Art Walk Preview for September, 2008

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — It’s that time of the month again. Thursday brings the 49th edition of the Downtown Art Walk, and momentum for the monthly event continues to build. 2008 has been a big growth year for Art Walk, with building crowds and added events like Comedy Walk and the Esotouric-hosted “Hippodrome” shuttle.

Here’s a quick peek at some of the highlights Art Walk goers should be sure to hit on Thursday.

“Obscenery”: Scott Siedman paints broad sensuality and fantasy with impressionist style, while using the Renaissance as a visual mistress. The art is billed as a passionate narrative. The technique is classic and masterly. The naughty wit will amuse you. An artist reception for Siedman, and gallery artists showing works on paper, will begin at 6pm. Bert Green Fine Art / 102 W. 5th

“Who’s to say what’s home?” Metropolis Books (440 S. Main) hosts Kim Calder, who will be reading from her collection of poetry at 7pm. More Words: Mike the Poet is the 9pm on-board entertainment finale of the free art walk shuttle known as The Hippodrome.

“Humble Beauty”: The New LATC (514 S. Spring) will hold a benefit premiere for the one hour documentary on a collective of painters made up of homeless and formerly homeless men and women. Reception for “Humble Beauty: Skid Row Artists” begin at 7pm. Outside the Inside, Outside is a show of works by participants in the Lamp Community Art Project. The project has created a place on Gallery Row for skid row based artists. “It expresses the human spirit,” says curator Shane Guffogg of Pharmaka. “The work has a stronger truth than most art shows.”

“Follow the Light; Part II” returns to the Spring Arts Collective Gallery (453 S. Spring, Mezzanine), giving gallery goers a chance to once again paint with an LED spray can. Also, Jen DeMartino and Nalin Taneja create a sonic landscape.

“Stockholm Syndrome” and “Snapshot Aesthetics” fill Phyllis Stein Art (207 W. 5th) with apocalyptic abstract paintings by Nolan Hendrickson and three years of people and place in Polariod photos by Rony Alwin.

Quick Bites: Ensenada Restaurant (517 S. Spring) will offer evening customers a glass of wine with dinner. The new Nickel Diner will be open in the evening with a limited menu. Tranquility Base and Origami Bistro are now sponsors of the Art Walk.

Index: Conceptualism in California from the Permanent Collection: MOCA surveys conceptual works by artists who have lived and worked in California. The native art movement is said to have begun in the 60s and was a response to move from pop and minimalist forms. What’s interesting to note is how art as an idea was an aesthetic rebellion, but is now a standard visual language in commercial mediums and has created a consumable form of pop minimalism.