Typical circus acts and themed cirque du soleil have been done so many times but none have dared to push the limits the way that Cirque Berzerk does. Affectionately referred to by many as “Tim Burton’s ideal nightmare,” Cirque Berzerk is a sexy Death-themed traveling circus, which experiments with edgy burlesque, saucy cabaret, alluring aerial acrobatics, daring fire eating, extreme contortion, and immoral temptation.
I just paid a visit to Tarot 2, currently on display at Downtown’s Hive gallery and collective, and might have acquired another favorite artist. Yoko D’Holbachie – one of the five featured artists – is a Japanese painter specializing in… Eh, who needs labels. Her universe is a cross between the realm of Trapper Keepers and Disney’s Fantasia, as well as a home to myriads of mystery plants and adorable inhabitants. Painted in eye-scorching neon rainbow palettes, D’Holbachie’s psychedelic candyland is definitely my new guilty pleasure.
Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions aka LACE – a nonprofit organization encouraging innovation, has been around since the ’70s and found its current Hollywood Walk of Fame home in the mid-1990s. It’s an unlikely site for an art institution: surrounded by “dancer” shoe stores, tourist traps and nightclubs, LACE seems a little out of place, but that’s the genius of it. Because of this prominent yet peculiar location, the space draws colorful crowds and exposes art to a wider arena than the gallery circuit can.
Last week, the Echoplex was rocked by a new installment of Check Yo Ponytail 2, a cross-genre 18+ club night dedicated to all things new, edgy and danceable. On the roster: Terminal Twilight, Teengirl Fantasy, Pictureplane, and DJ sets by that Killing Spree collective you might have heard of around town. With such an eclectic lineup of everything from coldwave to neo-rave [that really was not meant to rhyme, and I apologize] we knew it was going to be an interesting night, and we were not disappointed.
I wasn’t scared to go into the Museum of Death until I called to talk to the owner J.D. Healy to schedule an appointment for my visit. “Do you know what you are getting yourself into? Have you been here before?” are not usually words that I am used to hearing when calling to schedule a museum tour. J.D. went on to tell me how fabulous his museum was but wanted to make sure that I was aware of the fact that some of the pieces inside are a bit intense and that people do pass out in the middle of their tour from time to time. Long story short, this conversation resulted in a slew of mixed emotions on my part. On one hand I was jumping at the chance to conquer my fears of whatever might lie inside and on the other hand, I basically spent the entire week before my visit a tiny bit on edge.
Gulping down beers with the skeletons of a Tyrannosaurus Rex and Triceratops breathing down your back, dancing to DJs as they nonchalantly spin in front of elephants on the Serengeti Plains, listening to buzz worthy bands as they perform for audience members that include Grizzly bears and buffalo…sound like a typical Friday night? Probably not for most of you, but that’s the whole point.
Currently on display at the La Luz de Jesus Gallery in Hollywood is Charles Binger – “A Pulp Life, Steven Dailey – “Covenant,” Howard Hallis – “The Picture of Everything,” and Tammi Otis – “A Fertile Madness.” The opening reception on Friday, January 7th, attracted swarms of Los Angeles art lovers who dedicated their Saturday night to mingling with talented artists.
2010 was a tremendous year for art. Take a look at the Top 10 Artists of 2010 (in no particular order) according to painter, pencil pusher, photographer, and Coilhouse Magazine co-founder Zoetica Ebb.
Monday nights are not the popular night out, unless it’s grabbing a quick Happy Hour special or seeing a flick with a friend, but even then getting people motivated is such a daunting task. For a weeknight that doesn’t receive much action, Central Social Aid and Pleasure Club steps it up by transforming ordinary Monday nights into a world of sexy burlesque accompanied by drink specials and live music – a night they affectionately refer to as “Hey Hey Monday’s.”
The Smashbox Face Off annual photo contest celebrated its fifteenth year last week with an opening bash held at Smashbox Studios – West Hollywood. The competition was originally conceived as a creative outlet for photo-assistants, but has morphed into a springboard for young photographers from all over. This year, a new “Motion” category was introduced, as well, with videos now being allowed into Face Off. This year’s entries’ technique and presentation were as diverse as the subject matter.
