On top of a little hill called Olive just off Hollywood and Vermont the view is breathtaking even for the jaded. From up there it's a 360-view of Century City, downtown, Griffith Observatory, Hollywood sign and purple-veiled mountains. And here sits Barnsdall Art Park, LA's Municipal Art Gallery, and an art education center.

Frank Lloyd Wright-ian detail

The park was a gift to the city from heiress and actress Aline Barnsdall in 1927. Moving here from Chicago, she was a squeeze of Frank Lloyd Wright and asked him to build a little theater for her. After they split, Aline gave the whole shebang to the city of LA.

The Art Gallery was founded in 1970 predating MOCA and LACMA and shares the hill with a theater, a children's center and FLW's Hollyhock House. If you've got a thing for Art Deco street lamps, this is your place to come see the artificial light.

The current show there is THE LOS ANGELES JURIED EXHIBITION, a biennial sharing years with the LA OPEN CALL for which "anyone can submit." Even me? "The line is out the door," grins Curator Mark, raising his long arm to the horizon. Six hundred artists submitted work this year. The show runs through September 7, 2008.

Very proud of 2008's jury, Greenfield lists the judges; Tyler Stallings, Director of the University California Riverside Sweeney Art Gallery; Lisa Melandri the Deputy Director for the Santa Monica Museum of Art and Carl Berg of the Carl Berg Gallery in Los Angeles.

LA Juried Exhibition, Best of Show winner, "Sanquilicious" by Julie Hughes

Artist Julie Hughes took Best of Show and a $1000 for her installation of "Sanquilicious," a fun, fairly like fantasy room filled with big pink and red flowers Dr. Seuss would love.

"Tool Shop" by Christopher Tallon

Life-size sculpture made entirely of paper made by Christopher Tallon. He took 2nd place and was awarded 5K. Now he can get that set of made of metal Allen Wrenches.

Rounding third place is Paul Benavidez with a good old-fashioned abstract painting.

Our favorite was "Lima, Charlie, Zulu, Gug" that took an Honorable Mention for Ariel Erestingcol. Look closely. This image of the Oklahoma Bombing is made of little plastic beads. The kind little kids use.

"Lima, Charlie, Zulu, Gug 1&2"

The hours for the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery are noon to 5pm, Thursdays through Sunday and till 9pm on First Fridays. And here are the three magic words: ADMISSION IS FREE! Power to the People.

THE DETAILS: Barnsdall Art Park
Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery
4800 Hollywood Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90027
323.644.6269
www.barnsdallartpark.com

Story by Victoria Joyce.