Don’t let its title deceive you, Irish Girl, Tim Johnston’s latest book is a collection of eight short stories that explore life and happenings in small town USA. Hailing from Iowa, Johnston knows a thing or two about the ugly secrets that can often exist buried within the confines of a seemingly sleepy, small town. While the stories within Irish Girl vary in plot and theme, they do share similar small town settings in which such things as murders, love affairs, and lies are uncovered and dispersed from one gossiping townsperson to the next.

The opening reception Saturday night at James Gray Gallery at Bergamot Station Art Center in Santa Monica was where I was introduced to the work of some incredible and incredibly eclectic artists: Morris B. Squire, Susan Rosman, Thom Surman, Marylyn English, David Cook, and Kitty Rocquemore. James Gray Gallery is divided into five separate spaces. Strolling through the gallery, I got my fill of some of my favorite components of art: colors, textures, composition, and fantastically disturbing whimsy.

Last Saturday I was lucky enough to attend the Miracle Mile Art Walk. The Art Walk is a full-on tour of the galleries on La Brea and Beverly Boulevard complete with talks by featured artists and free shuttle rides by the Holly Trolley. If this isn’t enough to convince you to join in the fun, a bouquet of balloons marks off each participating gallery. How can you say no to that?

It was a beautiful weekend and a perfect location for this amazing line-up of underground contemporary art galleries in the Los Angeles area. A picturesque setting nestled atop the Hollywood Hills is where the Municipal Art Gallery is situated. The artwork displayed this weekend was top notch! The showcase included several amazing artist’s as well as a series of portraits called “Heroes & Villains,” by Tatiana Wills and Roman Cho. You should NOT have missed this but lucky for you this will take place once again next year! Till then, I hope to see you all out at one of the many art openings scheduled throughout the year!

Saturday, I had the pleasure of attending the super-swanky, super-awesome voila! gallery “New and Not So New Talent” event. Four artists were featured—Sam Frost, a local photographer; An Gyselinck, a Belgian photographer; Gwen Samuels, a mixed media visionary; and Olivia Chague, a French mixed media extraordinaire. Us FORTH magazine folks were stationed appropriately on the way to the bar, where we had the chance to talk to many awesome people about what we do, what they do, and what we all can do to promote/support the ever-dynamic LA art scene.