Thursday, December 12, 2013

Pieceable Kingdom at Beacon Arts Building. Review by Ginger Van Hook

Pieceable Kingdom Artist Panel March 6, 2011.
Beacon Arts Building. Inglewood, California
Conversations with the artists about the work curated by David Pagel. 

A technically and conceptually strong show, this turned out to be a wonderful opportunity
to hear the ideas behind their work, process and inspiration.
 

From Left to right, Curator David Pagel, Artist Asad Faulwell,
Artist Erin Cosgrove, Artist Laura Krifka, Artist Mimi Lauter,
Artist Maxwell Hendler, and Host and Gallery Director Renée Fox.
Photo by Ginger Van Hook©2011

      Being in sync with the universe is often a luxury, but in a curious way, the exhibition Pieceable Kingdom which opened on Saturday February 5th, 2011 is demonstrably in sync with what is going on with the art culture of the world. The show is the third in a series coined "Critics as Curators" by Gallery Director Renée Fox who is the new force to be reckoned with in the art scene of Inglewood where she managed to inspire a developer to open a new art gallery. This new Gallery called Beacon Arts Building is located in the center of Los Angeles County, California about five miles from the LAX Airport; through which guests arrive and depart to their destinations around the world from the Pacific Rim.  
      In light of a new revolution of democracy erupting in the Middle East, this exhibition opened and reveals a wonderfully diverse voice and collection of imagery which propels our melting pot of community into the flavor of change.  David Pagel, the renowned curator, artist and writer based his show on the term Pieceable Kingdom, while playing with the spelling of the word Peace. Additionally collaborating with the artists on the planning of the artwork that is forged from the very distant "Biblical" past and merging it with the contemporary world we live in, Pagel dug deep into the fabric of American Philosophy and managed to reveal a unique recipe for harmony.
     The cover piece created by Laura Krifka titled "Mine Eternal" is an oil on canvas 48" x 96"inches and hangs impressively in the center of the gallery, surrounded by some of her unique miniature sculptures nearby on three pedestals. The image is truly an image of luxury whereby the two lovers lounge in a bed of pink roses in the center of the forest. The male is resting his head on the female's bosom reminiscent of Greek statues. The female wears a luscious flowing maroon gown with blue and white stripped petticoat and a low cut strapless top which reveals her naked shoulders. But none is more naked or anatomically correct than the image of the male who is completely nude, eyes closed in eternal bliss. Yes, here the male is a bit feminine. It seems to reveal a switch in the culture of the sexes as usually it has been the female who is naked and laying in the arms of her male lover. Here is where Laura plays with our gender roles of the present. And she doesn't stop there. Her miniature sculptures are just as anatomically correct and naked and just as reversed in their roles as parents, caretakers and nurturers.
Her females in the sculptures appear to be turned on their heads, petticoats showing, children naked catching butterflies in the wind and clutching the father who sports an injury to the leg, blood seeping from his wound while he supports his wife, who appears to have a smile on her face and dressed to do the can-can dance.

Curator David Pagel and Artist Asad Faulwell.
Photo by Ginger Van Hook©2011

Curator David Pagel, Artist Asad Faulwell, Artist Erin Cosgrove and Artist Laura Krifka.
Pieceable Kingdom, Artist Panel Discussion, Beacon Arts Building.
Photo by Ginger Van Hook©2011

Artist Laura Krifka,  Artist Mimi Lauter, Artist Maxwell Hendler, Gallery Director Renée Fox.
Pieceable Kingdom, Artist Panel Discussion, Beacon Arts Building.
Photo by Ginger Van Hook©2011

Audience attending Artist Panel Discussion. Artist Ken Ober,  Documenting Event.
Pieceable Kingdom, Artist Panel Discussion, Beacon Arts Building.
Photo by Ginger Van Hook©2011

Artist Asad Faulwell discussing the origins of the photographs in his collage.
To his Left, Curator David Pagel to the right, Artist Filmmaker Erin Cosgrove.
Pieceable Kingdom, Artist Panel Discussion, Beacon Arts Building.
Photo by Ginger Van Hook©2011

Erin Cosgrove discusses her video work. (center)
Pieceable Kingdom, Artist Panel Discussion, Beacon Arts Building.
Photo by Ginger Van Hook©2011

Laura Krifka discusses her miniature sculptures inspired from her Grandmother's collection.
Pieceable Kingdom, Artist Panel Discussion, Beacon Arts Building.
Photo by Ginger Van Hook©2011

Artist Laura Krifka (center)  considers a question from the audience.
Pieceable Kingdom, Artist Panel Discussion, Beacon Arts Building.
Photo by Ginger Van Hook©2011

Sitting in front of her art piece, Artist Mimi Lauter discusses
 the Russian Folk Tale which inspired her work.
Pieceable Kingdom, Artist Panel Discussion, Beacon Arts Building.
Photo by Ginger Van Hook©2011

Artist Maxwell Hendler (center) considers a question about the process of working with resin
posed by Gallery Director Renée Fox (right). Mimi Lauter (left)
Pieceable Kingdom, Artist Panel Discussion, Beacon Arts Building.
Photo by Ginger Van Hook©2011

Artist Asad Faulwell poses beside his collage artwork.
Pieceable Kingdom, Artist Panel Discussion, Beacon Arts Building.
Photo by Ginger Van Hook©2011

Artist Mimi Lauter poses with Gallery Director Renée Fox in front of her artwork.
Pieceable Kingdom, Artist Panel Discussion, Beacon Arts Building.
Photo by Ginger Van Hook©2011

Artist Maxwell Hendler poses beside one of his art pieces made of resin.
Pieceable Kingdom, Artist Panel Discussion, Beacon Arts Building.
Photo by Ginger Van Hook©2011

Erin Cogrove poses beside her film "Happy I Am".
Pieceable Kingdom, Artist Panel Discussion, Beacon Arts Building.
Photo by Ginger Van Hook©2011

Laura Krifka poses beside her miniature sculptures to the right and her painting "Eternally Mine"
in the background.
Pieceable Kingdom, Artist Panel Discussion, Beacon Arts Building.
Photo by Ginger Van Hook©2011











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