The collaboration with the BG Galleries in Santa Monica, Juri Koll curates a group show as part of it’s ongoing exhibitions chronicling the history and practice of art in Southern California.
Santa Monica, Venice and Southern California in general, has and will continue to provide a legacy to the art world that we are only just beginning to understand and appreciate.
”Following on our well-received previous shows (Venice: Here & Now; Venice: Now & Then), Om Bleicher and I got together and decided to mount another exhibition focusing on Santa Monica in his new BG Gallery location on Ocean Park.”
Santa Monica: Now & Then, to paraphrase the words of David S. Rubin for our previous show catalog, “….gives viewers the opportunity to compare and contrast early and late works by artists who, at one time or another, have made (this) their home or workplace. Such juxtapositions of early and later works, in fact, may be considered admirable testaments to the longevity and perseverance of a distinguished group of artists who found a magical strip of land along the Pacific Ocean that provides the perfect mix of climate and community for a sustained creative growth.”
Part of the mission for us both at the Venice Institute of Contemporary Art and BG Gallery is to identify, protect and sustain the history and culture of one of the most historically important centers of independent artistic expression - Southern California - a place we know and love.
Artists have been drawn here for creative reasons since the turn of the 1900’s, by it’s community - yes, by the sand, surf, sun - but most importantly by the freedom that comes from the kind of people who make it their home or workplace.
The artists in this exhibition have worked here one time or another, lived and kept their studio here, spent a great deal of time here for inspiration, and/or all of the above, and you will find insights to this alongside the work as you view the exhibition. Enjoy!
Artists:
Sam Francis
Peter Alexander
Ruth Weisberg
Barbara Kolo
William Turtle
Jack Duggan
Bob Borman
Mike Street
Dick Keltner
Robert Rauschenberg
Frank Gehry
Lilly Fenichel
Gay Summer Rick
David Hockney
Bruce Richards
Ed Moses
George Herms
Bruce Hamilton
Ed Ruscha
MB Boissonnault
Bob Branaman
Randi Matushevitz
Harry Gundersen
Earl Newman
Mx Farina
Bryan Ida
Shingo Francis
