OPEN CALL: APOPHENIA - Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Barnsdall Art Park

In celebration of its 70^th year anniversary, the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery (LAMAG), Barnsdall Art Park on Hollywood Boulevard, reopened its doors after being closed for many years. To celebrate, it's presented a city favorite-the open call exhibition. The opportunities for communities from throughout Los Angeles to participate in this ' Open Call - APOPHENIA (the tendency to perceive a connection of meaningful pattern between unrelated or random things, such as objects or ideas)' and make sense of unrelated things, engaged 356 artists from all works of life.

The exhibit carefully curated by themes, medium and color. The selection was by newly appointed LAMAG Curators Nancy Meyer and Hugo Cervantes. Every wall features its own narrative, where human opportunity to self-reflect on our way of living today is expressed fully. The interesting dialogue is interwoven among the art on each wall and space and generates a connection between random things. Some art is positioned on an eye level in a linear fashion, while some walls are tastefully abundant with art by themes. There is a blue wall, a spiritual and occult wall, landscape wall, even the wall that reflects on the recent pandemic issues. Some spaces are filled with intriguing pieces of creative art that has been put together by students of the Barnsdall Art Center to artists from outside, whose creativity came from many interesting ideas. It is fun figuring out what might inspire some artists to create a specific piece. Exiting, creative, well put together show is full of playfulness, a combination of the light and shadows, the colors and patterns. 

Open Call: Apophenia includes paintings, photography, drawings, self-portraits, sculptures, wood, urban landscape, mixed media, 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional art with lots of patterns. The artists involved are living within Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties. How fantastic!

This year, in lieu of a cash prize and honorable mentions, LAMAG will invite up to four artists to develop an exhibition in the gallery's project space.

Bravo to all the artists and all the friendly and helpful stuff, (Nancy Mayer (Curator), David Novoa (Arts Manager), John Weston (Exhibit Preparator), Jennifer Payan (Art Associate), Samantha Alexis Manuel (Art Associate), Marta Feinstein (Arts Instructor), Roberto Pineda-Silva (Administrative Clerk), Erik Flores (Gallery Attendant), Jerame Lua (Gallery Attendant. Great job everyone!

The Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery (LAMAG) mission is to be responsive to the human experience. Established in 1954, LAMAG is the longest running institution in Los Angeles devoted solely to exhibiting art. The gallery focuses on artists from Los Angeles - in particular underrepresented artists whose work may not otherwise have found the platform. Our exhibitions, educational and public programs aim to inspire conversation about the contemporary issues and ideas that resonate most with people in Los Angeles. Many local artists who have exhibited at the gallery have gone on to become fixtures of the national and international art world.

The show is a dynamic experience - free of charge. The opening reception was on Saturday, December 9, 2023 and the exhibit continues until March 16^th, 2024. Give yourself a gift and spend a day or a few hours to see this inspiring show at our beautiful Barnsdall Art Park. If you have any inclinations of creating an art piece of your own, you might want to participate in their future shows.

LAMAG (the longest running institution in Los Angeles devoted solely to exhibiting art) is located on the grounds of Barnsdall Art Park at 4800 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027. The show is open Thursdays-Saturdays from 11 am to 4 pm. Closed during installation and for all official City holidays.