ART LA 2009: January 23-25 at Barker Hangar

ART LA, the New Los Angeles International Contemporary Art Fair, took place at the Barker Hangar at the Santa Monica Airport from January 23-25, 2009. The exhibiting galleries at art la formed an even balance of established blue chip and emerging galleries, all presenting the most progressive, international art work being produced today. Half of the exhibitors hailed from the immediate Los Angeles area, and half were from the United States and abroad.

Kenny Scharf

Works by art stars Mark Ryden (Michael Kohn Gallery), Kenny Scharf, and Kehinde Wiley brushed shoulders with notable works by Adam Pendleton (Roberts & Tilton), Brian Alfred, John Bock, and Wim Wenders. Yet the most dominating pieces of the weekend were the conceptual sculptures, photographs, and textiles of LA resident Tim Hawkinson (ACE Gallery). From gargantuan ears on a seemingly sedated fetus, to a branch of birds extending out from the mouth of a sculpted child, to organic photos of fingers sprouting hands and text-based textiles, Hawkinson was fearless in his explorations of medium and message.

Tim Hawkinson

Other highlights included author Richard Hertz presenting his book The Beat and the Buzz on the history of the LA art world since 1970, a slideshow and panel discussion by Jonathan Maghen on the LA subculture of soccer leagues called Municipal de Futbol, and a feature film by Agathe Snow entitled Chinatown: Every Square Has Its Round that documents her visits to Chinatowns across the country from NYC to LA.

Art la is a division of artfairs, inc. which also organizes photo miami and photo la.

Tim Hawkinson

At the Patrick Painter Booth

Kehinde Wiley

John Bock