La Cienega Area

Even today, when artists can feel free to yoke together any images they please in the name of appropriation, social commentary, post-modern archness or what-have-you, not every such marriage is made in heaven. Gael Crimmins’ paintings combining tiresome pairings of Old Master portraits with famous film clips (“Casablanca” is big here), film stars (Monroe, Davis) and vintage advertising photos are cheap shots.

Is the point simply that it would be hard to bet which item will retain its fame longest? (A decorative gaming table motif occupies the lower half of these paintings.) One wonders if there could be any other worthwhile reason to combine three semi-nude cuties sitting on poufs with an old Listerine ad of a boy shaving (“All pleasure, no pain”) and Botticelli’s portrait of a poetic-looking young man in a red cap. Or how about Marilyn in her vent-blown skirt pose buddying up to ever-smilin’ Mona (Lisa, that is)?

It’s a game that gets old fast. (Hunsaker/Schlesinger Gallery, 812 N. La Cienega Blvd., to May 21.)