5 design things to do this week

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Check out the latest in car connectivity at the LA Auto Show, buy ceramic art saved from a studio fire, explore two art exhibitions on the Santa Monica beach, hear music at a Richard Neutra house and admire large-scale folk art in Simi Valley.

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Nine photographers examine Los Angeles through multiple lenses and changing light in Los Angeles: Detailed, on view at the Annenberg Community Beach House. Photo by Mark Indig. (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)

1) Two Santa Monica art exhibitions

Los Angeles: Detailed

With its diversity and dreams, oceans and mountains, excesses and blight, it has been said that Los Angeles was ‘made for pictures’.  In Los Angeles: Detailed, 9 photographers examine Los Angeles through multiple lenses and changing light.

When: Tuesday, Nov 15, 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Where: Annenberg Community Beach House, 415 Pacific Coast Hwy at Beach Coast Way, Santa Monica, CA 90402

Tickets: Free.  Register here.

Home Remedies for Driving while Black

Also in Santa Monica, check out artist-in-residence Zeal Harris‘ final presentation at the Camera Obscura Art Lab.  Entitled “Home Remedies for Driving while Black,” the exhibition is a body of original studies, test prints and works in progress on her title theme.  Visitors are invited to step “backstage” to see her process as well as some older works not currently on view. Limited edition prints available for purchase.

When: Saturday, Nov 19, 2 – 5 pm

Where: Camera Obscura Art Lab, 1450 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Tickets: Free.  RSVP here.

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2017 Models Debut at the LA Auto Show at the Convention Center Nov 18-27. (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)

2) L.A. Auto Show

Shiny paint and sleek lines, pistons and spark plugs – or not,  the 109th L.A. Auto Show opens this week with the usual fanfare, as well as an acknowledgement that the industry is changing.  From new models of old classics, like the 2017 Lincoln Continental (above – it’s all about the grill), to completely new products, from type of vehicle (lots of scooters and e-bikes) to connectivity, promising to disrupt the industry as we know it.

When: Friday, Nov 18 – Sun, Nov 27.  Complete schedule here.

Where: Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015

Tickets: $5-$85. Tickets and other information here.

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Over 200 ceramic pieces from the fire at Ben Medansky’s studio will be on display and available for purchase ($100-$3,000) at Fire by the Fire. (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)


3) Fired By The Fire

After a year and a half of building and curating his DTLA arts district studio/showroom space, Ben Medansky was ready to throw a party.  He themed it “The Up in Smoke” party: he burned sage for atmosphere and friends and supporters smoked, drank and ate with his high-end and distinctive pipes, cups and plates.  The heartbreaking irony was lost on no one, when, the following night, a massive multi-building fire, which started at an adjacent pallet yard, destroyed Medansky’s space.  Now, 4 months later, the phoenix is rising from the ashes.  With an eye on moving forward, Medansky and the design community of Lawson-Fenning are creating a ‘circumstantial’ show where he is displaying and selling his charred ruins, turning tragedy into art. Listen to DnA’s interview with Medansky here.

When: Saturday, Nov 19, noon – 4 pm

Where: Lawson-Fenning, 6824 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles 90038

Tickets: Free.  RSVP to info@lawsonfenning.com

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The iconic Neutra VDL House in Silverlake is the venue for a listening party in support of Barnsdall Arts. (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)

4) CrossFade: Barnsdall Arts and Big City Forum Modernism and Listening Party @ Neutra VDL

For over four decades, Barnsdall Arts has been committed to providing outstanding, affordable arts education programs and exhibition throughout Los Angeles. You can support the organization and explore Richard Neutra’s original 1932 VDL home. There will be music and sound design curated by renowned members of the LA creative community, as well as tasty local treats and wines from Silverlake Wine.

When: Sunday, Nov 20 at 2 pm

Where: Neutra VDL House, 2300 Silverlake Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90039

Tickets: $15-$30.  Get tickets here.

Artist ‘Grandma’ Tressa Prisbrey, surrounded by her bottle house, dolls and (real) dog in 1973.

5) Grandma Prisbrey’s Bottle Village

Some say ‘it takes a village’, Grandma Prisbrey said ‘it MAKES a village.’  Inspired by empty bottles, dolls, pens, pencils, greeting cards, odd bits of furniture, broken tile, toys and other treasures from the local dump, ‘Grandma’ Tressa Prisbrey added a bit of mortar and built a small village in Simi Valley.  Why not?  The “Pencil House,” the “Round House,” the “Shell House”, were all built by ‘Grandma’ Prisbrey beginning in 1956, after she was already 60 years old.  You can explore this large-scale Folk Art site and experience first hand this fantastic and fantastical environment, now designated a California State Historical Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It sounds creepy, but some people are into that kind of thing.

When: Sunday, Nov 20, 10:15 am – 2 pm

Where: Bottle Village, 4595 Cochran Street, Simi Valley, California 93062

Tickets: $25.  More information and tickets here.