COLA 2016
May 5 – July 3, 2016

This sculpture by Sandeep Mukherhee spans horizontally across the wall and protrudes three-dimensionally into the exhibition space. The artwork consists of circular-like vessel forms, that have an impression of being crumbled or crinkled, conjoined side-by-side. The outer surface of the forms is of a desaturated red hue while the inner surface of the forms is a deeply saturated blue hue. The combination of color and physical manipulation of the material creates a highly textured presence highlighted by deep shadows created from the multitude of creases.
Sandeep Mukherhee, Gravity Folds, 2016
This video and sculptural installation by Won Ju Lim feature a dark setting with various shapes, layers, and silhouettes of familiar forms. These silhouettes are presented in instances of both translucent and opaque, allowing for fractions of emitted light to penetrate portions of the surface of this artwork. Some familiar forms present include chairs, trees, tables, individuals, and crosses. The overall color tone of the artwork is a transitioning of blue and black hues.
Won Ju Lim, Casting, 2016
This sculptural installation by Keiko Fukazawa depicts a bicycle that has had its armature or structural portion covered in white flower petals. The bicycle also contains a front-bar basket in which a colorful arrangement of flowers has been inserted into. The bicycle remains posed, upright, by its kickstand atop a bed of red flower petals. Linear red strands that have been threaded through more white flower pedals are draped behind the bicycle similar to a veil.
Keiko Fukazawa, Homage to A. W., 2016
This installation image of the COLA 2016 exhibition includes artworks by Megan Geckler and Blue McRight. The artwork by Megan Geckler is in the foreground and includes a large cubic room residing within the exhibition space. The outer and inner sections of the form have been treated with a colorful grid-like pattern. On the front face of the artwork is a similarly treated door with white trim, swung wide open, revealing the interior of the large form. In the background is an artwork by Blue McRight in which a lit bookcase or book shelving has been inserted into the gallery wall. Tube-like forms extend from the spines of a few books and connect into sprinkler-like devices along the gallery floor.
Megan Geckler, Your escape from patterns your parents designed, 2016 (foreground), Blue McRight, Font, 2016, (background), installation image
This sculpture by Blue McRight includes an impression of an opened book, charred or painted black and suspended from the gallery ceiling, facing downward towards the gallery floor. Extending from the inside of the opened book are linear thread-like strands of material, also charred or colored black, gestured in a falling or pouring fashion.
Blue McRight, The Book of Rain, 2016
This sculptural installation by Blue McRight features nine ascending rows of shelves completely filled with a collection of books in various shades of blue, green, and white. Some books are connected to one another by tube-like forms extending from their spines. These tube-like connects drape down to and along the gallery floor leading to sprinkler-like devices. While the devices and potions of the tube on the floor exist in an unlit environment, the bookcase and books rendered into the wall are emitted with bright lights from the gallery ceiling.
Blue McRight, Font, 2016
2016 Archive
This artwork installation by the artist Marsian De Lellis consists of the impression of an individual, worn and deflated with a grotesque facial expression, sitting in a large chair. The individual in the chair is placed atop a very large ascending pile of children's dolls. The dolls are treated in a manner that renders them as worn, used, or allocative of time. The space in which the artwork is shown is illuminated with an ominous red that brings out the deep shadows of the various forms present to the viewer.
Marsian De Lellis, (In)/Animate Objects, 2016
This installation shot of the COLA 2016 exhibition includes artworks by Megan Geckler. The artwork in the foreground is of two large works consisting of a multitude of colorful geometric shapes. The geometric shapes are arranged onto the surface of the artwork that resembles the techniques of collage. The combination of color tints, tones, and shades renders an allusion of three-dimensional space within the two-dimensional surface of the artwork. In the background of the installation image exists the other artwork by Megan Geckler which includes a large three-dimensional cubic room within the gallery space. Both the outside and inside of the form are treated with a highly saturated color grid-like pattern. The colors present resemble the colors utilized in the additionally included works. In the lower right portion of the form is a door, also treated with this colorful grid-like pattern and white trim, swung completely open revealing the inside of the form.
Megan Geckler. Installation image
This sculpture by Jim Skuldt is made up of linear, brightly lit neon rods positioned angularly forming an impression of a common kite. The bright lines are connected by the use of words and pairing of collections of letters alluding to the abbreviation of words. Some words shown include: SKY, DIRTY, PWR, and WET. Additionally shown are the electrical connections and wiring draped from the lit rods. The connections drape down into piles on the gallery floor and lead to an outlet.
Jim Skuldt, Installation image

Awarded annually by DCA, the COLA Fellowships support the creation of new works by a selection of the City’s most exemplary mid-career artists. The COLA exhibition honors these creative visionaries and nurtures the symbiotic relationship between Los Angeles, its artists, its history, and its identity as an international arts capital.

 

Featured artists include: Paolo Davanzo, Marsian De Lellis, Keiko Fukazawa, Megan Geckler, Won Ju Lim, Sarah Maclay, Blue McRight, Sandeep Mukherjee, Christine Nguyen, Claudia Rodriguez, Jim Skuldt, and Lynne Thompson.

Director’s Statement