I admit that I was very excited for this event. With three stages featuring musical and theatrical performances, an eco-friendly vibe, arts and literature “villages”, and more food trucks than the food truck festival (which I can’t believe I missed), how could a girl go wrong?

The corner of North Venice and Pacific was abuzz with art enthusiasts for the opening of “Alice Neel: Paintings” at LA Louver last Thursday, May 20th. I readily admit to my ignorance about Neel and her legacy, but her name is obviously a big draw in the sophisticated art community—the gallery echoed with intense intellectual discussion as throngs of art-lovers poured through the doors.

Guest curator Robert Marbury (along with his partners Scott Bibus and Sarina Brewer) coined the term in 2004, upon forming the Minnesota Association of Rogue Taxidermists. Road kill becomes a central part of their “recycled” philosophy, as are discarded livestock, destroyed nuisance animals, casualties of the pet trade and animals that have expired from natural causes. Other sculptures utilize taxidermy materials with custom stitching to fashion beasts from the recycled pelts of toy stuffed animals. Elements of technology and decoration combine to create ornaments that approach high art, not only in craft, but in concept.

While it seems some humans are dumping trash into Earth’s precious waters, others are recycling their unwanted goods and using them to create art. Others yet are painting pictures or taking photographs that capture the beauties of nature that have fortunately been able to remain untouched by mankind’s pestering paws. If you have respect for the glories and wonders of the planet we live on, then you share the sentiments of Tony Clark, founder and curator of Affinity Galleries in West Hollywood.

by Carolyn Blais
If you happen to be walking or driving down Lincoln Blvd in Venice and you see a cow on the sidewalk you may be craving dairy and experiencing a mirage, or more likely, you have passed The Happening Gallery. I forgot to ask the significance of the cow statue that stands directly outside the doors to the little gallery located near the corner of Lincoln and Washington but for whatever reason it’s there, and you can’t miss it as it often dons balloons from around its neck. Saturday, April 18, I went back to The Happening …