East of Eden

Quick note on 'East of Eden" at the L.A. Municipal Gallery in Hollywood. This is not so much an exhibition as a three-day art fair, and last night's gala opening was like a happening party. Each of the 14 participating galleries presented a selection of their artists representing the art scene east of downtown. I was especially mesmorized by the work of Robert Horvath, whose glossy, glowing paintings of biomorphic shapes and radiant light I have previously admired at Bert Green Fine Art. I also enjoyed the breezy abstractions of Elana Kundell, presented by Gallery Revisited. Her brushstrokes seem fresh, spontaneous and untethered, as if they are floating just in front of the panels on which she paints.


Robert Horvath, "o.o.y.l", oil on panel


Elana Kundell, "Dissolution No. 9", oil on panel

There was an interesting lounge area set up out on the terrace, with a big glowing fluorescent telescopic kind of opti-gadget that was too crowded to examine at close range, regrettably. Many visitors were happily drumming a groovy beat on the musically engineered furniture, and a stylish young woman was serving absinthe in test tubes (poured through an elaborate stainless steel apparatus). The green fairy is incredibly sweet, it turns out -- it was something like drinking a licorice Altoid, not that I should find anything to object to in that.

"East of Eden continues through today, September 21, 2008. Participating galleries include La Luz de Jesus, Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Black Maria, drkrm Gallery, Gallery Revisited, Ghetto Gloss, Junc Gallery, Materials & Applications, Metro Gallery, Thinkspace, Bert Green Fine Art, Acuna Hansen, David Patton, Farmlab and De Soto.