Tarfest 2020
LAUNCH LA, with the support from Television City, the City of Los Angeles, Department of Cultural Affairs, Councilmember David Ryu, CD 4, The Original Farmers Market, The Beverly Connection and the local Miracle Mile arts and business community, is proud to present the 18th annual TARFEST arts festival. This year’s community celebration includes virtual and live programming beginning. On Saturday, August 22nd, LAUNCH presented the Facebook Live Opening of TRANSITION – an Open Call Exhibition featuring 45 artworks by 44 Southern California artists juried by Holly Jerger, Exhibition Curator, Craft Contemporary Museum. This exhibition brings together artists from across Southern California whose practices engage with core concepts of change through process, thought culture, chance and more during these unprecedented times. The exhibition takes place at the ART170 building located at 170 S. La Brea Avenue in Los Angeles, 90036. Viewing TRANSITION is available by appointment and is free to the public through Saturday September 5th. TARFEST is produced by the non-profit arts organization LAUNCH LA.
LAUNCH LA is proud to present its first outdoor art presentation. On Saturday, August 29th, 2020, LAUNCH presented 3 neon light outdoor art pieces no w here (not in anyplace, not anywhere), you are here now, and x = why by artist Donna Gough. Ms. Gough uses the seemingly contradictory use of words within the work left open for the viewer to interpret. Here, or not here? There, or not there? She links elements from drawing, sculpture, installation and light-based media. Her art practice is an ongoing inquiry into concepts of the ‘unknown’ and the illusion of time (ourselves) flowing from the past towards the future as a subjective experience of consciousness. These pieces are viewable on La Brea Ave near 2nd St. through October 5th.
“TARFEST has been part of the LA community for over eighteen years, remaining an important annual event through important changes that have transformed the city,” says LAUNCH LA founder James Panozzo. “This year’s challenges of a global pandemic forced artists and producers to really impose their creative will. I think we have accomplished something special.”
A second important group exhibition, Have To Hold curated by Elizabeth Tinglof and Ashley Hagen will open on Saturday, September 5th at LAUNCH Gallery, 170 S. La Brea Avenue Los Angeles 90036 and run through the month of September. Have to Hold is an exhibition where six contemporary artists reflect upon the rich yet charged history and psychology of collecting. Through their own use of objects and materials, they construct stories of experiences and conceptual perspectives, addressing both the past and future. Participating artists include, Vida Liu, Constance Mallinson, Kristen Morgin, Kimberly Morris, Ephraim Puusemp and George Stoll. The gallery will be open by appointment Thursdays – Saturdays through the month of September. Programming related to this exhibition will be announced on the LAUNCH LA website and through email and social media.
Finally, on Friday, October 2nd The Original Farmers Market and next door neighbor, Television City present BREATHE: A Drive In Dance Event, created, choreographed and directed by Laurie Sefton with original music by Bryan Curt Kostors. Inspired by Drive-In movie theaters, similar to the beloved Gilmore Drive-In theater that was located at Third and Fairfax from 1948-1979, Breathe will be live, outdoor, capsular and interactive with guests enjoying the performance from the comfort of their own cars in the north parking lot of The Original Farmers Market. Advance reservation will be required
and ticket information will be available in September at www.farmersmarketla.com