Ed Fuentes

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES —

Edgar Varela joined the Downtown art scene a few years ago and since then he’s been the multi-tasking man about town. “I started out with a few parties that had happened to exhibit art in the same space,” he says “Now I’m an art dealer, sometimes a curator, then a gallery owner… or maybe everything at the same time.”

That space was the former Citizen’s Warehouse and the events were a throwback to gallery happenings from the 80s and 90s. Now it’s closed waiting partial demolition for the expansion of the Gold Line. During the downtime Varela has embedded himself deeper and is making even more events happen.

It only seems he's everywhere. He just opened a Clemens Wolf installation "The Great Mess" at last Art Walk, weeks right after closing Zeichen und Wunder at the California Market Center. “A Touch of Red” with Phantom Galleries LA at Pasadena’s Homestead House Building, the installation that he co-curated, is ongoing. He also recently collaborated with Bert Green and Lilli Muller on the powerful Lacy Street Arts multi-media event earlier in the year. Somewhere tucked in there was a quick installation for Phantom Galleries at 6th and Los Angeles.

Now Varela will debut the new Edgar Varela Fine Arts (EVFA) gallery at South Alameda, returning to gallery space in the Arts District. The 2,000 square foot gallery joined with a 2,000 square foot courtyard & garden highlights Edgar’s first full year as an art dealer. The space is already booked until March 2009, with exhibitions running only 30-40 days.

The first show features abstract artist Patrick Chapman and includes large-scale pieces that have some influences by Jean-Michel Basquiat and the work of mid-century painter Francis Bacon. Varela was attracted to how Chapman makes these works all his own.

While the art's good to look at, the sight of a new Arts District gallery is even more welcome by neighborhood eyes.

Edgar Varela Fine Art (EVFA)

Grand Opening and Reception / March 22 / 7-11pm / 542 S. Alameda Street / (Entrance on Palmetto St side)