News of the Arroyo

Title:

LA's Arroyo Seco celebrated in Southwest Museum art exhibit

Subtitle:

Date:

2017-06-02

Summary:

<b>June 2, 2017</b> - There's an art exhibit at the old Southwest Museum that celebrates the Arroyo. Take the Gold Line to view "For the Love of the Arroyo" now through June 18th.

Author:

Sandra Barrera

Publication:

Los Angeles Daily News

Content:

Bridges like the one in Michael Egede-Nissen’s painting, “The Devil’s Gate,” are a popular subject in “For the Love of the Arroyo.” Courtesy photo

Highland Park artist Raoul De la Sota reveals in his work a connection to his long walks on the Arroyo Seco.

These landscapes, depicting favorite areas of the seasonal stream that winds its way from Devil’s Gate Dam to near Elysian Park where it converges with the L.A. River, are more rural than urban.

“With the exception of one work, I don’t have any concrete in my paintings,” he says.

But that’s just De la Sota, one of 15 artists whose paintings, drawings and mixed-media works comprise “For the Love of the Arroyo,” the exhibition and sale now on view through June 18 at the Autry’s Historic Southwest Museum Mt. Washington Campus. The works are an accumulation of what the Arroyo means to each one of the artists portraying it.

And while the views sometimes overlap, the compositions’ makers approach their works from unique points of view, ranging from the chaotic to the sublime.

Some conceal humor.

“For the Love of the Arroyo” offers the chance to revive the century-old venue, which has been designated a “National Treasure,” as a resource to both local artists and the community at large.

“It was the perfect blend of resources,” says Maren Dougherty, the Autry’s vice president of communications and visitor experience. “We had the space, we had some staff that could help build the walls and the installation, and Raoul had the connections with the artist community here.”

As organizer and co-curator with fellow artist Roderick Smith, De la Sota adds that the show also celebrates the diverse landscapes.

Raoul De la Soto’s upper view of the Arroyo Seco titled “Towards the Light” is among the artist’s works featured in the exhibition and sale, “For the Love of the Arroyo,” at the Autry’s Historic Southwest Museum Mt. Washington Campus. Courtesy photo.

For the Love of the Arroyo

When: Now through June 18. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Where: The Autry’s Historic Southwest Museum Mt. Washington Campus, 234 Museum Drive, Los Angeles.

Admission: Free.

Information: 323-221-2164. http://theautry.org.

That includes his panoramic view of the stream as it cuts through urban areas, with a view of downtown L.A. in the distance.

Other works include Gwen Freeman’s “Man Walking” oil on canvas, which captures a shadowy figure on the pedestrian walkway of the Arroyo’s all-concrete wash. Peter Hess’ “Confluence” painting and ceramic depicts the beginning of the Arroyo from the San Gabriel Mountains, which are symbolized as a bear.

It cries a river through the urban areas of the composition.

Bridges are popular with the artists, from Michael Egede-Nissen’s street-top view of the curving “The Devil’s Gate” backdropped by the San Gabriel Mountains to Kevin Hass’s photograph of the “Colorado Street Bridge” archways.

And there’s much more to see.

“As people walk in, I like to tell them, you could take the parkway right down the center and it will be great, but you will miss what the Arroyo is all about,” De la Sota says. “What you have to do is meander.”

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Arroyo Seco Foundation

News of the Arroyo

Title:

LA's Arroyo Seco celebrated in Southwest Museum art exhibit