Since the early 1980s artist (and former collegiate soccer player) Victor Hugo Zayas has been painting the Los Angeles river, primarily at night. So yesterday on the Free Museum Day I took the Metro from Pasadena to Long Beach to see his work at the Museum of Latin American Art.
When I walked into the gallery my first reaction was ‘Oh, inspired by Turner’, but I changed my mind when I stepped back from the paintings and viewed them from a distance of 25 feet. Suddenly the dark, sweeping brush strokes became an impressionist view of the river.
Unfortunately, I have to apologize for the poor quality of my photographs. These photos do not do the paintings justice at all.
You can see better images and an interview with Victor Zayas here.
In another gallery at the museum was an exhibition of works from Chicano artists who burst into the art scene after tagging LACMA back in the late 1980s. Many artists in this movement produced silk-screen prints at Self-Help Gallery under the guidance of Sister Karen.
I bought quite a few works at Self-Help years ago, including works by Frank Romero and Leo Limon. Sometime in the next year there will be a solo show of Romero’s work at LACMA. Also a solo show of Carlos Almarez’s work.
MOLAA has a superb collection of Latin American art and at least part of their permanent collection is on view at all times.
The rhino at the top of this post is entitled “Made in Cuba”.
