In Your Face Decadence At Pop Tart Gallery

Jeff Nau — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 16:28:05 +0000

Wedged in between two subdivisions and a huge church in the middle of Koreatown, Phyllis Navidad’s Pop Tart Gallery is perhaps the last thing you’d expect to find in any suburb, really. A collage of transvestite/transsexual/glammed-out portraits that would make Ratt and Poison look like a bunch of Steve McQueens, tonight’s Your Face Here, curated by Lenora Claire, featured work by celebrated photographer of all things glam-n-drag Austin Young: Huge pictures of Margaret Cho, Perez Hilton and other gender-defying celebs adorn the white walls of this tiny gallery with a great big heart — while a chick/dude in a Dangerous-era Michael Jackson outfit spins mutant strains of classic disco mixed with modern R&B. All as you grab free cocktails. Then Kilsonic, a 50-piece ensemble brass band emerges, just in case you weren’t paying attention.

Best of all is that the PTG is all in Navidad’s own backyard. House parties don’t get any more surreal than this. Oddly enough, the entanglement of L.A.’s hinterlands and pockmarked, potholed city streets is kind of a compliment to this out-of-the-way glammy little bijou in the dwindling grandeur that was once Golden-Era Wilshire. Most people have a white picket fence, maybe a doghouse. Yet Navidad and Claire have been hosting exhibitions here for years, and does just what she says (transcending gender boundaries). Best of all? The gallery is in Phyllis’ own backyard. House parties don’t get any more surreal than this.

The atmosphere is electric tonight, (doesn’t hurt that early Spring weather is bringing in the warm breeze, blowing off a wig or two) and the energy is damn near contagious. Even the coldest of souls are finding themselves sucked in. But semi celebs agreed to have their pic taken for In Your Face, and at tonight’s reception, there’s even a photographer and several on-hand makeup artists for any patrons who want to get dolled up.

Next up on Pop Tart’s list of shows is “realiTEASE”, a decadent and groundbreaking group exhibit featuring pin-up shots of TV reality stars.

Words by Jeff Nau. Photos by Zoetica Ebb.

Bettie Page: Heaven Bound

Zoetica Ebb — Wed, 06 May 2009 17:26:40 +0000

Saturday night marked the opening of Bettie Page: Heaven Bound – an all-star art extravaganza curated by Lenora Claire held at the World of Wonder Gallery in Hollywood. This exhibit, dedicated to the late pinup legend, features iconic portraits of Bettie by Olivia and tribute photos by Austin Young among others. The carefree smile and electric attitude that left an impact on an entire generation grace the gallery walls, captured in a variety of mediums from watercolor to acrylic sculpture. In usual World of Wonder reception style, the party drew a colorful crowd – drag queens, fashion butterflies, booze enthusiasts and Hollywood culture favorites were out on full force to salute the unforgettable, the one and only – Bettie Page.

Words and Photos by Zoetica Ebb

World of Wonder Gallery 650 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA‎ – (323) 603-6300‎

ChinaShop » Austin Young

In Your Face Decadence At Pop Tart Gallery

Bettie Page: Heaven Bound