q (…) What was it about Judy that connected you so closely by so in heart that you basically became her? I know you’ve done a lot of research, but was there anything else that you felt very close to with her that you were able to deliver such an incredible performance and become her, essentially?

Renne Zellweger: The only things that I would do by myself are sing in the car on the 405 in traffic, you know, for a year. So that was a lot of practice for anybody who’s tried to drive down the 405. But — and, you know, the reading and things, that was by myself.

But what you’re talking about, that connectivity, that was a consequence of everybody’s work on that set. Everybody was motivated by the same thing. We just appreciate the importance of her legacy and who she was as a person and we all wanted to celebrate her. And everyday we came to work and we just tried things, we just kept trying things.

And the director, Rupert Goold, called it “mining for treasure.” We were all digging around in sort of the materials of her legacy, her music, her books, interviews, her television show. You know, just everything that we could find that seemed essential in conjuring her essence to tell the story. And that was everybody’s work, you know. And it was, you know, the partnership with every single department throughout. And it really was a celebration. We just came to work every day. You could feel the love, the love for Ms. Garland, and that was what we had hoped, so — And I thank you for your question.

Q. How is this award different from the first one you won in 2004, and how have you changed as a person, as an actress?

Renne Zelwegger: Oh, my goodness, how much time do you have? Well, at that time, I think I was so busy that I wasn’t actually in the moment. I think I had just flown home from something for BRIDGET JONES two or something. It’s different, different perspective. I’m a little more present now. I think that the time away and the time in between has helped me to appreciate it in a different way. I just look at it in a different way, what it represents is a little bit different. And, obviously, this isn’t ultimately — you know, this is about this wanting to tell that story and to celebrate Judy Garland and to shine a light on, perhaps, the nuances of the circumstances of her life, which people dismiss as tragic. And, you know, the opportunity to tell a story that challenges that narrative and says, “Oh, no, no, no, no, you can’t know how extraordinary a person is until you know what they struggle with and what they overcome.” And, to me, that, you know, that’s what this is.

Congratulations to HollyShorts and their founder Theo Dumont, whose members’ films “The Neighbors Window” and “Learning To Skateboard In A War Zone (If You’re A Girl)” won Best Short Live Action and Best Documentary Short at this year’s Academy Awards. HollyShorts has always been an amazing festival with great talent nurtured by a fantastic festival and kind and charming founder.

The 16th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival runs August 13-22, 2020 in Hollywood, California.

Academy Museum of Motion Pictures

The movies are officially coming home to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures® as it opens to the public on December 14, 2020 at Wilshire and Fairfax.