Art Tarts and Label Whores Unite

Cold cliques of black-swathed art snobs sipping wine and expounding esoteric about the hidden meaning of a $10,000 paint-splattered canvas in a sterile, white room . . . What a bore. Maybe that kind of thing still gets people off in New York, but in laid-back L.A., a new kind of artsy atmosphere has taken its place. More and more, the traditional gallery is being replaced by something scads more fun and frenzied. Artists are choosing to show their work in alternative spaces, most notably boutiques and galleries connected to small, independent retail shops. The union benefits all involved: The store gets new crowds every month for the opening event, the artists get exposure to the store’s regular customers, and we patrons get retail therapy, some social time and a good buzz all in one night.

The Force Is With Them

On a recent Saturday eve, several dozen Raggedy Ann–garbed gals and punkish sk8ter boys from surrounding Echo Park and Silver Lake cram into the tiny shop called Han Cholo. Old-school hip-hop thumps from a ghetto blaster, and people meander in and out to check out the month’s exhibit and eye the store’s wares (silver and gold jewelry cast in street styles — breakdancers, brass knuckles and, yes, Star Wars characters). Cholo always exhibits drawings, paintings and other creations from local artists, and when I was there, it was the more sculptural work of former pro skateboarder Steve Olson, who appropriates board shapes with old car insignias and car-interior materials. “I would never show my stuff at a real gallery,” he says, over the loud music, adding that he probably wouldn’t do it at a store other than this one either. “I’m showing here because I like the people, the neighborhood and the owner.” The surrounding stores, such as Lucas and Show Pony, also stay open during Cholo’s parties, and show art monthly. Both shops offer reconstructed vintage and new clothing designs, complemented by colorful art pieces. The unique offerings in these boutiques, combined with the motley mass of peeps who attend their openings, make for wild, wine-fueled block parties that often continue on to local bars like the Short Stop. It’s no wonder everybody wants to live in the EP these days.1549 Echo Park Ave., Echo Park, (213) 482-9180 or www.hancholo.com. Up next: “The Drawings of Plastic God.” Opening: Sat., Dec. 2, 8 p.m.

Back to the Furniture

Many locals may know the name Señor Amor, but not from the retail world. The guy has been one of L.A.’s top lounge/exotica DJs for years, with gigs ranging from playin’ tunes for the Velvet Hammer burlesque shows to mega-Tinseltown soirees. These days, though, he and interior-designer ladylove Jonona Amor have taken their lust for all things ’50s, ’60s and ’70s and channeled it into their new Hollywood furnishings-and-décor store, Retropia. The store’s monthly art openings often offer pieces that go with the retro home stylings (one exhibit showcased unusual vintage phones), while at other times, it’s simply stuff that strikes the owners’ fancy (Jason Mercier’s “Green With Envy” show featured celebrity-portrait collages made of found objects, and in the case of Phyllis Diller’s and Dayna Devon’s portraits, their own personal items). For its last few shows, Retropia has shown artwork in an upstairs loft, separate from the packed main showroom, providing a distraction-free space to view new creations. Since the store is tiny, a tent is usually erected in its rear parking lot, with cocktails and, of course, Amor’s jigglin’ tunes. Then the vibe gets swingin’ like a party scene from Russ Meyer’s Beyond the Valley of the Dolls — and it becomes hard to resist snatching up some midcentury mod or art nouveau artifact — a bright-green armchair or a bordelloesque bejeweled lamp perhaps?1443 N. Highland Ave., Hlywd., (323) 871-4000 or www.retropia.net. Up next: “Textile Trunk Show” (vintage wallpaper). Opening: Thur., Dec. 7, 7 pm.

Westside Fashion Mash

Walk into the chic and sleek EM & Co.boutique and your eye is automatically drawn to its colorful frocks, all arranged by color and hanging in white, cubelike display cases. Sunset-hued dresses, skirts in brilliant blues and greens, earthy lace blouses — each section beckons with a different mood and palette. It’s only after you really start to look around that you realize it’s the radiant art that hangs above each rack, either in the same shade or in a contrasting one, that makes it all so visually pleasing. Indeed, everything in this stylish store is here for a reason, and owner Eveline Morel says she has fun remerchandising the entire store once a month, when new art is exhibited on the shop’s walls. “The art should complement the merchandise,” she explains. “I know that the environment affects people subconsciously, but I never want it to be overbearing.” While the designs of FNA, Covet and Cyrus & Sonny (Cybill Shepherd’s daughter’s line) pop from the store’s white walls and shelves, they never clash with the art displayed above them. Both get equal play, and the opening parties (to which Morel brings in liquor sponsors and popular DJs such as hipster mister Franki Chan) always seem to have as many patrons at the register as they do at the bar.7940 W. Third St., L.A., (323) 782-8155 or www.emandco.com. Up next: “Emotions” installation, plus paintings by Dina Lockridge and Jerome Slettleland. Opening: Dec. 14, 7 p.m.