Opening Photos :: Andrew Hem + Rebecca Urias

Saturday night was the kickoff of the 2010 calendar for many galleries and the neighborhood energy created an even larger than normal buzz around Andrew Hem’s opening at LeBasse Projects. Andrew put together a fantastic body of new work, featuring very personal paintings, some extraordinary charcoal drawings and a series of small sculptures all painted by Hem. The image above is a process picture of Hem working on a small mural in the gallery entrance.

The show will be up through the 13th of February so make sure to drop in if you missed the opening…or visit the work online here.

Also showing is Portland based artist Rebecca Artemisa Urias making a return to LA. Rebecca was also in attendance along with an entourage of family, friends and collectors who came to see her new work, which was featured in our Project Room.

You can see a full photo montage at DailyduJour.

Opening :: Andrew Hem :: Jan 16th

LeBasse Projects could not be more excited to be hosting Andrew Hem's solo exhibition. As a long time fan of his work I really believe this is his strongest body of work to date. Emotionally deep paintings, amusing sculptures and haunting charcoals comprise a truly complete solo exhibit.

You can see all the work online now, but I hope you join us this Saturday, January 16th from 7-10pm for the Artist Reception.

Interview: Andrew Hem

As we get ready for Andrew Hem's solo exhibition at the gallery, our neighbor blog "Erratic Phenomena" has run another in depth interview with the artist. Here is an excerpt:

"Andrew was still at work finishing up a few sculptures for the exhibit when he sat down to tell me a bit about where he's coming from right now.

Erratic Phenomena: In our last interview, you said, "I love creating worlds that do not exist. A world where people don't care about others' appearance, and nobody has to worry about fitting in or being an outcast. Where everyone is accepted... I've experienced and witnessed too many times where people are disgusted with the different." Growing up as one of the few Asians in a Hispanic Los Angeles neighborhood was not a particularly pleasant experience for you, and you didn't really find acceptance there until you began to paint graffiti in high school. Is this dream of a world without bias an idea you've contemplated all your life? Do you make a conscious effort to draw attention to our ingrained xenophobia in your work?

Andrew Hem: I just enjoy seeing different cultures in one image. Every time I'm in LAX, I spend extra time looking around in the international section. That's the only place I know where you have so many races in one place. For some strange reason, I enjoy being there. Maybe it's because everybody's so busy trying to catch a plane that they don't really pay attention to their surroundings. You could find any ethnicity at any time at LAX, and nobody looks twice. I just want to transfer that feeling into my work."

Read the full interview at: commandax.blogspot.com

Tonight: Closing Reception for Linda Kim and Scott Belcastro

Tonight, Saturday the 9th is the last opportunity to see Scott Belcastro and Linda Kim's shows before we turn it over to start our 2010 calendar. Hope you can join us from 6-8pm or stop by during the day...