Artists X Architects Opening at Joe's

V-SCAPE or Venice – Surrounding Communities Art, Performance and Events, noted journalist and curator Tibby Rothman’s organization, along with Joe’s Restaurant have partnered in 2012 to present bimonthly art events at the four star Venice eatery. The next exhibit, Artists X Architects, opens with a free public reception on June 5, 2012 from 6:00 to 8:00pm at Joe’s Restaurant, 1023 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice CA 90291.

Also presented by The Architect’s Newspaper, Artists X Architects has matched 11 artists with 11 architects and had them select one piece from each other’s work. During an exchange of studio visits, the artists and architects each selected a single work from one another to be exhibited side-by-side.

The artist X architect pairings in the show include: Larry Bell X Lorcan O'Herlihy, Billy Al Bengston X Neil M. Denari, Casper Brindle X Andreas Froech, Huguette Caland X Mark Mack, Laddie John Dill X Kulapat Yantrasast, Ned Evans X David Hertz, Alexis Smith X Lawrence Scarpa, Barbara T. Smith X John Frane, Laurie Steelink X Erla Dogg Ingjaldsdottir/Tyggvi Thorsteinsson, De Wain Valentine X Patrick Tighe and Jennifer Wolf X Dwayne Oyler/Jenny Wu.

The affinity between the disciplines of art and architecture dates back through millennia. In Artists X Architects Rothman pairs eleven artists and architects, both emerging and established, as a way to create a unique visual dialogue between the two. Rather than "finished pieces," a completed painting and a photograph of a finished structure, Rothman asked for glimpses of an individual's process: a sketch, a study, a small piece, a rendering, a material study or a similar piece. Stripped of art and architecture's divergent vocabulary, the connections or complements between the pair are revealed. Rothman saw the matches as making interesting combinations visually, conceptually, and, sometimes, in their personalities.

The show is truly two shows: the pieces exhibited and the in-studio visits that will never be seen. In studio dialogues were launched between some artists and architects who had not previously met. Architects and artists hijacked studio visits into lunches, dinners or lengthy meetings held over a series of weeks. In some cases, ideas for future collaborations have begun and will be explored in a subsequent show.

Tibby Rothman has traversed the worlds of art and architecture since starting the now defunct Venice Paper in 2001. A writer, journalist and creative strategist, she has amassed a compelling series of interviews with prominent Los Angeles artists and architects. This show continues her work revealing inter-disciplinary connections.

The opening reception will host the participating artists and architects along with the general public and feature complimentary wine. The artworks will be available for purchase at Joe’s and will remain on view for two months.

In other Joe’s Restaurant news, the popular eatery is holding a website drawing for a free dinner for two on June 16. To enter interested diners should go to http://joesrestaurant.com/newsletter and sign up for Joe’s newsletter to be automatically entered.