The Summer of Soul Art Exhibition is, to some Santa Monica residents, symbolized by the giant pair of neon sunglasses that people have been able to draw at the beach at the Twilight Concert Series each Thursday night.
However, as this month draws to a close, the final event, an art exhibition, is to take place at Upper West restaurant, located at 3321 Pico Blvd. this Sunday, Aug. 30, from 4-7 pm, run by Resonate LA.
Resonate LA is a new non-denominational church, just over a year old, that was founded a year ago at the old Google building before moving to Bergamot station, eventually conducting their meetings at the 18th Street Art Center.
What sets this church apart from the others is their focus on the arts.
Going by a belief that “god is the ultimate artist,” the church encourages people young and old alike to express themselves artistically.
Arts program coordinator, art teacher, and co-designer of the neon sunglasses Bobbie Rich has organized exhibits with these pieces, this Sunday’s event being the second.
“I’ve tracked down close to 100 artists, and they include students that I teach, as well as young kids all the way up through professional artists met through galleries, the church, pretty much everywhere,” Rich said.
She cited Upper West as her venue of choice because she previously exhibited her works for five months, and considered the owners extremely supportive to her, making her choice of the place easy to decide.
The event, as foreshadowed by the sunglasses on the pier involves ocular shades as a motif, chosen by pastor David Cobia, to be used in each of the 100 art pieces displayed. “We wanted something fun for the summer, something iconic,” Rich explained. “There are going to be 100 artists, or at least 100 canvases, some people have done multiple pieces. I’m hanging them in a huge grid. People can walk in, see a painting they want, pull it off the wall, pay, and stick it in their purse right then and there. It will be very immediate. I’m hoping for the wall to look like it’s full of holes. It’s what I’m looking forward to the most.”
All of the works of art are for available for purchase at $99, with half of the proceeds going to Compassion International, and the other half going to Resonate LA’s arts programs.
Upper West will also be donating 30 percent of all food and beverage sales during the event to the causes as well.
For more information on Resonate LA or the event, feel free to visit www.Resonate.Church or TheUpperWest.com, as well as BobbieRich.com.
