Remembering Miriam Wosk

Excerpted from the Los Angeles Times, November 11th:

"Her art was definitely a major deal and her use of materials broke a lot of boundaries," Billy Shire told The Los Angeles Times. "She kind of put forth in her work that art could be beautiful as well as meaningful."

Working in paint, pastel and collage on paper, Miriam Wosk often began with an anatomical image that she smothered "in veil upon veil of floral ornament and pattern, creating a sort of gothic, hyper-decorative Surrealism that is as invigorating for the imagination as it is for the eye," according to a 2006 Times review of the show "Sequins and Skeletons" held at the now-defunct Billy Shire Fine Arts Gallery in Culver City.

Happy Diwali from Laurie Lipton & Jessica Joslin!

Diwali (a contraction of the word Deepavali, meaning row of lamps) is the festival of lights, the most important celebration in Hinduism. It's an occasion to wear new clothes and share sweets and snacks with family and friends. In western terms, it's something of a combination of Easter, Hannukkha and New Year's Day.

Diwali commemorates the return of Lord Rama along with Sita and Lakshman from his fourteen year long exile and vanquishing the demon-king Ravana. In joyous celebration of the return of their king, the people of Ayodhya, the Capital of Rama, illuminated the kingdom with earthen oil lamps and burst firecrackers. In Jainism, Diwali marks the attainment of moksha or nirvana by Mahavira in 527 BC. In Sikhism, Deepavali commemorates the return of Guru Har Gobind Ji to Amritsar after freeing 52 Hindu kings imprisoned in Fort Gwalior by defeating Emperor Jahangir.

Tonight, at La Luz de Jesus Gallery, we'll be celebrating Diwali by welcoming the return of artists Jessica Joslin and Laurie Lipton, who will each be signing collected volumes of their work from 7-8PM, before kicking off the opening reception that runs from 8-11 PM. The DOSA catering truck will be parked out front supplying the very best South Indian savory crepes, samosas, masalas and lassis, and the Los Angeles Absinthe Club will be set-up in the back patio, adding a green fairy to the air of Victorian mystery inherent in Laurie's intricate works on paper and Jessica's exquisite constructs of brass and bone. The pictures above and below offer a quick glimpse of the exhibition in mid-assembly.




Early arrival is recommended!