Listen up LA: Life is Beautiful

Los Angeles is not really the place for openings that are more “happenings” than gallery shindigs, so I asked Mr. Brainwash, mastermind behind the CBS Hollywood studio turned contemporary art space, why he chose Los Angeles for his opening of “Life is Beautiful”. He replied in his easy manner, “I’m from here, and nothing ever happens in LA.” True enough, so a sincere thank you is in order for “Life is Beautiful”.

And who is this Mr. Brainwash?: A prolific artist under a ha-ha assumed name who was given as his palette an entire city block -- and an old Hollywood CBS studio -- to convert into a very temporary gallery space before the building is demolished.

Who attended? Everybody. The line was wrapped around the block, 300 deep. In fact, some of the same people were still standing in line to get in when we left, two hours later. That's dedication to the arts. Or, the Los Angeles art community, and style-gawkers in general, are totally starved for big and splashy go-to events. And free posters -- which were given away to the first 200 attendees.

And the scene?: Pop Icons meet Fine Art, high and low culture collide. Degas and his ballerinas are mid-game of Dance Dance Revolution, Hopper’s lonely lady sits before her Mac laptop, Duchamp’s urinal is tagged up by Tak-183 and Shepard Fairey. A schmorgusbord of images, sculpture, and installations.

Urinal tag

The vibe: harmonious. Bringing together skaters, taggers, Eastside hipsters—even the LA2DAY Art and design team. A crew of us armed with cameras and pens attempted to capture this enormous happening. Not to sound trite but it seemed everybody was there. I asked one of the attendees why he sat by himself, he replied, “You’ve got to sit still to take it all in”. A girl who had taken a seat beside me replied, “Yeah it’s like being inside his brain”. And the conversation flowed forth.

We live in a world where consumerism permeates everything, but instead of chastising, Mr. Brainwash accepts and finds the beauty. He suggests the gap between Brittany Spears and Obama, Monet and Teletubies is not so wide, indeed not a gap at all. As Mr. Brainwash confronts mainstream there is no “bomb it” or “take back” mentality. He points out how intermixed and connected both sides of the spectrum are. Graffiti art is literally within an old CBS studio; giclee prints of fine art are transposed with mainstream media images.

Same Face, Miimic

Graffiti is a tough medium to box into a gallery. Once applied to canvas and a value is placed, it becomes part of the system, and looses some of its freedom and movement. But Mr. Brainwash’s use of space allowed viewees to feel encompassed, to grasp the raw beauty of his work, and consequently the beauty in our everyday world.

I visited the show post opening to catch the vibe, because I’m human and therefore skeptical of a show pronouncing “Life is Beautiful”(anyone without air conditioning this weekend understands me). His predominately French speaking crew was still just as excited, and Mr. Brainwash was more than gracious. He chatted with me while reclined in the grass, his aviator glasses speckled with paint, his two children running about. The man even signs “Mr. Brainwash” with a heart above the “i”. How can you deny the beauty?

Insider tip: When asked how he felt about the in-the-moment-tagging some party goers did, and why he left it up, Mr. Brainwash replied that he wanted this (here he gestured around him) to be for everyone, and even invited my husband to bring his Posca markers this weekend when the show opens up for an extended viewing. Also (and perhaps you’re not as—er—hopeful as me) but the “prints” are seven hundred and fifty, not $7.50.

Original dates: June 19^th to 22^nd

Extended dates: June 27^th to the 28 and most likely every weekend until the end of July---but check their website!

6121 W Sunset Blvd, Hollywood

www.artshow2008.com

By LISKA JACOBS for YOU! and LA2DAY

Flag and Palm