Storefronts provide gallery space

Art lovers in Glendale don’t have to catch glimpses of creative pieces solely at museums or galleries, thanks to two vacant stores along Maryland Avenue.

This month, Glendale Area Loves Art transformed the storefronts into spaces for the works of artists across the Los Angeles region. Inside a former eyeglass shop, Sharon Suhovy created four Chinese-esque fans for an exhibit titled “Worlds Scoop Their Arcs,” and three artists — Toti M. O’Brien, Mavis Leahy and Gloria Newton — collaborated on a showcase called “Charm(s)” inside a neighboring space.

John David O’Brien, manager and curator for the Glendale Area Loves Art exhibits, said the public can view the art installations during the day or at night, with the help of ground lights. O’Brien, an artist himself, currently serves as the curatorial coordinator for the Sturt Haaga Gallery in Descanso Gardens.

“It’s really about making an urban landscape a more pleasurable experience,” he said. “The city wants its cityscape to be as beautiful as possible.”

Four years ago, the city began using storefronts as art spaces downtown under a program called Glendale Area Temporary Exhibitions. Glendale Area Loves Art serves as the follow-up, backed by the city and its Arts and Culture Commission and receiving funding through the city’s Urban Art Program.

This marks Suhovy’s first time bringing her art to Glendale. Her new work is rooted in her Russian heritage and reminders of life experiences. Her fan creations span 14 feet in width. Large pears stretch across one fan. Suhovy used to can the fruits with her mother. Another fan depicts Russian nesting dolls.

Each fan took roughly a month to complete, given the large amount of fabric used in the pieces. The large size of her fans gives a more up-close look at what is shown on them.

“I remember looking at a cell through a microscope and seeing the larva moving,” Suhovy recalled. “I thought, ‘How fascinating to see the world through a microscope.’ It brings you closer and gives you a different view.”

The showcase called “Charm(s)” gives onlookers a closer look at art formed through everyday objects, including fabrics, ceramic dolls and even animal skulls. Toti O’Brien of east Pasadena assembled the showcase, highlighting mixed mediums.

Newton noted that her background in theater trickles into her pieces, hence the mock puppet stage included in the collaborated exhibit. She said she was “thrilled” to not only work alongside two other artists, but also to see storefronts housing art.

The exhibits are located at 127 and 131 N. Maryland Ave. All of the artists celebrated openings of their exhibits on Saturday. They’ll remain on display through Dec. 10.

For more information about Glendale Area Loves Art, visit www.gala-exhibits.org.