Art Reception at LA Louver, Relighting of Sponto Sign and Bloomfest

This week is all about Thursday. There will be two great events, both on Venice Boulevard.

one of Venice's first galleries with a 20-plus year history of bringing artists such as David Hockney, Deborah Butterfield and Tony Berlant to the forefront of the art world, hosts an opening reception from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for artist Tom Wudl's new show "Immensities and Infinities: Further Specimens from the Flowerbank World." Wudl intends his new paintings to reflect, rather than directly represent, the rich content and powerful imagery of the Sutra. At the heart of  "Immensities and Infinities" are four paintings on vellum, each depicting flower blossoms. They're modest in size yet complex and detailed in their composition. The reception is free and the gallery will validate for valet parking across the street.

Beyond Baroque hosts Bloomfest as well as the relighting of the Sponto sign. Founded in 1968, Beyond Baroque is located in the old Venice Town Hall. Celebrate the relighting of the Sponto neon sign, courtesy of  7 Dudley Cinema (also the address of Sponto's former gallery) at 4 minutes and 20 seconds after 7 p.m. The party starts at 6:30 p.m. on the front lawn. If you're not sure who Sponto is, make sure to attend this event and you will find out. A little tidbit: Sponto resided in Venice for more than 20 years and owned a gallery that was very representational and inclusive of the Venice arts scene.

In addition to the Sponto sign relighting, Bloomfest honoring James Joyce will take place the same evening, with rare film clips and live readings from The Marshall McLuhan-Finnegans Wake Reading Club, lead by Venice film historian Gerry Fialka. Fialka will also give a presentation on Joyce and experimental film. This also marks the start of First Thursdays of the month film night. See schedule of events below. Free. 681 Venice Blvd. Free parking in the lot on the east side of SPARC, next door and street parking.

6:30  - Party on the front lawn of Beyond Baroque 
7:04 - Relighting of SPONTO neon
7:15 - Film (in theater) Wing Of Art, Joseph Campbell on Finnegans Wake (57 minutes, 1990)
8:15 -  Film, The Unlucky Sailor (9 Unread Chapters of Finnegans Wake) (36 m, 2010) by Gary Kibbins
9:00 - Film, Joseph Campbell on Ulysses (57m, 1990)

P.S. Although this column usually covers weekday events, it's important to spread the word about the After! Venice Art Walk on Saturday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. More than 100 works of art from the Venice Art Walk will be for sale at opening bid prices. Food and drinks provided by Gelson's Markets. Free raffle to win one of seven signed Venice Art Walk posters by renowned Venice artists such as Ed Moses, Kenny Harris and Ed Ruscha. Free. Benefits the Venice Family Clinic. Free. It's at the Venice Family Clinic's Irma Colen Admin. Building at 622 Rose Ave. (next to the clinic).