The Egg and Eye

The Craft and Folk Art Museum just launched their new on-line curated boutique called The Egg and Eye. Li'n Lee and I have limited edition t-shirts featured on the site. These shirts were created for our installation we did at SALT last year. Prints of one of the patterns on the shirt are also available.

New sewn collage works

I finished these small sewn collage works I call "barkpeels" yesterday. Each is made from consumer packaging and paper and is mounted on foam core approximately 9" x 12" using lollipop sticks and straight pins. Using lollipop sticks to mount the work brings each piece off the foam core backing and provides dimension to the collages.

Paper Trail this Friday, Dec. 3

Once again, I have work included in the current Paper Trail exhibition at Happy. Following is their press release:

Opening Friday, December 3, 6-10pm

December 3, 2010 – January 31, 2011

Happy is pleased to present the December edition of Paper Trail. For the fourth offering of Paper Trail we welcome artists Edith Abeyta, Chelsea Dean, Jaime Ursic and Jim Zver to our highly successful revolving group show of artists’ works on paper.
...
Paper Trail launched in September and features small works on paper by leading artists working in Los Angeles and beyond. A revolving and continuous show, Paper Trail presents new and exciting artists each month. The artists, in turn, have been invited to explore and exploit the medium of paper, giving viewers an opportunity to acquire good work by established artists at reasonable prices. Works are available for immediate purchase. We want to encourage a constant stream of art viewing, appreciation and consumption, inviting to both new and savvy collectors.

With over 30 established artists and over 100 works available, viewers are taking advantage of this little secret tucked away in Los Feliz - Art makes a perfect gift for the holiday season. Join us on December 3, meet the artists in Paper Trail and start your very own collection!

December Artists:
Edith Abeyta, Chelsea Dean, Jaime Ursic and Jim Zver

Current Paper Trail Artists:
Sophia Allison, Susan Arena, Justina Blakeney, Michael Blasi, Rochelle Botello, Matthew Causey, Kris Chatterson, Amanda Church, Audra Graziano, Corrie Gregory, Autumn Harrison, Amparo Jelsma, Aragna Ker, Elisabeth Kley, Joshua Levine, Li 'n Lee, Jay Lizo, Amy Maloof, Brigid Mason, Robert McCormack, Peter Owen, Sandy Rodriguez, Yong Sin, Carl Smith, Amanda Tan, Devon Tsuno, Kim Tucker, Laura Sharp Wilson and Penny Young.

happy
4675 hollywood blvd.
los angeles, ca 90027
323 661 2200
hours: sun-fri 12-6pm, sat. 11-7pm (closed Tuesdays)

39Now exhibition

I am pleased to be part of the 39NOW exhibition which will be on view at d.e.n. contemporary art. Here's the press release:

39NOW

Curated by Sophia Louisa

November 17 – December 17, 2010

Opening Reception: Thursday, November 18, 5:30-8:00 pm

den contemporary art

@ Pacific Design Center

8687 Melrose Avenue, #B261

West Hollywood, CA 90069

323-422-6340 or 310-773-1460

Gallery hours: Monday through Friday, 11-5pm

39NOW unites thirty-nine exceptional artists, from the emerging to the well-established, living in and around Los Angeles. Presented by den contemporary art and curated by Sophia Louisa, 39NOW is a conceptual exhibition wherein each artist has created a new piece of work based on the circumstances of the here and now. The term “now” is conceptual in and of itself. The moment passes and soon becomes “then.” Capturing the moment through art specifically created with the perception of now, through the talents of thirty-nine artists -- all of whom are women -- is the basis of this exhibition.

Initially inspired by Judy Chicago’s ‘The Dinner Party’ (1974-79) wherein thirty-nine artists collaborated on one piece, curator Sophia Louisa brings together the same number of artists to create an individual piece within the same time period (June – September 2010) to explore what is happening now, whether on a personal or public level. Collectively, each artist explores the elements of empowerment, strength, fear, independence, and the ability to keep moving forward.

Participating artists are Kim Abeles, Joyce Aiken, Sophia Allison, Fumiko Amano, Yun Bai, Kimber Berry, Andrea Bowers, Nancy Buchanan, Gul Cagin, Heather Cantrell, Jennifer Celio, Ya Ya Chou, Angel Chen, Abbey Dubin, Vivian Flynn, Simone Gad, Kristina Faragher, Alexandra Grant, Laurie Hassold, Mary Heebner, MAL IDEA, Tulsa Kinney, Rebecca Lowry, Leora Lutz, Anne Martens, Christine Morla, Nikki Nash, Ruby Osorio, Snezana Petrovic, Carol Powell, Sandy Rodriguez, Leigh Salgado, Gina Stepaniuk, Lacey Terrell, Daena Title, Marika Krissman Tsircou, Katy Unger, Marnie Weber, and Patssi Valdez.

For more information, please contact:

Donna Enad Napper, Owner/Director, den contemporary art

at 323-422-6340/info@dencontemporaryart.com

-or- Sophia Louisa, Curator

at 310-773-1460/sophia@sophialouisaprojects.com

den contemporary art is located at #B261 in the 2^nd floor of the PDC Blue Building.

New work for November Paper Trail at Happy

I will have new works available for purchase in the Paper Trail group exhibition at Happy:

Greenbarkpeel, sewn paper, consumer packaging, 8" x 10", 2010

Redbarkpeel, sewn paper, consumer packaging, 8" x 10", 2008

November Paper Trail

Opening Friday, November 5, 6-10pm

Nov. 5 – Nov. 30, 2010

Happy is pleased to present the November edition of Paper Trail. Paper Trail launched in September and features small works on paper by leading artists working in Los Angeles and beyond. A revolving and continuous show, Paper Trail presents new and exciting artists each month. The artists, in turn, have been invited to explore and exploit the medium of paper, giving viewers an opportunity to acquire good work by established artists at reasonable prices. Works are available for immediate purchase. Happy wants to encourage a constant stream of art viewing, appreciation and consumption, inviting to both new and savvy collectors.

November Artists:

Amanda Church, Amparo Jelsma, Carl Smith and Devon Tsuno

Current Paper Trail Artists:

Sophia Allison, Susan Arena, Justina Blakeney, Michael Blasi, Rochelle Botello, Matthew Causey, Kris Chatterson, Audra Graziano, Corrie Gregory, Autumn Harrison, Aragna Ker, Elisabeth Kley, Joshua Levine, Li 'n Lee, Jay Lizo, Amy Maloof, Brigid Mason, Robert McCormack, Peter Owen, Sandy Rodriguez, Yong Sin, Amanda Tan, Kim Tucker, Laura Sharp Wilson and Penny Young.

happy

4675 hollywood blvd.

los angeles, ca 90027

323 661 2200

hours: sun-fri 12-6pm, sat. 11-7pm (closed Tuesdays)

http://happyonlinestore.blogspot.com

The Allison-Gill Project

Abigail Byrd Gill was born on September 19, 2010, weighing 7 lbs 14 ounces and measuring 19 1/2" long.

Paper Trail in Los Feliz Ledger

I got a mention along with friends Autumn Harrison, Michael Blasi, Sandy Rodriguez and Penny Young:

http://www.losfelizledger.com/2010/09/events-calendar-for-september/

Paper Trail opens this Friday!

Paper Trail at Happy

happy
4675 hollywood blvd.
los angeles, ca 90027
323 661 2200

a curated, revolving group show of artists’ works on paper

Opening Friday, September 3, 6-10pm

Paper Trail will launch on September 3, featuring small works on paper by leading artists working in Los Angeles and beyond. A revolving and continuous show, Paper Trail will present new and exciting artists each month. The artists, in turn, have been invited to explore and exploit the medium of paper for Paper Trail, giving viewers an opportunity to acquire good work by established artists at reasonable prices. Works are available for immediate purchase. We want to encourage a constant stream of art viewing, appreciation and consumption, inviting to both new and savvy collectors.

Paper Trail is housed in Happy’s new mezzanine gallery. The past year of shows has garnered much interest and press and we hope to continue to bring new artists, projects and events to the Los Feliz area. We are thrilled to have been able to work with so many talented and generous people. Curators Paul Evans and Heather Arndt invite you to join them for a great season of art and friends at Happy.

September artists:

Sophia Allison, Susan Arena, Justina Blakeney, Michael Blasi, Rochelle Botello, Kris Chatterson, Audra Graziano, Corrie Gregory, Autumn Harrison, Aragna Ker, Elisabeth Kley, Joshua Levine, Li 'n Lee, Jay Lizo, Amy Maloof, Robert McCormack, Peter Owen, Sandy Rodriguez, Amanda Tan, Kim Tucker, Laura Sharp Wilson and Penny Young.

Review for Landskin in the Glendale New Press

Check it out!

http://www.glendalenewspress.com/entertainment/tn-gnp-brandshow-20100828,0,1995040,print.story

Images from the Landskin Opening

A big thanks to Paul Evans for taking the pictures!

Landskin

Landskin

Sophia Allison, Autumn Harrison, Li ‘n Lee, and Jaime Ursic

August 21– September 24, 2010

Opening Reception: Saturday, August 21, 6:00–9:00pm

Brand Art Library Art Galleries

Glendale Public Library

1601 West Mountain Street

Glendale, CA 91201

Phone: 818-458-2051; Fax: 818-458-5079

http://www.brandlibrary.org/

Gallery hours: Tues./Thurs., 12-8pm; Wed., 12-6pm; Fri./Sat, 10am-5pm.

Closed Sun. & Mon.

The Brand Art Library Galleries is pleased to present a group exhibition featuring artwork by Sophia Allison, Autumn Harrison, Li ‘n Lee and Jaime Ursic. Through installation, painting, printmaking, and sculpture, Landskin explores emotional and psychological environments, both observed and imaginary.

Sophia Allison’s art is inspired by the organic environs of her childhood home in the Blue Ridge mountains of North Carolina and her neighborhood in Los Angeles. Her sculptures and installations reference specific places and points in time, both physical and psychological. The “Blue Ridge” series consists of structures built from cardboard scraps. Their forms undulate like abstracted mountain ranges. Untitled (Shadows) is comprised of watercolor paper from which abstracted shapes are hand cut; their cast shadows are based on local vegetation around her Los Feliz neighborhood. Allison’s work addresses the connections and disconnections that result from revisiting the past, including the fragmentation of memories and experiences that meld and shift over time.

Autumn Harrison is interested in the discarded, decaying and abandoned materials of city life. She is influenced by the scaffolding of an unfinished construction, a half-eaten cake in its decorative box, or puckered balloons pulling each other across a sidewalk. Together these elements create an aesthetic language that conveys something about a city’s hidden emotional landscape. Her current sculptures and installations borrow from the colors, shapes, and physics of city detritus and are created from a variety of materials including plastic sheeting, acrylic paint, wood, cement, latex balloons and bakery foil.

Li ‘n Lee’s over-life-sized paintings-cum-sculptures evoke mythical islands full of impossible canyons, valleys and roiling waves, but also draw upon the very real setting of Los Angeles and all that it entails, including but not limited to palm trees, the people, the ocean, freeways and urban graffiti. This most recent body of work began as a translation of Lee’s longstanding pen-on-paper drawings of miniature, imaginary cityscapes motivated by a fascination with maps and the complex juxtaposition of chaos and order within metropolises. For her new painting-sculpture hybrids, Lee first begins with a free-form paint pour onto linoleum flooring which she eventually cuts out and adheres to wood. Drawing on her paper-making background, Lee cultivates a new process in which thin sheets of dried latex paint are treated like paper as she meticulously cuts, tears and pastes tiny organic shapes. Lee explores the manipulation and potential of the material, including experimenting with frosting bags to pipe out acrylic paint. Lee’s new works, with their multi-layered references and meanings, are like the city of Los Angeles itself—full of disparate people, places and things that are seemingly contradictory but ultimately complementary.

Jaime Ursic takes her inspiration from her environment; the phenomenon of the mundane vista and timeworn surface connected with the places she inhabits. In her recent body of work, Ursic reinterprets the SoCal landscape by drawing on her introspective observation of a location distilled to its most microcosmic elements. Working in a variety of media including painting, drawing and printmaking, Ursic’s work demonstrates an emphasis on process. Each mark serves as a visual homage to her craft— building up surfaces, layering subtle color tonalities, printing and embossing textures. Her images invite the viewer to peer closer and discern the drawn marks and delicate patterns incised, pressed and layered as surfaces.

Media contact: Cathy Billings, Gallery Manager, 818-548-2713, CBillings@ci.glendale.ca.us

Not in My Backyard closing reception

The group show Not in My Backyard in which I have work at d.e.n. contemporary art has been extended to this Thurs., July 22. There will be a closing reception from 5-8p.m. that evening. If you haven't seen the show, I hope you can stop by-it's a good one! Click on the image below for details.

Coagula

Check it out- a photo of me with my work from Underground Gallery last fall made their website yesterday:

http://coagula.com/2010/06/sophia-allison-at-underground-gallery/

Sneak Peek

Some new work in the studio for the Brand Library Art Galleries show in August:

This is a pair of watercolor cutouts based on drawings of shadows cast by local neighborhood vegetation. I have created around (20) of these cutouts -and more to come. They will be mounted off the wall by 4"-5" and should cast some interesting shadows.

This work is an extension/continuation of the "Blue Ridge" sculpture I did late last fall for my solo exhibition at Underground Gallery. I hope to complete (5) of these for the August exhibition.

Coming in September...

This coming fall is already shaping up to be a very busy and exciting one. I am working on brand new pieces that will be shown in some very dynamic exhibitions - including a wonderful group show organized by the very energetic Sophia Louisa Lee of Sophia Louisa Projects:

**********************************************************
39NOW
September 11 - November 6, 2010
Opening Reception: Saturday, September 11, 6:00–9:00 pm

Sophia Louisa Projects
5412 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90036
310-773-1460
Gallery hours: Thursday-Saturday, 12-5 pm

39NOW unites thirty-nine exceptional artists, from the emerging to the well-established, living in and around Los Angeles. Each has been asked to create a new and individual piece expressly for this show. Curated by Sophia Louisa Lee, the exhibition is inspired in part by Judy Chicago’s The Dinner Party, which included the same number of artists. 39NOW contemplates how “now” is different than “then,” how art embraces the evolution of technology and how it survives the impact of the economy. Ultimately, this exhibition explores a compelling segment of the explosive Los Angeles contemporary art scene.

Lee reached out to artists she knew and to those she wanted to know: Abbey Dubin, Alexandra Grant, Andrea Bowers, Anne Martens, Carol Powell, Daena Title, Fumiko Amano, Gina Stepaniuk, Glynnis Reed, Gul Cagin, Heather Cantrell, Jennifer Celio, Joyce Aiken, Katy Unger, Kim Abeles, Kimber Berry, Kristina Faragher, Lacey Terrell, Leigh Salgado, Leora Lutz, Lita Albuquerque, Marnie Weber, Marika Krissman Tsircou, Mary Heebner, Nancy Braver, Nancy Buchanan, Nikki Nash, Paige Wery, Patssi Valdez, Rebecca Lowry, Rebecca Niederlander, Sandy Rodriguez, Simone Gad, Snezana Petrovic, Sophia Allison, Tulsa Kinney, Vivian Flynn, YaYa Chou, and Yun Bai.

A series of programming will be held in conjunction with 39NOW, including an open forum discussion on Saturday, October 16th at 7:00 pm during the Miracle Mile Art Walk, scheduled performance art, and panel discussions. For more information, please contact Sophia Louisa Lee at 310.773.1460, sophia@sophialouisaprojects.com or visit sophialouisaprojects.com.

Sophia Louisa Lee opened Sophia Louisa Projects in October 2009 on a “temporarily permanent” basis, in association with Phantom Galleries LA (PGLA) which places temporary art installations in vacant storefront windows throughout Los Angeles County. PGLA transforms un-utilized space into 24/7 public art galleries.
********************************************************************

I am working on a new sculpture for this show and will post images as the work develops!

Me at the PDC

A picture of me with my installation at d.e.n. contemporary art's opening last Thursday. Taken by the wonderful intern Jennifer.

Flavorpill plug

PDC galleries opening tomorrow night-be sure to check out d.e.n. contemporary art:

http://flavorpill.com/losangeles/events/2010/5/20/pacific-design-center-art-galleries?utm_source=losangeles&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=issue_377

Not in My Backyard

I am excited to have work included in the exhibiton Not In My Backyard, a group show opening May 20th, running through June 30th at den contemporary art at the Pacific Design Center.

den contemporary art along with Sam Lee Gallery will present simultaneous group shows focusing on the common theme of “backyard.”

Opening Reception: Thursday, May 20 from 5-8pm.

d.e.n. contemporary art

Pacific Design Center, Blue Building

8587 Melrose Avenue, #B275, 2d floor

West Hollywood, CA 90069

323.422.6340

Artists:

Sophia Allison, Bernadette DiPietro, Christine Gray,Hacer, Linda King, Christine Morla, and Ruby Osorio

Press Release

den contemporary art is pleased to present Not In My Backyard, featuring paintings, drawings, photography, and sculpture by seven artists whose works take us to that psychological place which forms the idea of “our” territory, with imagery associated with the backyard and its boundaries, as well as with works that evoke childhood memories of the backyard – foreboding or treasured.

“Not in my backyard” – a statement made by residents expressing an unfavorable response to projected conditions or changes to their neighborhood. The process by which one determines their personal space or territory is often formed during early experiences learning the physical boundaries between family and the people on the other side of the fence.

As opposed to the interior home surroundings, it is within the backyard that often offers one’s first experience with a sense of freedom: activities in the open air, the opportunity to connect with nature, and to explore both with uninhibited imagination. With the safety and comfort of “home” extended to the outdoors, memories are formed and a sense of privacy and security is developed. One defines and will defend against threats contrary to preserving personal space, property, community, territory –that which is the concept of “my backyard.”

Extending beyond the backyard to also include surrounding landscape, Sophia Allison and Christine Morla create works inspired by their respective childhood environment. Allison’s house installation and sewn thread “drawings” are literal depictions of the family property nestled among a dense wooded area in North Carolina. In “Strawberry Fields,” Morla meticulously weaves strips of multicolored packaging paper into geometric, semi-abstract floral shapes, representing the bountiful fields in her hometown neighborhood in Ventura County.

Gerardo Hacer and Linda King’s works are associated with subjects of a more personal attachment such as pets and gardens: kept life forms within safe containment. King’s large abstract paintings have botanical references, through which dual forces of positive/negative planes and fluid fields of color inside hard-edged geometric outlines, represent change, transformation in nature. Hacer’s sculpture explores one’s relationship to the formative process of childhood, represented in “Foxy,” the artist’s intimate family pet as an origami Pomeranian dog made of powder-coated steel.

Bernadette DiPietro’s series of color photographs suggests private and utilitarian use of the yard with images of laundry hanging next to homes located in various countries.

Representing the freedom to explore, Christine Gray and Ruby Osorio create works depicting animaginary environment where fantastical narratives are set in nature. Gray’s use of electric hues in her paintings evoke drama in a backyard setting, where mysterious objects combining natural and man-made materials are used in the search of meaning with our relationship to nature. Osorio’s drawings/paintings include cultural and gender references in the rituals and dark games played out in the context of pastoral scenery.

With the exception of Christine Gray from Virginia, all artists live and work in southern California.

Not In My Backyard will be on view through June 30, 2010. den contemporary art is located in the Pacific Design Center Blue Building, 8687 Melrose Avenue, 2nd Floor #B275, West Hollywood, CA 90069.

Hours are Monday – Friday from 12-5pm and by appointment.For information and visual material, please contact the gallery at (323)422-6340,info@dencontemporaryart.com, mailing address: P.O. Box 6602, Beverly Hills, CA 90212.

S.A.S.S.ATTACK!

Join S.A.S.S. (Secret Art Show Society) as they take over Sophia Louisa Projects on Saturday, April 17, 5-8:00 p.m. during the Miracle Mile Art Walk.



S.A.S.S. includes the following artists: Sophia Allison, Autumn Harrison, Li 'n Lee, Anne Martens and Sandy Rodriguez, along with help from many S.A.S.S.ettes.

Activities and events:
· experience Road Rage Opera
· decorate Severed Head cupcakes and cookies
· gorify your own severed head coloring book pages
· take the Eastside/Westside survey
· admire the Peeps Rococo Clock
· enjoy the S.A.S.S.quatch installation

About S.A.S.S.:
In less time than you can say "biennial," a handful of artists who met at a local art institution where they work formed S.A.S.S., short for Secret Art Show Society. They have since discretely wreaked havoc with happenings, guerrilla events and unexpected art-fun, held in conference rooms, break rooms, cubicles, galleries and other art and non-art venues.

S.A.S.S.ATTACK! is co-curated by Armando H. Torres.

Sophia Louisa Projects is part of Phantom Galleries LA located on the Miracle Mile at 5412 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90036. Phone: 310.773.1460

A&A install pix

A couple of installation shots from the Artillery and Ammo exhibition last month:

(Knotbarnacles installation)

(Gatehouse with Floral paper wall installation)

I am working on some new sculpture for group shows in August and September. Will post some studio shots as the work progresses. Stay tuned!

Show down, show up

I deinstalled my exhibition at Underground Gallery a few weeks ago and just last week, I was approached by local artist and curator Deryke Cardenaz to be in a two-person exhibition with photographer Cheryl Groff at Artillery & Ammo Gallery in Echo Park, opening February 13. I'll have a couple of sculptures on view along with some of my installation work. As the installations are flexible in that they can be installed to fit specific gallery spaces, I am excited to see how they will look in this gallery. I'll post pix once we start installing next week.