Coming Exhibition: Shelly Lazarus, Ernie Marjoram, Jane Peterson

November 26 - December 21, 2013

Opening Reception:
Saturday, December 7, 2013, 5-8 p.m.

Artist Talk:
Saturday, December 14, 2013, 3-4 p.m.

Shelley Lazarus, Multiples

Shelley Lazarus, Want to Buy a Bridge (detail), Watercolor and Colored Pencil, 22 x 15 in., 2013

Watercolor and mixed media artist Shelley Lazarus’ latest series looks fondly at her native city of New York, and her current homes in Los Angeles and Ventura. Lazarus’ expressive brushwork portrays sentimental moments and landscapes with a mixed media technique combining watercolor, acrylics, graphite and colored pencil. In her current show, Multiples, Lazarus made her focus on the subject of grouping. “I grew up as one of five children and I learned that we all have to form our own identity,” says Lazarus. “This show is about that dynamic - shining through as part of a group.” From iconic views of the Brooklyn Bridge and Chrysler building to Ventura seascapes and more intimate interiors, Lazarus uses the idea of multiples to explore different perspectives. Proceeds will benefit the Robert David Lazarus Pulmonary Rehabilitation unit at Cedars Sinai Hospital.

Ernie Marjoram, Eye Candy

Ernie Marjoram, Gummy Worms, Oil on Board, 12 x 12 in., 2013

Borne out of his previous food studies of decadent main courses, artist Ernie Marjoram’s current exhibition is a playful look at candies and confections in their various shapes and sizes. Marjoram’s magnified perspective provides a glimpse into a sea of truffles, salt water taffy, foil-wrapped Hershey’s Kisses and nostalgic treats. The result is a vibrant study in color, as well as detailed pattern and texture. “I have a sweet tooth the size of Texas,” says Marjoram, who said his current work was more than a natural choice. “I saw this series as an opportunity to work with fun color and transparency.” Ribbed, colorful gummy worms become studies in transparent color gradation, while cellophane candy wrappers appear as reflective abstractions. Compositions are closely cropped to emphasize line and shape, referencing traditional still life, while exploring oil painting with a contemporary approach.

Jane Peterson, Fear of Falling

Jane Peterson, Symbiosis, Giclee', 5 x 7 in., 2013

Transitioning from her previous series Pith and Vinegar, mixed media artist Jane Peterson’s current exhibition uses characters to communicate contrasting human emotions of fear, trust, and comfort. Using current events as a reference, Peterson’s characters’ are expressive vehicles constructed from a range of two-dimensional and three-dimensional media including oil on canvas, pen and ink, and digital painting. Peterson’s figures are startlingly grotesque, yet familiar, as insects and shape-shifting human amalgams convey mixed passions and anxieties. Detailed antennae and liquid forms make reference to surrealism, while Peterson’s mixed media arrangements hold personal value to the artist. In a series of photographs, Peterson injects herself into the composition, communicating directly with her characters and the core struggle within. The bridge between real and surreal is blurred, as Peterson poses the question of what world is our own.