fresh stART 2012

Our 7th semi-annual FRESH START event took place Saturday, February 4, at the Santa Monica Art Studios. Featuring art from the best emerging artists chosen by 13 curators, the event attracted an eclectic crowd of art enthusiasts. Including Mr. Kilty MacDuff...

Here's curator (and awesome artist) Seonna Hong's section of the show featuring old studio mates Esther Pearl Watson, Mark Todd, Saelee Oh, and lots of other cool artists.

Here's Seonna with photographer Rebekkah Drake and Joe Lester (Silversun Pickups).

Saelee Oh curated the wall opposite Seonna's. 

She gathered so many good artists including Alika Cooper, Lori D., Brendan Monroe, Seonna Hong and Evah Fan. Below: Saelee working it.

Cathy Callahan (aka Cathy of California) put together a great section filled with goodies including a felted surfboard by Tanya Aguiniga, Jenny Hart's awesome embroidery, a wooden doll menagerie by Lorena Siminovich, and a ceramic wall hanging by Diana Fayt.

We gave lovely Sarajo Frieden her own mini solo show in the Project Room. She even made her own chair!

Artist Katherine Whitlock had a super great wall filled with some favorites like Mel Kadel, Karen Barbour, Maxwell Loren Holyoke-Hirsch, and Matthew Craven.

Mylissa Fitzsimmons (formerly of Little Bird Gallery) curated a heck of a wall including William Crump, Matt Haber, Rami Kim, and Christian Morin.

My wall included many of my art crushes: Jennifer Khoshbin, Hollie Chastain, Kirsten Tradowsky, Kate Whitlock, Joshua Krause and Kirsten Tradowsky.

Seven McDonald honored us with her first curating gig, assembling work from pals Deedee Cheriel, Eric Ernest Johson, Ione Skye, and Alia Penner.

Art Consultant Ashley McLean Emenegger returned for her 6th year on the team and brought together David McDonald, Samantha Fileds, Bavna Mehta, and Betsy Walton in her stunning section.

Stephen Cohen Gallery's Director, Rick Perez, presented photographs by Corina Gamma, Josef Hoflehner, and Meg Madison, next to ceramic works by Julia Haft-Candell, included by ACME Gallery's Molly Concannon.

Tiffiny Lendrum created a whimsical fantasy with Clare Graham's hanging sculptures made from buttons...

... while nearby hung Alexander Voronov, Seth Drenner, Martin McMurray, and Shaun O'Dell.

The lovely Carol Stakenas, Director of Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions, showed Kristi Lippire, Margie Schnibbe, Jeff Kopp, Robert Crouch and Kim Schoenstadt.

Curator Francine McDougall worked with friend Sharon Montrose on an installation of Sharon's animal photos that was so popular there was nearly a riot.

Well, you can't tell from this photo that it was a total Montrose stampede, but we sold 89 of those baby animals in 2 hours, so you can imagine the mayhem.

Here's the part of the blog where I Hollywood it up a bit. Art collector Judd Apatow was in the house, and he and his lovely wife took home works by Maria Forde, Karen Barbour and Cindy Steilar and APAK.

Here's Judd's wife, actress Leslie Mann, with longtime supporter, committee member, and collector, Jennifer Westfeldt. 

Below we have Jena Malone, her nice legs, and her boyfriend.

Committe members Adam and Naomi Scott were super chic and fun. And bought great art including Colin Roberts and John Carpenter! Who wouldn't love them?!

Our Honorary Chairperson, Felicity Huffman, with committee member Katie Tarses and artist Andrea Fellers.

And now back to the party... here's the main space circa 8:30pm. Designer Sasha Emerson created the magical trees and chairs.

The wonderful ladies from our beneficiary, LA's BEST.

Here's Eduardo Braniff and helper, Stella, announcing the Raffle winners while Director Curtis Hanson ignores them.

I don't know this red-haired partygoer, but I sure like her.

Good art + free whiskey makes people flappy-lipped.

Our awesome intern, Yana, enjoys the Ginger & Whiskey provided by the best liquor sponsor ever, Bushmill's. So I fired her. Just kidding.

All in all, we raised a goodly sum for LA's BEST after-school arts programs which means thousands of kids in the most underserved neighborhoods in Los Angeles will now have access high quality art programs. For that, we thank our attendees, collectors, sponsors, donors, and Mr. Kilty. Special thanks to our amazing event committee: Sasha Emerson, Sally Horchow, Eduardo Braniff, Danielle Stokdyk, Sandra Dewey, Sandra Jegeus, Mia Coveny, Amanda Blue, Katie Tarses, Lisa Lang McMullen, Corey Cosby, Jill Leiderman, Murray Smith, and my co-Chair, Audrey Hanneman. And the world's best interns, Yana Tutunik and Amy Crum.

Until next time...