It’s April and the Westside art scene is alive with photography exhibitions, fairs, and festivals. MOPLA (Month of Photography Los Angeles), a month long initiative celebrating photography, is in full swing, and galleries across Los Angeles are showcasing a wide range of photography.
Created in 2009 by Hossein Farmani and Cat Jimenez, MOPLA’s two-fold mission is “to advance dynamic programming designed to engage and stimulate the photography community, as well as to present a comprehensive resource of exhibitions and events in April.”
“MOPLA is a city-wide, collaborative Photo Festival presented by the Lucie Foundation. It’s our love letter to photography each April,” explains Jimenez, co-founder.
This year’s theme, Communities and Cultures features the photographic community of Los Angeles, first time exhibitions focused on Asia and popular annual events such as “One Shot,” and the second installation of last year’s “Instagram Jam.”
Culver City’s Aesthesia Studios collaborated with MOPLA on “The Analogue Portrait Project” (taking place earlier this month), which featured the work of photographers using the traditional process of negative film. Three winners were selected from this first-ever analogue portrait project group exhibition.
Also in Culver City, Angles Gallery presents Augusta Wood’s second solo show entitled “Whether it happened or not” opened Saturday, April 19. An established artist, her work has been included in the permanent collections of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles.
“Augusta Wood makes work that is both conceptually challenging and deeply personal,” explains Administrator, Tim Christian. “She has great technical skills and applies her knowledge of the medium to create works that are very beautiful, as well as thoughtful and intimate.”
The Los Angeles artist re-visits her past with this show as she gathers together a collection of memories based on her own perception. The exhibit merges new images with old family photos and is created entirely of projected slides.
The opening reception takes place this Saturday, April 19, from 6-8 pm. The exhibition runs through May 31. Angles Gallery is located at 2754 S La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90034; 310.396.5019; www.anglesgallery.com.
Gagosian Gallery – Beverly Hills celebrates the work of Thomas Ruff in a new exhibition entitled “Photograms and Negatives.” Inspired by the traditional photogram, Ruff has taken the process one step further. He has collaborated with a 3-D imaging expert to design a virtual darkroom that enables him to experiment with an infinite range of forms. A leader in conceptual serial photography, this German born artist has re-invented the historic photogram and created visually engaging chromogenic prints. The exhibit will remain on view through May 31.
The gallery is located at 456 N. Camden Dr. Beverly Hills, CA 90210; 310.271.9400; www.gagosian.com.
These are just a few of the many art events taking place on the Westside this weekend. For a free listing of LA art openings, see www.LAArtParty.com; MOPLA supports and celebrates all photography events. To find out more about MOPLA, visit the website http://www.mopla.org
