Street artist-turned-gallery sensation Gregory Siff has always painted, but he didn't always want to be a painter. He came to L.A. from New York City to write and star in the movies — but as far as he's concerned, things turned out fine. He has a distinct drawing style that persists across his portraits, urban landscapes and geometric abstractions — instantly recognizable despite its relative simplicity, and vibrating with life and chaos. But as is evident in Gallery Brown's exhibition of his recent painting, works on paper and mixed-media sculptures, Gregory Siff: "Matter of Time," he is still writing those stories. Text is frequently an element of his compositions in ways that define pictorial space but also move the plot — in this case, expounding on time's irrevocable passing, and the struggle to keep it together when life changes direction on a dime. "I am working on dueling canvases called Life and Death, a recipe of everything I love about everything. There are a lot of unknown markings yet to be made and I like that the story isn't over yet. They are so close to being done, and they look at me as I write this and say, "Don't tell them what we look like, you don't want to ruin the movie.'" Gallery Brown, 140 S. Orlando Ave., W. Hlywd.; Sat., Oct. 20, 6-10 p.m.; exhibit runs Tues.-Fri., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat., noon-4 p.m.;, thru Nov. 20; free. (323) 651-1956,... More >>>