ArtRx LA

LOS ANGELES — This week, there’s a launch party for a new art magazine, a Corita Kent–style happening, a punk provocateur’s exhibit, and more.

 Raymond Pettibon: New Illustrations

When: Opens Thursday, April 23, 6–8pm
Where: Regen Projects (6750 Santa Monica Boulevard, Hollywood, Los Angeles)

Raymond Pettibon is one of the few contemporary artists who has seamlessly straddled the worlds of both high and low visual culture without losing his street cred. He emerged in the late ’70s as the house artist of sorts for his brother Greg Ginn’s influential punk band, Black Flag, and it was Pettibon who created the band’s simple four bar logo, one of the most iconic in rock history. Since then he has had numerous museum and gallery shows, achieving art world success while maintaining the caustic energy of his early work. He often pairs images from popular media, history, religion, and politics with evocative texts, rendered in his signature graphic black-and-white style. His tenth exhibition at Regen Projects will feature new monochromatic ink drawings and multi-colored collages.

 The Battle of Algiers

When: Friday, April 24, 6:30pm
Where: Echo Park Film Center (1200 N. Alvarado St., Echo Park, Los Angeles)

“As violence escalates on both sides, children shoot soldiers at point-blank range, women plant bombs in cafés, and … soldiers resort to torture to break the will of the insurgents.” Though this passage may sound like current events, it’s actually the Criterion Collection‘s description of The Battle of Algiers, Gillo Pontecorvo’s 1966 groundbreaking film on the Algerian struggle for independence. Shot on the streets of Algiers with a documentary style that incredibly contains no actual documentary footage, the film has been hailed as one of the greatest war movies ever made. Screened by the Pentagon in 2003, the film continues to have relevance 50 years after its release.

 CARLA Launch Party

When: Friday, April 24, 8pm–12am
Where: Human Resources (410 Cottage Home, Chinatown, Los Angeles)

One misguided critique of the LA art community is that there is a lack of critical discourse, and while that’s certainly up for debate, a new quarterly journal aims to provide further proof that yes, we do read (and write) here. Human Resources will be hosting a launch party this Friday for Contemporary Art Review LA (CARLA), which will feature a performance by Lex Brown and music from Jewelz Le Baron. The first issue has some of LA’s best art writers contributing, including Travis Diehl, Catherine Wagley, and Kate Wolf, while the online component features shorter and more frequently updated content.

 Earth Day Happening

When: Saturday, April 25, 1–4pm
Where: Corita Art Center (5515 Franklin Ave., Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles)

Radical art nun Sister Corita Kent is perhaps best known for her eye-catching serigraphs, but her progressive practice extended to “Happenings,” which “succeeded in breaking down barriers, encouraging creativity, and fostering a sense of community.” In celebration of Earth Day, the Corita Art Center will be hosting a Corita-style happening, followed by a workshop led by artist, and one of Corita’s former students, Laurine DiRocco. The happening is open to all, but the workshop requires an RSVP.

 Gong Show Closing Night

When: Closes Sunday, April 26, 7–10pm
Where: Eastside International (602 Moulton Ave, Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles)

If you missed the first three Gong Show events at Eastside International, Sunday is your last chance to catch a motley crew of performers before they’re gonged off the stage by a judges panel made up of “curators, writers, critics, low-grade celebrities and personalities.” This final night will also feature an awards ceremony and ominous-sounding karaoke meltdown.

 Projection

When: Opens Sunday, April 26, 3–6pm
Where: Sunset Pacific Motel (4301 West Sunset Boulevard, Silver Lake, Los Angeles)

The Sunset Pacific Motel (more commonly referred to as the “Bates Motel”) has stood derelict on a stretch of Sunset Boulevard in Silver Lake for decades, and is slated for demolition to make way for a new, mixed-use development. Before it goes, however, French artist Vincent Lamouroux will white-wash the entire complex, palm trees and all, as part of an art installation titled “Projection.” It remains to be seen whether the project will serve as “screens for the projection of our desires,” as the press release states, or simply as a backdrop for selfies, but it will certainly be more visually engaging than whatever comes next.