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Art Los Angeles Contemporary Is Back, Kicks Off Tonight With Re-Staging of 1968 Performance Installation
Judy Chicago, Lloyd Hamrol, and Eric Orr, "Disappearing Environment #1", Century City, January 1968; photo: Lloyd Hamrol
At the peak of the January art fair agenda, Art Los Angeles Contemporary returns tonight for its third installment at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, with a promising roster of programming. Opening night will serve as host to the official kick off of the 11-day Pacific Standard Time Performance and Public Art Festival with a recreation of “Disappearing Environments,” a performance/installation originally performed in 1968. Tonight’s re-staging of the work, re-named “Sublime Environments,” by artist Judy Chicago and local nonprofit Materials & Applications, happens at dusk. Chicago will perform a flare and light performance surrounding the 25 tons of dry ice installed at the entrance of the fair.
For a rather young affair, Art Los Angeles Contemporary remains the top Los Angeles art fair for it’s strong focus to contemporary art with an emphasis to Los Angeles. This year, a greater presence of publications will be present. Semiotexte is one of the publications which will be present at the fair, famous for introducing French Theory to America will host three dialogues with writers, Chris Kraus, Sylvère Lotringer and artist, William E. Jones, all introducing the broad spectrum of art and theory, that is Semiotexte publications.
Other highlights include a performance hosted by the curatorial art collective, “The Action Bureau” lead by artist, Paul Waddell. The performance which was specifically set for this year’s fair is an exploration of casual and urbane survival (Writer’s note: Translation: How to survive an art fair?). Artist Brian Butler will manifest film into a live performance with the intent of creating an out of body experience through light and sound in his performance, “ Union of Opposites” a Crowleyian experiment in ritual magick.
Whether Art Los Angeles Contemporary strives for commercially driven or collectively based structure, it is not to be missed, due to the various performances, panel discussions, and artwork it will showcase. It’s the perfect introduction to the contemporary art landscape that is Los Angeles.
Tonight’s “Sublime Environments” performance begins at 5:30 p.m. and it’s free to the public. However, the opening event, which starts at 7 p.m., will be ticketed. You can purchase you tickets at the door or online.
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