Out of breath at the Hammer
Hey, it’s the white man’s fault “Breath(e): Toward Climate and Social Justice” by Bondo Wyszpolski This is an exhibition that “explores the intersection of art, nature, health, equity, justice, and collective action” because “This is the most consequential decade in modern history,” says Conservation International. In the catalog that accompanies “Breath(e),” which is on view […]
From ace reporter to noted artist: Will Shuck’s paintings on view at Easy Reader
Three local artists plus… …a former Easy Reader news editor who now wields a paintbrush by Bondo Wyszpolski In the late 1990s, Will Shuck covered the Manhattan Beach beat for Easy Reader, and his cubicle was next to mine. We became pals as well as colleagues and so, one day, when the Boss was otherwise […]
Taking flight with “Madame Butterfly”
Retooling the past “Madame Butterfly” – a review by Bondo Wyszpolski This is a heartbreaking melodrama during which the audience is likely to cry and shed tears, and you may do so as well without embarrassment. That’s because we lose ourselves in the sensuality of the story and not in its ingredients, the historical accuracy […]
Memnon: as the gods will it
Reluctant warriors “Memnon” at the Getty Villa, a review by Bondo Wyszpolski Every September, for nearly two decades, the Getty Villa has presented a new rendition of an ancient Greek or Roman play, some of them comedies, some of them tragedies, and the performances take place in the courtyard between the outdoor amphitheater and the […]
Ann Weber: It begins with a box
As high as they will stand Cardboard sculptures by Ann Weber at the Palos Verdes Art Center by Bondo Wyszpolski “It’s a thankless job,” says Ann Weber, sitting across from me in her Angels Gate studio. “And why do we do it? Well, because of all the things I’d rather be doing there’s nothing I’d […]
An art guerrilla from Manila
David Medalla: In Conversation with the Cosmos On view through Sept. 15 at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles by Bondo Wyszpolski My initial impression of this man’s body of work was that most of it was crudely done and hastily conceived street protest art, off the cuff or on the fly. After a meander […]
On Saturday, dive into “Immersion”
Under the waterline “Ming H2 Wu: Immersion” opens Saturday at the Palos Verdes Art Center by Bondo Wyszpolski They’re graceful and sensual, these young women, as they seemingly glide or drift in their gowns or among strands of tissue-thin fabric. They’re also several feet underwater. “Immersion” is a set of 39 images photographed by Ming […]
“Cottontail” – a film about family ties, here and hereafter
“Cottontail” – a dead wife’s last request film review by Bondo Wyszpolski Although “Cottontail” is written and directed by an Englishman, Patrick Dickinson, it has a Japanese sensibility, and not just because the first half of the film (Dickinson’s first full-length feature) is set in Tokyo with Japanese actors. As a child, Dickinson was exposed […]
Toasting the City of the Angels
Kimie Joe’s back in town… …and her Gallery of Hermosa is off to a running start by Bondo Wyszpolski Small, independent art galleries often have the shelflife of a dairy product. Their longevity depends on many factors, location, attendance, an alluring variety for the potential buyer, and a welcoming owner, manager, or staff. Well, the […]
Opera with a spin
Poetry in motion “The Comet / Poppea” — two operas for the price of one, kind of, sort of… by Bondo Wyszpolski [This is a review of a new work presented by The Industry, a company that reimagines how operas can be presented. “The Comet / Poppea” played for two weekends in Little Tokyo.] Yuval […]
Hippolyte Bayard: photographical midwife
The art of invention, the invention of an art Photographer Hippolyte Bayard at the Getty by Bondo Wyszpolski It’s a different kind of “Wow!” when you see the work of an early photographer whose every image was still an experiment with chemicals and equipment. The birth of photography — the Big Bang of a new […]
Sky dancer
Mission accomplished Blue Angels pilot John Foley had what it takes to become “the best of the best” by Bondo Wyszpolski The Blue Angels, those darlings of jaw-dropping airshows, flew into IMAX theaters last week. The eponymous film, directed by Paul Crowder and produced by J.J. Abrams of “Star Wars” fame, showcases the grace and […]
Parisian sculptor Camille Claudel
A splendid vision, a troubled life Sculpture by Camille Claudel is on view at the Getty Museum by Bondo Wyszpolski Frida Kahlo has managed to slip out from under the shadow of Diego Rivera, but Camille Claudel has had a much harder time being perceived apart from Auguste Rodin, despite the latter once having said […]
Ildy Lee: Vivacious and energetic
A woman of many hats, a woman of many voices And when Ildy Lee discovered why she was born by Bondo Wyszpolski I’d like to start off by saying that Ildy Lee is crazy. You know, nuts. What I really mean is that she’s all over the place, a vibrant woman in her early 80s […]
Ceramic serenade
+1 at the Manhattan Beach Art Center a handful of photos by Bondo Wyszpolski “+1” is an intimate survey of Southern California pottery, in which each of the 10 or so featured artists was asked to extend an invitation to a mentor (teacher, perhaps) or someone they respect or who may have influenced their work. […]
MBCC Theater’s musical mayhem is a treat
Four weddings – and no funeral “The Drowsy Chaperone” is wide awake in Manhattan Beach by Bondo Wyszpolski Sometimes I think the Manhattan Beach Community Church Theater is about to bite off more than it can chew, but then I catch one of their shows and I’m often highly impressed. I guess I shouldn’t be, […]