A reception will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. this Saturday, May 12, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 13 for the exhibition “Main St. to Wall St” in Santa Monica.
“Main St. to Wall St.” is painter, sculptor, photographer, and teacher George Small’s recent exploration.
He has been working with mixed media on photography since his highly regarded photo essay on a veteran’s staple “Pal’s Bar” in 2002. That photo essay translated into an article in the L.A. Times Magazine entitled “Brothers in Arms” by Michael T. Jarvis.
“Pal’s Bar” is a series of black and white documentary style photos of three generations of veterans in 1978 who called “Pal’s Bar” their home.
Years later in 2002 Small enlarged and hand colored these remarkable images to forge his essential thematic: to “bring the past alive”.
Small demonstrated his erstwhile technique of working mixed media directly onto photographs: In “From Main St. to Wall St.” George continues the “Pal’s Bar” didactic to foster a discussion on American myths.
This collection of new work goes beyond bringing the past alive by connecting the past to the present in political terms. “I have always been politically active, small continues,” Small said.”
“As an artist I think it’s becoming impossible for me to separate my work from my beliefs and observations. I want to create beautiful images but the social world is too compelling not to comment. I have to make commentary!”
The Studio Gallery is located at 1612 Ocean Park Blvd. in Santa Monica.
For more information, phone 310.452.1599 or email artistsb2@gmail.com.
