Cody Trepte and Sarah Seager @ LACE interview March 31, 2011

Poetry Within Spaces (One The Line- LACE

The current group exhibition of four Los Angeles based artists, (Meg Cranston, Larry Johnson, Sarah Seager, and Mitchel Syrop), who have historically dedicated their art disciplines to Conceptual Art, were selected by emerging curator Cody Trepte.  Trepte asks the questions; "What is left of Conceptualism and where has it gone?"  Trepte is a recent resident of Los Angeles who has been focusing on Conceptual Art of the l980's and 90's.  The four artists encompass the tenacity of having "thoughts and ideas" as their primary art mediums.  Meg Cranston's television piece which is reminiscent of the classic "eight ball" game where you ask yes or no questions, is a prologue and epilogue for Trepte's questions.  Conceptualism is "yes" and Conceptualism is "no" and it is the spaces in between.

LACE
6522 Hollywood Blvd
Hollywood, CA 90028

(remaining article can be read on Artslant.com/la

A Meditation Card

Daniel Wheeler

"Bloom"

Pasadena Museum of California Art

Project Room

490 E. Union St.

Pasadena, CA 91101

Nov 14, 2010- April 24, 2011

" One bee doesn't make a hive..." A video of a single bee trapped in a puddle of water becomes a "gospel for bees"-buzzing and illuminating a circle of music stands. Grocery bags become makeshift sheet music.  Their recognizable pulp scent stimulates nostalgic and prosaic associations.  The grocery bags are becoming part of our past.  Wheeler also uses them to create a wax covered groin vault-hive at the entrance of his installation.

When I spoke with Wheeler and shared my insights, he said that the bee trapped in the water symbolized a heroic struggle.  Wheeler also stated; "...to make sense of life look to the metaphors of bees in an endless struggle."  Bees need to drink water to cool down their hives and dilute honey to feed the larva.  We discussed how the bees are necessary to our survival.  Wheeler continued to compare man's daily struggles, energy and humilty with the bee.  He is interested in paying attention to everyday occurrences. As an artist he hopes to "irritate" the viewer into seeing things differently. The repetitive nature of the video serves as a way for "man to be faced with himself."

In the darkness of a cinema, Wheeler invites us into a metaphoric hive structure which returns us to our origins.  The bee is a messenger.  Its "buzzing" has a familiar maternal murmur.  The bee in the puddle is communicating; "is there anyone out there?"  Recycling, protecting nature and community-the bee has knowledge of all that happens on earth.

Wheeler made it evident that reminisces of architectural structures such as the Roman coliseum and amphitheater were integral to the installation.  These are structures of the past.  As with the grocery bags, Wheeler said that he was looking backwards with historical items that indicate the passing of time.  I also saw the importance of staying in touch with the earth's cycles as seen by the ocean waves.  Robert Smithson's "Spiral Jetty" came to mind with the structure's influences by the water and the tides.

Aerospace- Michael Salvatore Tierney

BLYTHE PROJECTS

Jan 8- Feb 12, 2011
5797 Washington Blvd
\Culver City, CA 90232
323-272-3642
Tues-Sat 11-6


Michael S. Tierney's current photographs explore the images of aerospace.  His father was involved in the profession.  These photographs capture nostalgic imagery that Americans have grown up with since John F. Kennedy.  Many of the images are reminiscent of caverns filled with jewels.  Additionally the atmospheric quality of images like the "space suit" indicate an embryonic return to familar surroundings for Tierney and his audience.

Monica Majoli

Desire: Six Los Angeles Artists @ Pasadena Museum of Art thru Oct 31, 2010

Art Review by Sandra Vista on  Artslant-Los Angeles