Shaman Drums, Carless Experiences and Obsessive Details

The art and sounds of a distant nomadic tribe, photos and documents of those who live in Los Angeles without a car and minutely detailed images of nature are showcased in a series of exhibits this month.

JEFFREY VALLANCE: "Lapland Shaman Drum”

Vallance's second exhibition at Margo Levin Gallery shwcases his continuing strange forays into often obscure parts of world cultures. Vallance's new project evolves around his time spent with the nomadic Lapp people. Central to the Lapp people’s religious practices are the Shaman, or Noid and his mystical drum, which bears painted pictographs and helps him in prophesying.

Vallance created his own drum, inserting his own symbols combined with Lapp mythology and his own artistic anthropological study.

Margo Levin Gallery
812 North Robertson Blvd
Los Angeles Ca
Hours Tue-Sat 11-5 PM
Oct.10 – Nov 14 2009
On Oct 24th 4 p.m. Vallance will perform at a special event

DIANE MEYER and Angelenos Without a Car

18th Street presents its final exhibition of 2009 entitled Without A Car In The World (100 Car-less Angelenos Tell Stories of Living in Los Angeles). This exhibition features 100 photographs by artist Diane Meyer with accompanying narratives from persons who live without a car in Los Angeles. Meyer’s exhibit was inspired by her recent decision to give up her car and navigate through the city using a combination of walking, biking and public transportation.

18th street Arts Center
1639 18th street
Santa Monica CA 90403
Oct. 17- Dec 11, 2009

ROBIN MITCHELL

Santa Monica artist Robin Mitchell’s second show at Craig Krull Gallery promises obsessive details and richly colorful layered marks that suggests plant forms or other microscopic shapes laid out in symmetrical patterns. Her paintings, while highly introspective, demonstrate the spiritual association between the natural world and human nature.

Craig Krull Gallery
Bergamot art Center
2525 Michigan Ave
Building B3
Santa Monica CA 90403
310.828.6410
Oct. 17 - Nov 21, 2009

Ongoing Shows
Here are some suggestions for exhibitions that are open now through October.

The work of MERION ESTES
Merion Estes' art works at the gallary Annais features new works -- collages on Archers paper. By the time you finish looking at her work, something else is happening.
Galley Anais at the new space at Bergamot Art Center
2525 Michigan Ave D2
Santa Monica CA 90404
310.449.4433

on view until Oct 24th 2009 TOM VINETZ
An amazing 30-year survey of photographs that depict the heart of LA in graffiti murals. You get a real feeling for the pulse of the city. The images are clear and clean and the colors are beautiful.
A&I gallery
933 North Highland Ave
Hollywood, 90038
Great catalog. A portion of the sales goes to
Children’s Defense Fund
On view until Oct 16
At A& I in Santa Monica Oct 23 – Nov 27 2009

The work of HELEN AND NEWTON HARRISON
A body of recent photo/text based artworks collectively titled FORCE MAJEURE.
The two artists created the California Wash at the foot of Pico Blvd in Santa Monica. The first public work in Santa Monica created with the private percent for art, the piece etched and embedded in the concrete between two luxury hotels traces how the water comes down from the mountains to the beach and depicts native animals and fauna. The artists, who have created works around the world have been consistent and persistent champions of the ecology.
Cardwell Jimmerson Gallery
8568 Washington Blvd
Culver City CA 90232
310.815.1100
On view Sept 12- Oct 31 st 2009

The art works of JUNE WAYNE
June Wayne, who is 91 years old, is credited with saving printmaking and lithography in this country by inviting very important artists to come and work at the Tamarind Lithography Workshop, which she opened in 1960. Her own lithographs are considered masterpieces.
Khatstoo Gallery
7556 W. Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90046
323.472.6498
On view Sept 10- Oct 24 2009