Los Angeles Art Events Archives - Reverberations Media

10/27: Kii Arens – Dictators and Monsters at RCNSTRCT Studios

By Reverberations Media on October 26, 2017 in La La Land Gallery, News

Kii Arens – Dictators & Monsters
Oct. 27th – Nov. 27th, 2017
Friday, Oct. 27, 2017
7-11 PM

RCNSTRCT STUDIO
7400 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90046
www.rcnstrctstudio.com

We all feel somewhat defenseless with the current powers that be. I wanted to do something abrasive that cuts through all that’s being said and posted in social media. with that in mind, I give you… DICTATORS & MONSTERS.” -KII ARENS

Kii’s work began appearing in galleries around L.A. such as M Modern, Gallery 1988, and his own gallery La-La Land Gallery, which opened in 2004. By 2008, Kii found himself completing major concert posters for the Hollywood Bowl. His concert print creation continues to present, with over 250 pieces created for Artists such as Radiohead, Queens of the Stone Age, Dolly Parton, Stevie Wonder, the Weeknd, Sonic Youth, Devo, and many more. He also has created posters for various All Tomorrow’s Parties Events, as well as Goldenvoice’s Coachella and Desert Trip, and most recently, Desert Daze.

Kii met LA-based Streetwear lifestyle extraordinaire Miguel Garcia Larios recently this year through a common friend. Larios has been in the Fashion scene for over 15 years, starting his success in Mexico. He moved to LA and opened the “skater-style” brand De la Barracuda on Melrose Ave, which became highly popular with younger locals. He currently creates high-end couture for US Alteration located in Beverly Hills and opened his own shop, RCNSTRCT Studio, just 6 months ago. RCNSTRCT produces one of a kind, reconstructed vintage and tailored clothing for both men and women. They have already hosted month long POP-ups for big time companies such as OBEY, Ron English / Mindstyle and Champion.

Kii and Miguel hit it off immediately, realizing they had a similar network and common colleagues. They decided to combine forces by throwing a POP-up style event utilizing Larios’ new space and giving Kii a creative platform to promote new art. DICTATORS & MONSTERS is a “spooky” themed art show right around the corner from Halloween, exhibiting mixed portraits of the world’s most hated dictators and classic Monsters.

Jessica Dalva “Hapax Legomena” Studio Visit

By Reverberations Media on April 29, 2015 in La Luz de Jesus, News, Studio Visits

Many of Jessica Dalva’s multidimensional, mixed media works are self-referential in concept, some based on nightmares, internal and external struggles, and even an overheard conversation on a walk where she heard the frightening line “yeah, and everything around her was on fire.” However, in the darkness of these situations, the artist manages to find light, stating, “As much as things can fall apart there’s always something you can find – a positive experience”

“Hapax Legomena” is Dalva’s second solo show at La Luz de Jesus Gallery

Per Aspera Ad Astra, or We Never Lost Sight of the Horizon

Per Aspera Ad Astra, or We Never Lost Sight of the Horizon detail

Sift, or Everything Around Her Was on Fire

Sift, or Everything Around Her Was on Fire detail

Barghest, or Look After Me

Abyss

Abyss detail

The term “Hapax Legomena” is used to describe words that only appear once in a text or language, often rendering them untranslatable. Each piece in this series revolves around an individual word, a facet, a unique expression of a part of the complex variety of personal battles we fight. These experiences can be difficult to convey due to the lack of a context to anchor them as well as the inherent gap between understanding and expression. The pieces are singular expressions of an idea, hapax legomena, in that they are representing distinctive concepts, as well as attempting to communicate the untranslatable through the imperfect language of art. The show focuses on one’s relationship with oneself, internal wars, and the entanglements of love. The sculptures are a navigation through fears, moments of clarity and joy, and nightmares – Jessica Dalva

Dalva’s works start with loose ideas and take shape as they progress – As her pieces come together the concept becomes more clear – the artist places importance on the specific wording of her titles, though these titles are not set in stone until the piece has reached completion.

Dalva, who often works in the stop-motion animation industry, had originally planned to study fashion design in school, but switched to a major in illustration, with additional study in sculpting and design. Her wide variety of interests, as well as encouragement in school to experiment with as many mediums as possible, has had a major influence on her creative process.

Among the materials neatly organized in her home studio, Dalva works with acrylic paint, aluminum armature wire, aluminum foil, mohair or alpaca hair, glass beads (for eyes), fake & real flower parts, feathers, wood, gold leaf, resin, silver, metal, brass, fabric including silk, flocking and Super Sculpey (polymer clay) to create her incredibly detailed pieces.