On February 12, hundreds lined up around the downtown block outside of Clifton’s Cafeteria to explore its recently-renovated woodsy interior and check out the exhibit. In the Trees featured the work of fifteen artists, as well as several pieces from show co-creator, David Lynch himself.

Sculptor Jessica Joslin created an intricate brass and bone owl named Cooper:

Elizabeth McGrath built a Swarovski-crystal-encrusted reindeer:

Chris Mars painted three appropriately-unsettling scenes from the show:

Tim Biskup’s massive, cubist-style portrait of the dead prom queen who started it all loomed over the main hall:

There couldn’t have been a better location for a Twin Peaks event. With its huge tree trunks, furry critters and, yes, moose, Clifton’s interior echoes the show’s atmosphere to a t.

And if all that wasn’t enough, the shows indelible theme music played throughout the night and an upstairs section of the diner was decked in red velvet drapes and a zig-zag floor to represent The Black Lodge – an ulterior dimension showcased in Twin Peaks.

Naturally, coffee and pie were served until they ran out around 10pm.

Words and photos by Zoetica Ebb

The entries for the show were only constrained by the use of the “Post It” as a canvas itself. I was amazed at the multitude of mediums utilized to turn a 3×3 or 6×6 piece of sticky paper into a one of a kind cash and carry token of the arts. Ink, paint, duct tape and what I hope was spit, transformed those little everyday squares into mini-masterpieces.

Artists included: Ana Bagayan, Gary Baseman, Tim Biskup, Dave Cooper, Matt Groening, David Jien, Andrew Hem, Seonna Hong, Ming Ong, Nathan Ota, Souther Salazar, Rob Sato and more.

Post It’s I liked included:

A Men with laser pointer eyes and separated hands swatting at butterflies.

A Pink “Beaver,” a Green Hornet

Sombreros’ on fire and a 3 eyed dog.

A 4-eyed Teradacytl spinning vinyl.

A pink terrier on tile and sword fights, sans swords.

Words and photos by Dustin Downing

On the historic night when Barack Obama was elected as the first African American President of the United States, while people flooded the streets from Harlam to Hollywood, my particular neighborhood was subdued. And it wasn’t because I dwell in a particularly Republican enclave. In fact, my local stretch of Santa Monica Blvd in West Hollywood is known as boys town. We’re as liberal as you can get in these parts. But along with Obama’s victory came news that Proposition 8 had effected a ban on gay marriage in California. A sobering reminder that as much reason as their was to celebrate, there was still work to be done.

A little over a year later the fight for equality continues, and it’s taken the form of a pop-up art gallery. Produced by the same team that was behind the Shepard Fairey’s now infamous HOPE poster campaign and the subsequent Manifest Hope gallery at the Democratic National Convention, the Manifest Equality Gallery takes on the issue of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights with the same DIY artistic spirit brought to the fore of the Obama campaign of 2009.

Located in a empty shell of a shuttered Big Lots retail store on Vine just south of Sunset Blvd in Hollywood, Manifest Equality displays work from 135 of the countries finest artists, including street art master Sam Flores, sculpture/painter Charlie Becker and photographer RJ Shaughnessy. The preview event Tuesday night hosted several hundred of LA’s favorite scensters, who were wowed by the music of Emily Wells and DJs Diabetic (Shepard Fairey) and Daisy O’Dell, and fired up by famed Harvey Milk associate and activist Cleve Jones. The fight continues.

Manifest Equality runs until Sunday 3/7 @ 1341 Vine Street, Hollywood, CA

On Sunday night, Los Angeles saw a long-awaited re-launch of its Dr. Sketchy’s division at Billy Shire Fine Arts in Culver City. The model: flame-haired fetish darling, Scar. The wardrobe:  deadly  platform stilettos and three changes of sleek latex by Fierce Couture. In attendance: Michael Hussar, Shag, Miss Mindy, Tim Biskup and many talented artists who came to support, drink and draw. Arsenals were mighty and diverse – charcoal,  pastels, graphic pens and watercolors are just some of the trade’s tools I saw brandished in Scar’s direction. Surprises and giveaways helped celebrate the occasion, with a Spencer Davis Booty Babe figurine as the grand prize and Robert of Baby Tattoo modeling for a Michael Hussar-judged contest. Outside, a burlesque cutie tended bar in full costume and impressed guests with her take on the margarita.

I’m left with a reinforced hope for community in the Los Angeles art arena and excited for the rest of the summer: future Dr. Sketchy’s nights are already in the works. On June 21st LA residents can join the excitement  at Medusa Lounge from 7 to 10 PM. Hone your skills and mingle at subsequent Sketchy’s sessions on the first Sunday of every month at Billy Shire Fine Arts, and the third Sunday of every month at Medusa Lounge.

Words and photos by Zoetica Ebb