18th Street Arts Center - Where Art Happens

We cordially invite you to attend an intimate benefit dinner at which 60 of our friends will join together to celebrate 18th Street Arts Center's 20th Anniversary as an internationally recognized creative community supporting contemporary arts and culture.

A Few Tickets Still Available!

Our Guest of Honor, Sir Ken Robinson, a visionary cultural leader, Sir Ken led the British government's 1998 advisory committee on creative and cultural education, a massive inquiry into the significance of creativity in the educational system and the economy, and was knighted in 2003 for his achievements.

His latest book, The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything, a deep look at human creativity and education, was published in Janury 2009.

To purchase tickets contact Clayton Campbell arts18thst@aol.com

PLEASE STAY TUNED: Coming at the end of March we will be opening up our first Online Store, there you will find skatedecks, prints, catalogues, and other works by artists that have been working with us over the years.

ARTNIGHT was a Success with well over 500 in attendance!

Despite the rain, hundreds of people drove out to 18th Street Arts Center making for an excellent crowd, good times, and a fantastic evening.

SHANGRI L.A.: architecture as a state of flux
curated by Ichiro Irie

February 7 - March 27, 2009

From 6pm to 10pm our Main Gallery was packed with people the entire time as they gazed and examined the various multi-media, sculptural work, and architectural paintings. The hit of the evening, amongst others, was James Rojas’ piece Santa Monica off The Grid. Rojas rearranged the city of Santa Monica so that it no longer had its grid street pattern but a new street pattern built on the idea that the subway to the sea road will be the main artery to Santa Monica and will have no need for any other streets. On top of this, the buildings in his model were made of Lego’s, everyday household objects, and other noticeable pieces, thus lending themselves to the playful attitude that Rojas intended for the viewer. Rojas, with two Masters from MIT, approached this Urban Plan with a childlike approach taking us back to yesteryear asking us to go back and play. And play, they did.

Artists include: Anibal Catalan, Debbie Hu Ricks, InfranaturaL, Marcos Lutyens, Daniela Frogheri, Fernando Meneses, Oyler Wu Collaborative, James Rojas, Chris Tallon
Click here for more info on Shangri LA

PROJECT ROOM GALLERY

Marcos Novak, 2009 Artist Fellow presents
Turbulent Shangri L.A.

February 7 - March 27, 2009

Next Live Liquid Architectural Dance: Saturday, March 14, 6-8pm

Turbulent Shangri L.A. by Marcos Novak was something out of Minority Report or Star Wars. The esoteric, ephemeral, and invisible sculpture captured the audience and left them dumb-founded with it’s screeching sounds and glowing lighting bolt-like appearance. Each person was eager to grab the wand and “feel” around the center of the room to conjure up its’ “reflection” that was projected onto the wall, somewhat like a vampire but in the reverse. Novak’s liquid architecture dance proved to many why he is universally recognized as the pioneer of architecture in cyberspace. His use of generative computational composition in architecture and design combined with applied science and technology catapult his art form to what has been termed the 4th-dimensional immersive environment.
Click here for more info

ORGANIZATIONS IN RESIDENCE: OTIS MFA Public Practice

Screening: Trading Dirt with Simon Rodia & Allan Kaprow (40 mins.)
A film by Rosie Lee Hooks and Paul. S. Rogers, followed by a conversation with Rosie Lee Hooks, art historian Marlena Donahue, writer Jori Finkel and Suzanne Lacy

“Trading Dirt with Simon Rodia & Allan Kaprow” was created for the Allan Kaprow “Art As Life Exhibition” at MOCA Geffen Contemporary in Spring 2008. The film intercuts vintage footage from the film ‘Watts Towers” by William Hale with contemporary images of the Watts Community. The production also refers to the historic “Happenings” work of Allan Kaprow, bringing together two Southern California historic moments in art while exploring the generosity of artists, giving back, and the real meaning of community.

*Also see “Happenings are Happening Again” by Jori Finkel. New York Times, April 13, 2008.

Location:
The 18th Street Arts Center
1657 18th Street, Santa Monica, 90404

VISITING INTERNATIONAL ARTIST IN RESIDENCE from ISRAEL, JUDITH MARGOLIS

Judith Margolis, is a returning visiting International artist from Israel. Margolis’ current work deals with issues of loss and how those left behind bereave. She says of her work,
“In Jewish tradition we rip the garment of the bereaved at the funeral to mark the irreparable rending of grievous loss.

After his death I couldn't bear to dispose of my beloved husband's shirts. I had an intense visceral desire to tear up the shirts and to sew them back together again as something new. And my own clothes and things belonging to our children or from our home. Each fragment was charged with memory and meaning. With each stitch I reassembled what had been torn apart…”
For More Click Here

Currently you can see Judith Margolis’ work on view at El Camino City College Gallery in Reflecting the Sacred, a group exhibition of artists of various faiths. Click Here

18TH STREET ARTS CENTER CELEBRATES ITS 20TH BIRTHDAY WITH A BENEFIT DINNER!

A Few Tickets Still Available!

To purchase tickets contact Clayton Campbell arts18thst@aol.com

ARTNIGHT was a Success with well over 500 in attendance!