GOIN' TO PHOTO L.A.

I'll be spending the weekend over in Santa Monica at Photo L.A. The fancy description of Photo L.A. is that it's the 18th Annual International Los Angeles Photographic Art Exposition, but basically it's an annual event where galleries from all over the world come to L.A. to show and sell their photos and books. Most of it is high end stuff - photos that cost five and six figures - some by historically significant photographers, others by contemporary artists. But for those of us that aren't big spenders there's also work by newer, unknown artists that will cost you a few bills or Vernacular photography for sale where you can pick up images for under a hundred bucks. I'm not going to Photo L.A. to buy anything (well maybe some books) - for me it's like walking around one great big photographic museum for the weekend. Last year was my first time at Photo L.A. and I really underestimated the volume of photography to take in. By the end of my first day, I hadn't made it through the entire show and my brain was seriously overloaded by too much beauty.


Last year, Martin Schoeller's 7 foot tall photos of female body builders visually and physically dominated the show.





More Schoeller - a great visual dichotomy - Iggy Pop and Tammy Faye Baker



John Divola - the one artist whose work I would love to bring home if his pieces weren't 5 grand. This photo depicting his Isolated Houses and Vandalism series' doesn't do his work justice.



Along with great work by photographers, were photos on sale capturing great photographers.

Diane Arbus


Andy Warhol (in drag) photographed by Christopher Makos


Photographer/painter Ed Ruscha


Photo L.A.
Barker Hangar
3021 Airport Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 9040

PUBLIC FAIR HOURS
Friday, January 9th, 12pm - 8pm
Saturday, January 10th, 12pm - 8pm
Sunday, January 11th, 12pm - 6pm

TICKETS
$20 1-day pass (includes catalog)
$30 3-day pass (includes catalog)