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centered art
The clock
doesn't have any hands in this art display shown in
the photograph above. Part of a non-juried (no
qualifications for entry) art exhibit at the
Huntington Beach Art Center's annual event, Centered
on the Center, the clock face is centered in a big
copper eye-shaped design stationed on a base.
From sculpted
surfers hanging 10 to the big clock eye, from a
painting of the Wizard of Oz's cowardly lion to
peacock feathers, the art is sometimes abstract,
sometimes direct, often simple and occasionally
complex. The truth is, the artwork submitted runs
the gamut of artistic abilities and interpretations.
There are some gems if you study the busy walls
crammed full of art (spacing of mere inches between
pieces), and for those who must arrange, categorize
and hang the work, our hat's go off to you. Your job
is formidable.
An article
written in one of the local publications known to
seek controversy & criticism about every subject
included this synopsis of the event in its paper:
"As I looked around more, I got over the shock of
the really awful stuff, realizing that the majority
of the show wasn't so bad. It wasn't great; it was
solidly mediocre. And I noticed a few pieces that
were actually quite good. What sort of curatorial
process could possibly be at work here? It was if
they'd just flung wide the doors, taken in every
damn thing that was offered to them, and put it all
on display. Well, it turns out that's pretty much
exactly what they did."
And indeed,
that's the effect that hits you in the eye as you
enter the exhibit. There's so much going on
and of such varied levels of artistic skill that
absorbing and spotting the gems requires effort.
Surrounded by "noise" of a hundred pieces all in a
row, serious artists will not enter this event to be
discovered. More a participatory attempt to raise
the bar would better summarize a professional
artist's entry into this show.
The show,
itself, receives a fairly short shelf life. Not as
short as the summer beach art camp kids' exhibit
which lasts just a few days. This event gets longer
play with a four to six week staging. And for those
who need to list a gallery showing on their resume,
what better way to enter the art world and claim a
city gallery show? For $15 or so, you're on
the wall, first come first serve, till space runs
out.
Huntington
Beach Art Center
538 Main Street
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Call: (714) 374-1650
Hours: Wednesday - Saturday - 12 noon - 6 pm; Sunday
- 12 noon - 4 pm; Closed Monday - Tuesday
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