sutter and powell in san francisco. high density corner

hey it’s New York! great show, the japanese photographers seemed to rule the day

the backlot of Paramount Pictures. behind the facade

BlueWhale + Cafemode present

BRYAN IDA
“LACA”

curated by Kio Griffith

on view > MARCH 11  to MAY 31, 2013
ARTIST RECEPTION: APRIL 17, 2013 from 7pm to midnight

FREE ADMISSION BEFORE 9PM

$10 AFTER 9PM for Music

featuring
ADAM RATNER guitar
LARRY GOLDINGS keys
LOUIS COLE drums

BLUEWHALE
123 Astronaut E S  Onizuka Street #301 Los Angeles, CA 90012
Weller Court Plaza 3rd Floor

live cutting-edge jazz + artist installations
from 8pm to 2am [Mon-Sat] closed Sundays

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BlueWhale + Cafemode proudly present “LACA” by BRYAN IDA

Bryan Ida’s “LACA” is the second artists’ installation series at BlueWhale.

Artist Statement

In my latest series I wanted to capture the feelings of location and identity with an emphasis on the unique architectural history of Southern California. I reflect the relationships formed within the region between all its divergent cities and communities. I wanted to somehow express the complexity, diversity, and beauty of the region we live in as well as the sense of time that is felt as the city experiences its decay.

This new series of paintings uses round and rectangular shaped panels to explore, interpret and express the energy and flow of this thought process. The round panels are mandalas.  These come from the perspective of looking straight up from a city street and seeing the tall buildings converge on a central point. The focal point is the center of the mandala.  This viewpoint leads into abstraction as one loses their point of reference, everything turns on itself and the beginning becomes the end

The rectangles are more traditional landscapes with a view from the horizontal perspective where one can see a horizon line and the outlines and forms of buildings that identify a city. The foreground composition consists of colors and forms inspired by short glances, impressions, and photographs of architecture in the Southern California area. I try to contrast the idea of a fleeting unbalanced glance with the balance achieved in stasis.

I use negative space behind the forms to tell as much of the story as possible. The use of negative space for me is about finding a place to fit in; the relationship between what is there and what is not.  It speaks of location. The composition is a balance between the negative space in the back and the forms and outlines in the foreground.

To complement these compositions, I’ve developed a technique that layers paint inside thick layers of epoxy, essentially isolating each layer from one another.  This physical separation gives a sense of depth, volume and detachment again echoing the city theme.

the background is a deep blue, magenta. about 40 layers. trying to capture the richness of the night with the glow of the sun barely there

i like the different textures and surfaces

the exposed beams and the diagonal blue from the sky

that roofline is great. the house looks like blocks stacked together into a cohesive whole. i like the idea of deconstructing this

palm springs forest