Lauren Halsey is Still Here, There

Who Lauren Halsey
What Site-Specific Installations
When Through September 3

we still here, there is Lauren Halsey's mesmerizing, cave-like installation at MoCA. The annexed gallery space was unassuming among the more prominent Real Worlds photography retrospective. However, Halsey's cavernous exploration of the spectrum of Black experience in South Central LA was so dynamic that it was hard to move on to the other works on display.

So, naturally it was exciting to see Halsey on the roster for the Hammer Museum's Made In L.A. biennial. Where her MoCA installation turns inward, meandering in and out of the psyche of South Central's visuality, The Crenshaw District Hieroglyphic Project (Prototype Architecture) at the Hammer is upright and outward in its presentation. Reminiscent of The Met's Egyptian hall, but with indicators of Halsey's hand almost instantly apparent, this project dominated much of the mezzanine at the Hammer and received the $100,000 Mohn Award from the museum.  

By exploring Black LA within the framework of classic 'origins' of culture (a cave, an ancient temple), Halsey redefines the perceptions of Black iconography and Black stories in the context of a larger fabric of the human experience.  

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Opening: Neo-American Transcendental

Who: Michael Maxwell
What: Fine Art - Mixed Media
When 2 June - 7 July 2018
Where Garis&Hahn

Michael Maxwell's work reminded me of some Tame Impala album art except I really wanted to touch it. You could still sense his hand in the objects, a quality I value after the art leaves its studio. These psychedelic scenes originate from digital layering and create a denser, more thoughtful assessment of the fractal. Rather than leaving the viewer in a dizzying abyss, he redeems the distortion by inserting pleasing pastels and earth tones into his color palate.  

This was my first visit to Garis&Hahn. While the space lent itself to this exhibition generously (and probably would to most contemporary art), I'd prefer to see a more laid-back use of this location as it would certainly lend warmth to the viewership. Nonetheless, these visceral works definitely warranted a second go-around after adding the opening to my Instagram story.

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Space Review: Junior High Los Angeles

What: Informal arts & retail space
Where: Junior High, Hollywood

Activist Faye Orlove's intimate, informal community space is one of my favorite places to get cultured in LA. Even NYLON magazine is obsessed. Junior High self-describes as a promoter of marginalized voices. 

I've gone to a handful of events at the Hollywood upcycled storefront. Most memorable was the group show, Cosmic Not Exotic, an inward look at the fetishization of artists of color. 

From workshops to pop-up shows to mounted exhibitions, Junior High will make you feel as inspired as your first slumber party did. All under the watchful eye of their patron saint, Olivia Benson.

Opening this weekend, Our Stories: Returning Home, explores lands, rituals and traditions we have always known. 

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Launch: The Dimension Collective

Who: The Dimension Collective
When: 16 June 2018
Where: DTLA

I am fortunate enough to know some pretty incredible creatives. Being from the Bay Area and dedicating my liberal arts experience to interrogating makers has left me with an excess of really rad folks in my circle. Seeing The Dimension Collective come into being over the last six months has been a wonderful byproduct of this community. Last week they opened their doors and celebrated the release of the first volume of their zine. 

Visual Arts Director Dominique Carella and her cohort are proof of the power of young people who are endlessly dedicated to their craft. The collective houses photographers, fashion designers, makeup artists, musicians, and a dance studio.

Seeing artists come together to advocate for their value and cultural necessity was exactly the way I want to kick off my summer. I have no doubt we'll be seeing more talent coming from TDC in the near future. 

Get the zine.
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