A Simple Complex: Redux at the Brewery Project
Last night I attended the final opening at the Brewery Project, A Simple Complex: Redux. John O’Brian has run the Brwwery Project for ten years, and the project’s life has come to it’s end. John ended the project by mirroring the title of the space’s first exhibition, A Simple Complex. For those who don’t know, the Brewery Project has largely been home to exhibitions put together by “Artist Organizers”, a space designed to be home to both experimental works and working methods.
I organized a show (in which I also participated as an artist) at the Project in September of last year, Contemplating Apocalypse. Given that the ten year lifespan of the Brewery largely mirrors the length of my own career as an arts professional, it has a special place in my heart as a point of reference - over the past decade I’ve routinely worked with artists who took part in Brewery Project exhibitions. I first got involved in the arts at a time when Los Angeles was home to a number of largely experimental exhibition spaces (like the Project), which plays a large role in how I envisioned and operated Walled City, and how I have curated/organized Gallery G at AGCC, and now both the Center’s Gallery A and Downstairs Gallery.
On to the art. I really liked what I saw at the Brewery last night. Almost everything contributed to my sadness regarding the closure of the venue. I even felt nostalgic about the super narrow, super steep, knee crushing stairway.
above - Wendy Adest, Laurel - All of Adest’s work is on coloured plexi, which casts a nice glow on the white wall behind. I’m seeing a lot more Plexiglas used in art today, and I’m liking what I’m seeing. I think it’s sort of maturing as an artists material, and moving beyond novelty.
above -Rebecca Ripple, God - This works on so many levels. A really beautiful, whimsical, serious, well crafted object.
above - Daniel Marios, Yardage with Spiders (Orb Weaver) - There were two of these pieces and an accompanying quilt. I don’t think my image of this piece came out as well as I wanted it to. The photo has a great contrast of color, and really solid detail.
above - Christie Frields, Here Today, Gone Tomorrow - One of the things that most attracted me to this piece was the square in cross section bamboo pegs that attach it to the wall. I like unframed works on paper, but there’s always that pesky “how’s it going to stay on the wall” factor. Nice solution that really mirrors the piece itself.
above - Lester Monzon, Vulture - You’ve really gotta zoom in on this baby to see the way that it’s painted, but it has a kind of psychedelic swirl thing going on.
above - John O’Brien, A.W.O.L. (All Works of Leisure) Ensemble, Dust Breathing - I love a good long title almost as much as I love a faux archaeological object. This piece is about 36″ high - that’s one big bell jar.
