Substrate Gallery Celebrates John Denver’s “Sweet, Sweet Life.”
If
you find yourself in LA this Friday 24th October (I’m thousands of miles away unfortunately)
please don’t miss the opening reception of “Sweet, Sweet Life: The Photographic Works
of John Denver,” at Substrate Gallery.
Curated
by LA gallerist, artist, musician & friend Ramses Granados,
the exhibit runs through 23rd November and will include a retrospective
of photographs taken by the late 70’s singer/songwriter.
In addition to composing the folk music many of us who grew up in the 70's & early 80's remember, Denver was also a humanitarian
and outspoken activist who testified before Congress against censorship in music, lent his support to a myriad of social causes including the AIDS crisis and victims of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, as
well as developed programs and volunteered his time to a multitude of environmental
and conservational efforts.
Situated
a minute’s walk from Paramount Pictures, Substrate is the only gallery of its
kind in Los Angeles specifically focused on the interpretation of contemporary
visual arts in relationship to music. As
one who creates paintings primarily via the inspiration of music, I appreciate
Substrate’s integrity and devotion to exploring and presenting both arts with
equal authenticity and passion.
Ramses Granados and Will Sergeant
For
more than a decade Ramses has brought to the city of LA a series of provocative
exhibits including the 2009 exhibition of the late artist/musician Natty
Brooker (Spaceman 3), “My Own Worst Enemy” - the art of Will Sergeant (Echo
& the Bunnymen) in 2012; and earlier this spring the poignant work of
Canadian documentary photographer, Ivory Day.
Inspired by photographer Diane Arbus, Day’s work takes an honest and personal,
if not disconcerting look at raising cultural awareness about the global
problem of mistreatment and displacement of the mentally ill.
Ramses, Will Sergeant and Moby
In
addition to the intriguing exhibition history, gallery owner Ramses is also a musician, member of LA experimental band, “The MEEK” as
well as a contemporary artist and painter whose collectors include Bill Gates,
actress Heather Graham and musician Courtney Taylor-Taylor, among many others.
To
call Substrate “cutting edge” is an understatement; it’s more of a space to
engage the eyes and the ears, and what better way to experience the best of
both worlds. The show runs through 23rd November; go see it!
And just in case you missed it….here’s the interview I did with Ramses last year: Modern-Minimalist, Ramses Granados.
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