By Lookout Staff

July 24, 2019 -- "There is science, logic, reason; there is thought verified by experience," environmentalist writer Edward Abbey once said. "And then there is California."

Beach=Culture, a program at Santa Monica's Annenberg Community Beach House, presents an evening of screenings featuring short artist-created films in conjunction with an exhibition inspired by Abbey's quote on Saturday from 6 to 7 p.m.

Rainbow Face! on Vacation, 2017, by Beck+Col (Courtesy Beach=Culture)

"Approaching contemporary landscapes from unique perspectives, the artists in 'And then there is California' challenge the way we look at the California coast," Cultural Affairs organizers said.

"The works in the show are a reflection of their interactions with the coastal landscape and a celebration of its intersection with the unique culture of Los Angeles."

The short films feature work by Santiago Acero, Alia Ali, Diego Barrientos, Kira Doutt, Philipp Farra, lydon frank, Hanieh Khatibi, Serena Himmelfarb, Chloe Levaillant, Alicia Piller and Kelly Wall.

The films explore everything from the "notion of precariousness and uncertainty in conditional beings" to "the American West as a repository of all discourses as products of modern diasporas," organizers said.

One video, titled "Someday," "is a recreation of the 1960s surf videos from a seasonal depression standpoint."

The exhibit "And then there is California," curated by the LA performance duo Beck+Col, is on view through August 26.

The duo "use humor and chaos to examine the crises that emerge from human exceptionalism," organizers said.

Tickets are free but space is limited and reservations are required. To reatin a reservation guests must arrive at least 15 minutes before start time. Late seating, even for reservation-holders, is not guaranteed.

Tickets are free. To register online click here

The Annenberg Community Beach House is located at 415 Pacific Coast Hwy. Parking is available for $3 per hour or $8 per day. The parking machine accepts cash and credit card. Ample bike parking is available.

The Annenberg Community Beach House is wheelchair accessible and ADA compliant. For disability related accommodations, please call Guest Services at 310-458-4904.