Friday, May 19, 2006
May 18-22: BEVERLY HILLS CLASSIC: Antiques, Fine Art and Jewelry Show at the Petersen
by Don Rose
(May 18, 2006: Los Angeles CA) Just saw a preview of the BEVERLY HILLS CLASSIC Antiques, Fine Art and Jewelry Show at the Petersen Auto Museum, located at Wilshire and Fairfax. This show is, in a word, a must see. Okay, that's three words, but that’s my point: break whatever rules there are and get down to see this show. One of the best art events The LA Report has seen in recent months, because of the diverse works present and the quality of the exhibits. Some highlights include: one booth with the works of two genius artists - Bernard Pras (he perfectly arranges a myriad of colorful objects along with objects in his environment to create one-of-a-kind photos of famous folks - and the objects relate playfully to the subject) and Pavlos (unique works made solely from colored paper), both will expand your mind and Pras will make you think as well as laugh; the photomosaics of Robert Silvers, the surreal colorful paintings of Metin Bereketli (hollywoodpainter.com), Michael Hall's thick-stroke paintings with white gobs like vanilla icecream (imagine if Leroy Neiman painted guitars and other objects using ultrawide brushes), and in the Scott Richards art booth, two perennial favorites of The LA Report from exhibits at Bergamot Station: Patrick Hughes (master of visual illusion and perspective-bending paintings) and Carol Feuerman (who creates near-lifesize sculptures of people so realistic that many do double takes to make sure they aren’t real, and even after you see them, you still are not quite sure). Also loved the popping-off-the-wall Pop Art of Peter Stanick (coming to Museum Works Galleries on Melrose in a big L.A. show June 3, stay tuned for more details); visit his cool site to see more of his work (and remember to wear your headphones and flipflops – the site plays classic surf music as you, well, surf his site). While the art, as you can tell, affected me the most, there were also exquisite antiques throughout the hall, and fine jewelry in several booths.
The May 18 opening night gala featured fine food and open bar (Zone Vodka drinks featured, along with fine wine), plus live music that provided a perfect vibe. Celebs we spotted included Barbara Streisand, hubbie James Brolin, Stella Stevens, the always-tall John Philip Law (you know, star of Barbarella and other classics that thankfully were not forced into remakes), Tim Russ (excellent musician who lived long and prospered as Tuvok on Star Trek Voyager), and always-amiable host/MC Fred Travelena (who wowed the crowd with, among other gems, impressions of NINE, count em, NINE presidents in under a minute – from JFK to LBJ to GWB, each doing a few words from the Inauguration swearing-in speech… no swearing needed to elicit laughs from this entertainer). Then there was the booth that featured a Mongolian musician in full regalia playing what looked like a cross between a clarinet and a French horn, then switched to a two-stringed guitaresque instrument as he sang polyphonically. A few feet away a woman painted live, using an attendee as muse and model.
Plus much too much more to mention. You simply must go. The LA Report rates this a must see and must go. Must we keep repeating ourselves?
More info at beverlyhillsclassicshow.com.
(May 18, 2006: Los Angeles CA) Just saw a preview of the BEVERLY HILLS CLASSIC Antiques, Fine Art and Jewelry Show at the Petersen Auto Museum, located at Wilshire and Fairfax. This show is, in a word, a must see. Okay, that's three words, but that’s my point: break whatever rules there are and get down to see this show. One of the best art events The LA Report has seen in recent months, because of the diverse works present and the quality of the exhibits. Some highlights include: one booth with the works of two genius artists - Bernard Pras (he perfectly arranges a myriad of colorful objects along with objects in his environment to create one-of-a-kind photos of famous folks - and the objects relate playfully to the subject) and Pavlos (unique works made solely from colored paper), both will expand your mind and Pras will make you think as well as laugh; the photomosaics of Robert Silvers, the surreal colorful paintings of Metin Bereketli (hollywoodpainter.com), Michael Hall's thick-stroke paintings with white gobs like vanilla icecream (imagine if Leroy Neiman painted guitars and other objects using ultrawide brushes), and in the Scott Richards art booth, two perennial favorites of The LA Report from exhibits at Bergamot Station: Patrick Hughes (master of visual illusion and perspective-bending paintings) and Carol Feuerman (who creates near-lifesize sculptures of people so realistic that many do double takes to make sure they aren’t real, and even after you see them, you still are not quite sure). Also loved the popping-off-the-wall Pop Art of Peter Stanick (coming to Museum Works Galleries on Melrose in a big L.A. show June 3, stay tuned for more details); visit his cool site to see more of his work (and remember to wear your headphones and flipflops – the site plays classic surf music as you, well, surf his site). While the art, as you can tell, affected me the most, there were also exquisite antiques throughout the hall, and fine jewelry in several booths.
The May 18 opening night gala featured fine food and open bar (Zone Vodka drinks featured, along with fine wine), plus live music that provided a perfect vibe. Celebs we spotted included Barbara Streisand, hubbie James Brolin, Stella Stevens, the always-tall John Philip Law (you know, star of Barbarella and other classics that thankfully were not forced into remakes), Tim Russ (excellent musician who lived long and prospered as Tuvok on Star Trek Voyager), and always-amiable host/MC Fred Travelena (who wowed the crowd with, among other gems, impressions of NINE, count em, NINE presidents in under a minute – from JFK to LBJ to GWB, each doing a few words from the Inauguration swearing-in speech… no swearing needed to elicit laughs from this entertainer). Then there was the booth that featured a Mongolian musician in full regalia playing what looked like a cross between a clarinet and a French horn, then switched to a two-stringed guitaresque instrument as he sang polyphonically. A few feet away a woman painted live, using an attendee as muse and model.
Plus much too much more to mention. You simply must go. The LA Report rates this a must see and must go. Must we keep repeating ourselves?
More info at beverlyhillsclassicshow.com.
