
This may sound like the world’s most overwrought art gag. And, certainly, there is no small irony in critiquing the creative numbness of the art market with pieces that will be sold on that very same market. But William Powhida’s artistic spoofs are so spot on, and his critiques so incisive, it’s hard not to get sucked in by the whole exercise.
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LOS ANGELES — Somehow, our rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness have become life, liberty, and happiness. Happiness — not merely its pursuit — is now something to which we are entitled. Which we deserve. Which capitalism, with its eternal seduction, has convinced us should be available with each and every purchase. And if we are not happy, something (the right product? the latest gadget?) is missing. Because we should be happy all the time.
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You know the tired old cliche about LA sprawl? It appears to be true about the city’s art world.
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LOS ANGELES — For LA’s drivers, the city passes by in a blur, a city protected by glass and one’s own soundtrack. Every experienced Angeleno has a driving mix, a series of podcasts, and, of course, favorite radio stations, to keep them occupied while scooting (or crawling) around town. LA is often a city that’s seen but so rarely heard. Enter the Made in LA Sound Map, a GPS-based iPhone app that detects where you are and automatically plays an interview.
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LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles, like New York, is a city of migrants. You move to LA in search of something. For many people, that’s Hollywood or the music business; for others, it’s the city’s growing art scene. In makeshift studios and homes across the city, artists and creatives are working hard to make it here in the city.
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LOS ANGELES — It’s just been the first two days at the College Art Association conference, and people are talking tech. Or maybe I’m just attending the tech-oriented panels. The first panel I sat on spoke on internationalizing the practice of art history. Immediately, it felt like the voice of God was speaking, until I realized it was a man on Skype.
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Chris Burden’s frenetic installation at LACMA “refers specifically to Los Angeles … of the future” but it’s more reminiscent of fast-growing megacities, like Chongqing and Dubai.
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LOS ANGELES — October marked the beginning of the Pacific Standard Time onslaught, a collaboration between 60 institutions to commemorate and celebrate the birth of the Los Angeles art scene from 1945 to 1980. LA Contemporary Exhibitions (LACE) is among a host of venues invested in translating the performative end of LA’s art scene for contemporary audiences, and this past Saturday was no exception.
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LOS ANGELES — Four days into #OccupyLA, a small community is growing near the steps of Los Angeles City Hall, where protesters have set up camp. The site contains first aid and media tents as well as stages for performers and speakers. In the afternoon, some protesters screenprinted clothing while others worked on paintings for a public gallery. The scene in Los Angeles is a flurry of activity with artists working together to build a more visible movement.
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LOS ANGELES — The stretch of Imperial Street which leads to Lot 613 is prefaced by a series of murals by street artist ROA. Feathered and furry creatures drawn in spray paint serve as handy guideposts to the warehouse venue, where, over the past weekend, the Fountain Art Fair hosted works by emerging artists. The art fair arrived in Los Angeles in time for the opening weekend of the much publicizedPacific Standard Time, a series of collaborative exhibitions celebrating the region’s artistic output from 1945 to 1980. While the latter attempts to write (or rewrite) art history, the Fountain Art Fair showcased works that demonstrate the political and cultural anxieties of today’s active artists.
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