My Sourdough Has a Dirty Mind and Other News
The Ongoing Studio Renovation
After years of working in an inhospitable two-car garage, we decided to renovate it into an art studio that could double as an apartment space for visiting guests, or maybe future short-term or long-term rentals. Who knows? Well, in about six weeks it’ll be finished.
Meanwhile, we had turned the back living room of our house into a temporary studio. Sadly, the most action that workbench has seen has been cocktails and snacks during house parties. I was sure I'd find a way to keep creating through the renovation, but finding a work flow has proven impossible.
The renovation process has been fascinating to witness, and thankfully we have a great contractor. Everyone in the various rotating construction crews gets a freshly baked loaf of homemade sourdough bread. I want them to know I care about them, and I'm hoping that care comes back around in the work they do for us. So far it’s been very rewarding for everyone. I’ll share the before and after pictures in the next blog.
A week into demo - trenching sewer lines.
A Fundraiser and a Group Show
May’s Venice Family Clinic fundraiser was a genuinely lovely night, and I'm so pleased to say that a gentleman bid on "Dating Do's and Don'ts: I Played the Wrong Game" and took it home. One hundred percent of the proceeds goes straight to the clinic. Huge thanks to Eliane Gans and Max Rippon for the invite and for putting my work in front of a whole new group of collectors.
Anna Henderson, Venice Family Clinic’s Dir. of Development, Individual and Corporate Philanthropy
Then there was the Cannibal Flower group show at Gabba Galley in Downtown LA, curated by L. Croskey. Gabba had been on my radar for a while, so the invitation from LC opened yet another door. Of course, the new gallerists got freshly baked sourdough loaves on drop off day. Since the Gabba crew responded so warmly to them, I baked another one when I came back to pick up my piece at the end of the show. Feeling clever, I carved "GG" into the crust with unexpected results. LOL
Custom Gabba Gallery Sourdough boule. Read into it what you will.
The opening night party had a lot of great energy, my fellow artists showed some exceptional work, and Ecstasy looked absolutely stunning against Gabba’s brick wall.
A coy artist and the fabulous and talented L. Croskey
Upcoming Shows
Cannibal Flower is doing another 80 artist group show, this time at Lucky Cat Labs in Downtown LA, and they've asked me to bring "Buckle Up for Terror." It’s a ridiculous tribute to William Castle, the master of immersive cinema, marketing gimmicks and campy horror. It features a genuine, vintage Sentinel TV and a post menopausal Joan Crawford with an axe. What's scarier than that?
I used one image in this piece that’s not from a William Castle film. Can you spot it and do you know from which film? (Answer at the very bottom.*)
Buckle Up For Terror
Naughty Climax!
So, if you're in LA on August 1st or August 8th, there are two opportunities to see my work in fun group shows. Plus all that free gallery wine.
August 1
Lucky Cat Labs - Cannibal Flower Group Show
620 S. Main St., Los Angeles, CA 90014
August 8
La Luz de Jesus - Laluzapalooza Group Show
4633 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
I’ll be at the Cannibal Flower show at Lucky Cat Labs but I’ll be out of town for Laluzapalooza. Hope to see you there! Stay cool.
Julie
*My featured spokesmodel is Barbara Rush from the film “It Came From Outer Space”.