Shana Nys Dambrot
This week, a trio of art events celebrates the best of Los Angeles’ open skies, open books and open studios.
Thursday, April 16: #OnlyinLA Photography Show at Angel City Brewery
There’s no denying that L.A. is one of the most photogenic cities in the world — especially if you love palm trees, sunsets, skate ramps, street art, quinceneras and superheroes in drive-thrus. In that spirit, and coinciding with the still-unfurling MOPLA (Month of Photography Los Angeles) banner, downtown Arts District staple Angel City Brewery dreamed up Only in LA, an open call photography contest requesting entries from Angeleno shutterbugs, submitted via the social media campaign #OnlyinLA. Tonight’s exhibition presents dozens of selected winners in a wildly eclectic portrait of the city. Angel City Brewery, 216 S. Alameda, downtown. Thu., April 16, 7-10 p.m.; free, 21+. (213) 622-1261, angelcitybrewery.com.
Saturday, April 18: Zero+ Publishing at KP Projects/ Merry Karnowsky Gallery
AGGREGATE: Paintings and Deluxe Box Editions By Zero+ Published Artists features the work of some 17 contemporary street and studio artists, many of whom have exhibited with MK Gallery, and each of whom has made outrageously unique book editions with Zero+ Publishing. Featured artists include ABOVE, CRYPTIK, DABSMYLA, Lisa Adams, Mark Dean Veca, Mark Whalen, Mercedes Helnwein, Sage Vaughn and Shark Toof — and works on display will include not only examples of the collaborative hand-made deluxe book editions, but original artwork as well. Though of course, as Zero+ capo and exhibition curator Kirk Pedersen will always remind you, “These books are themselves works of art.” KP Projects // MKG, 170 S. La Brea Ave., Hancock Park; Sat., April 18, 7-10 p.m.; free w/ rsvp to rsvp@mkgallery.com. (323) 933-4408, mkgallery.com. Exhibition continues Tues.-Sat., 12-6 p.m., through May 16.
Sunday, April 19: Champagne Social at 18th Street Arts Center
18th Street Arts Center turns its recurring open-studios event into a properly civilized springtime garden party, with the addition of champagne and live music to its already-compelling artist-atelier tours, talks and screenings. Meet and peek into the processes of well-known names like Lita Albuquerque and Mario Ybarra, Jr. to new (to you) discoveries like international artists Naufus Ramírez-Figueroa (Guatemala), Gulnara Kasmalieva and Muratbek Djumaliev (Kyrgyzstan) across the twenty or so spaces. 18th Street Arts Center, 1639 18th St., Santa Monica; Sun., April 19, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; free. (310) 453-3711, 18thstreet.org.
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