Save the Date: La Luz de Jesus 31st Anniversary Drawing Show – December 1st

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2017 marks La Luz de Jesus Galley 31st birthday, bringing Los Angeles 31 years of continuous, monthly exhibitions. This year-end show invitational event traces the history of Post-Pop in its birthplace. The gallery chose from the best illustrators featured in the 31-year history of La Luz de Jesus to create a new, original drawing for this show, tracing a line all the way from Robert Williams to Annie Owens. The works are graphite, charcoal, colored pencil, ink or ballpoint pen, watercolor and/or gouache on paper, all the works are classified as drawing and are 16×20″ or smaller before framing.

Some of the artists in this show weren’t even born yet when Billy Shire decided to clear out the storage apartment at the corner of Melrose and Martel, upstairs from his flagship Soap Plant shop with marked purpose. His vision: to showcase the incredible, ethnic folk art he brought back from Mexico, Guatemala, and museum quality pieces from Asia and elsewhere alongside that of his talented friends–people who were finding a hard time being taken seriously by the art establishment of the era in spite of their technical prowess. His experiment has spawned a legacy. The renewed interest in illustration art resultant from his gallery’s success influenced the zeitgeist, and launched industries. The lowbrow movement of California Art (which in turn informed the Pop Surrealists that followed) influenced fashion, television, film and culture. The rest, as they say, is history – Matt Kennedy, Gallery Director, La Luz de Jesus Gallery

Vicki Berndt – Sister Sharon
colored pencil on cotton vellum, 11×14″ plus frame

Since 1989 I’ve been sending my best to La Luz de Jesus. Always cool, never square. No other gallery will do. – Vicki Berndt

Hudson Marquez – 5 Jackies and One Bunny
watercolor & ink on bristol board

It’s high time that La Luz shows drawings. I draw every day. You have to, if you don’t you’re at risk of losing it. La Luz has been relevant for more than 35 years. That’s a testament to Billy Shire’s eye. – Hudson Marquez

Deirdre Sullivan-Beeman – Turtle Girl Drawing
Charcoal, graphite & chalk on Canson, 8×10″ in 9×11″ framed,

Super stoked to be a part of the 31st Anniversary Drawing Show from the magical art lovers haven that is La Luz de Jesus. “Turtle Girl” is a charcoal, graphite and chalk drawing that was part of the process for a painting and sculpture in my November show with La Luz. Always proud to work with this grand-daddy of pop surrealism.  – Deirdre Sullivan-Beeman

Jessica Dalva – Hopes
Gouache, graphite ink & iridescent acrylic, 12×10″ in 18×14″ frame

La Luz was the first real gallery I ever showed my work in. They asked me to display what had been my college senior thesis project in a five person show in 2009, and I was completely floored that anyone would want to have my work in a gallery, let alone one as respected as La Luz de Jesus. Since then, they have been very supportive of my progress, and also have continued to be a source of inspiration by showing work by so many artists that I look up to. La Luz has given me so many wonderful opportunities, I just recently (opened in November, just before the Drawing Show) had my fifth show with them, and I give them so much credit for encouraging my work and so many other artists all these years.

Although I primarily work as a sculptor, drawing is one of my deepest passions and I am thrilled to be included in this drawing show with so many talented artists who I admire. I think drawing can often be looked over as a medium, as it can be very simplistic or quick, but the range of work represented in this show is an excellent example of the variety and boundless possibilities an artist can achieve just with a “drawing.” – Jessica Dalva

Rob Reger / Emily the Strange – Rude Descending the Staircase
graphite on paper, 6×9.75″ in 11×14″ frame

Junko Mizuno – Stairs
ink & acrylic on paper, 8×10″ in 8.5×11.5″ plus frame

Andrew Brandou – Mano Oscura
black and white ink on toned archival paper, 16×20″ in frame

Annie Owens – She’s Just Like… So Weird
graphite on paper, 20×13.5″ plus frame

Artist list:
Nathan Anderson, Ana Bagayan, Paul Barnes, Vicki Berndt, Andrew Brandou, Mark Bodnar, Jessica Dalva, Jason D’Aquino, Dave Dexter, Daniel Martin Diaz, Jorge Dos Diablos, Bruce Eichelberger, Frau Sakra, Damian Fulton, Mark Gleason, Derek Harrison, Scott Holloway, Karen Hydendahl, Stephanie Inagaki, Yumiko Kayukawa, Mariam Keurjikian, Zoe Lacchei, Craig LaRotonda, Tracy Lewis, Justine Lin, Lizz Lopez, Danni Shinya Luo, Patrick McGrath Muñiz, Junko Mizuno, Chris B. Murray, Michael Murphy, Mayuko Nakamura, Annie Owens, Rob Reger / Emily the Strange, Van Saro, Deirdre Sullivan-Beeman, Christopher Ulrich, Mel Weiner, Jasmine Worth, Daphne Yap

Exhibition:
31st Anniversary Drawing Show
December 1st-31st

Opening Reception:
Friday December 1st (8-11 PM)

Address:
La Luz de Jesus Gallery
4633 Hollywood Blvd,
Los Angeles, CA 90027

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