I rarely suggest leaving San Diego to go see art, but every rule is proven by the odd exception; and this week, I have two. In any case, part of being a resident of San Diego is getting in a car and driving somewhere north or west, with the top down and a long scarf fluttering behind you.
If you are a fan of the large and hirsute among us and you appreciate the decorative charm of felt, fabric and all things crafty then drive yourself up to the Steve Turner Contemporary Gallery in Los Angeles before March 10 and check out Fancy Wonder Free, a new solo exhibition by gay artist James Gobel. This second show at the gallery will feature work created by Gobel during the past year that is inspired by German expressionists Otto Dix and Christian Schad. Riffing on these artists and the political and social atmosphere of the 1920s and 1930s, Gobel portrays “Bears” (large, bearded gay men as the gallery gently educates its straight audience) in both social settings and as solitary figures, depicting his subjects not in paint but in felt and yarn. Some compositions refer directly to Dix or Schad; other references are more nuanced.
Gobel’s images are large and soft and tactile and I am sure you will find yourself looking at them for a long time. You will love them and you will want one, I guarantee it.
If you are driving up to Los Angeles then you might as well make a weekend of it and swing through Palm Springs to attend the inaugural Palm Springs Fine Art Fair. The fair brings post-war and contemporary art to a city that is considered by many to be America’s mid-century cultural capital. It is also coinciding with Palm Springs Modernism Week and the Palm Springs Modernism Show which means that if you are a fan of mid-century anything there will clearly be plenty for you to see and do, and maybe even buy.
Don’t forget it is a three-day weekend (for some of us). Hit the road and have a good time!
